This Copycat Taco Bell Nacho Fries Recipe can be enjoyed in 2 different ways! Either go classic with spiced french fries and this delicious Taco Bell Cheese for dunking or go with loaded nacho fries with all your favorite toppings! These fries are full of flavor and fulfill all of your comfort food cravings!
The best part is you don't have to head to the drive-thru you can make this easy copycat recipe right at home in about 40 minutes! If you love fries and dips you will also enjoy my Parmesan Truffle Fries and Truffle Aioli.
I love making this Taco Bell Nacho Fries Recipe when I want a quick and fun family dinner or for easy entertaining! Everyone will enjoy all of the possibilities to customize the fries with their favorite toppings! Pair these fries with this delicious Watermelon Agua Fresca so fruity and refreshing!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- These Nacho Fries are a simple recipe! You only need to prepare the cheddar cheese sauce and toppings, while using frozen straight-cut fries to save time.
- The homemade cheese sauce is the star of the show using real cheese and no heavily processed ingredients!
- Everyone will enjoy all of the possibilities to customize the fries with the delicious nacho cheese and all their favorite toppings!
Ingredient Notes
- Frozen straight-cut fries: You can use any brand of frozen fries for this recipe, but we recommend using straight-cut fries for the best results.
- Taco seasoning: This adds a spicy kick and Mexican spices to the fries and is essential for the overall flavor of the dish.
- Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce : you will need 1 batch for 6 servings.
- Cooked ground beef: This is the perfect protein to add to your Taco Bell Nacho Fries. You can use ground beef, chicken, or go vegetarian with ground tofu or refried beans.
- Salsa or pico de gallo, jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream, and cilantro: These toppings add flavor and texture to the dish, and you can customize them to your liking.
How to Make Taco Bell Nacho Fries
- Add frozen fries to a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Season fries with taco seasoning.
- Bake fries until crispy.
- Top with your favorite nacho toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Taco Bell Nacho Fries is a popular dish served at the fast food chain although it's not a permanent menu item and is usually only available for a limited time. It is basically seasoned french fries served with a side of warm nacho cheese sauce.
Yes, you can use gluten-free frozen fries and a gluten-free taco seasoning to make this recipe gluten-free and substitute tapioca flour in the homemade cheese sauce.
Yes, you can make this recipe vegan by using plant-based alternatives for the meat and cheese sauce.
Expert Tips
- For extra crispy fries, cook them in an air fryer instead of the oven.
- To make the cheese sauce extra creamy, use a blend of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese.
- If you don't have taco seasoning on hand, you can make your own seasoning blend by combining chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- For a vegetarian version of this recipe, skip the taco meat and add black beans or vegetarian crumbles instead.
- Do your best to coordinate the cooking of the fries and cheese sauce so that they are ready at the same time for optimal enjoyment. Most frozen fries require 15-20 minutes to bake, so begin cooking the cheese sauce when there are 10 minutes left on the fries.
- If the cheese sauce becomes too thick, add a bit of milk or butter over low heat to achieve your desired consistency. To keep the fries warm, place them in a 200-degree oven and serve as needed. You can serve this dish as a family-style meal or as the ultimate game-day snack by loading a sheet tray with fries, taco meat (or beans), and cheese sauce, allowing everyone to add their favorite toppings.
- These homemade nacho fries are best eaten the day they are made but if you have leftovers store the toppings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. When you are ready, reheat them in the oven or air fryer until the fries are crisp. Then load them up with the remaining toppings and enjoy.
Recipe Variations
- Swap out the taco meat for shredded chicken or pulled pork for a different protein option.
- Make them vegetarian and top them with refried beans. Or keep it simple with the spiced fries and a side of nacho cheese sauce.
- You can try these in the air fryer with homemade fries.
- Instead of regular fries, use sweet potato fries for a healthier twist on this classic dish you can also use lighter ingredients like reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
Recipe Substitutions
- If you don't have heavy cream, you can use half-and-half or whole milk instead.
- If you don't have cornstarch, you can use all-purpose flour or for a gluten-free option 2 tablespoons of tapioca flour.
- If you don't have taco seasoning you can season your fries simply with a bit of chili powder cumin and salt to taste or you can purchase frozen spicy fries.
Recipe
taco bell nacho fries recipe (copycat)
Ingredients
- 1 Easy Taco Bell Cheese Recipe
- 1 package frozen straight-cut fries
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
- 1 lb cooked seasoned taco meat
- Salsa jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream, and cilantro for serving.
Instructions
- To begin, spread the french fries on a sheet pan and sprinkle taco seasoning over them. Toss the fries to make sure they are coated evenly and bake them according to the package instructions.
- Cook the Easy Taco Bell Cheese Recipe.
- Prepare your nacho toppings while the fries are baking, and once the fries are ready, serve them immediately with the warm cheese sauce and your choice of toppings.
Notes
expert tips
- For extra crispy fries, cook them in an air fryer instead of the oven.
- To make the cheese sauce extra creamy, use a blend of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese.
- If you don't have taco seasoning on hand, you can make your own seasoning blend by combining chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- For a vegetarian version of this recipe, skip the taco meat and add black beans or vegetarian crumbles instead.
- Do your best to coordinate the cooking of the fries and cheese sauce so that they are ready at the same time for optimal enjoyment. Most frozen fries require 15-20 minutes to bake, so begin cooking the cheese sauce when there are 10 minutes left on the fries.
- If the cheese sauce becomes too thick, add a bit of milk or butter over low heat to achieve your desired consistency. To keep the fries warm, place them in a 200-degree oven and serve as needed. You can serve this dish as a family-style meal or as the ultimate game-day snack by loading a sheet tray with fries, taco meat (or beans), and cheese sauce, allowing everyone to add their favorite toppings.
- These homemade nacho fries are best eaten the day they are made but if you have leftovers store the toppings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. When you are ready, reheat them in the oven or air fryer until the fries are crisp. Then load them up with the remaining toppings and enjoy.
Tressa says
Okay, yum! The kids (and I) absolutely loved making these!
Lanie says
This is so perfect for movie night without having to wait in line at Taco Bell! Our Taco Bell always has a line and by the time I get my food I could just make these myself. I can put the recipe together using the air fryer for the fries and have this load of flavor right at home and save money too! Thank you for putting together this recipe so we can make it at home.
Charlotte Singh-Dhanraj says
Thank you Lanie! It really is so easy and fun to make them at home and yes the air fryer is perfect for the fries!
Natalie says
You had me at the homemade cheese sauce and no mystery ingredients. Drive thru is convenient, but not always the best choice. And I love how you provided suggestions for customizing these fries.
Charlotte Singh-Dhanraj says
Thanks Natalie yes so true about drive through! I have a lot of picky eaters so it's nice to have a base and then everyone load it the way they like! Hope you enjoy them!
Laura says
Making all my craving dreams come true!