Our loaded nacho fries are just like Taco Bell – but better! Ground beef nacho fries are loaded with lean ground beef, cheese sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes. A fun dinner that can be served right on the baking tray. Gluten-free.
This is a recipe the whole family can get behind – it will soon become one of the top requested meals! Creating this nacho fries recipe at home allows you to save time, money and customize it to your liking.
We walk you through step by step how to create this tasty dinner meal in under 30 minutes. You’ll also learn how to brown perfectly seasoned ground beef. As an added bonus, we share our favorite homemade cheese sauce that can be used for this recipe or drizzled on Taco Quesadillas, Steak Skillet Nachos, and Shredded Chicken Skillet Nachos.
Kids get a kick out of making and eating these taco fries. Encourage them to help from start to finish. Not only will they learn cooking skills, but they will see how easy it is to make fast food copycat recipes at home! Have them gather the equipment and ingredients below to get started.
Table of Contents
Equipment
- medium-size skillet
- stir spoon
- baking pan
- medium-sized saucepan
- measuring cups and spoons
- whisk
- cutting board
- chefs knife
Ingredients
- 1 pound crinkle cut frozen French fries
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2 medium Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
Cheese sauce
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons flour (use gluten-free flour or cornstarch for gluten-free)
- 3/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Homemade Cheese Sauce
To a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the milk and cumin until the edges just start to bubble. Then, whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the shredded cheese, whisking until smooth. Then, turn heat down to low and stir occasionally until the French fries are done.
How To Make
Cheesy fries are prepped, baked and ready to eat quicker than running through the drive-through. Follow the simple step-by-step instructions below.
Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven per the french fry package instructions, most likely 425°F.
Bake french fries
Pour the fries onto the baking sheet then bake per package instructions. While the fries are baking, brown the beef and prep any desired toppings.
Brown the beef
Add the beef to the skillet and cook until browned. Drain the beef then add back to the skillet. Next, add the taco seasoning into the skillet per package instructions. If you are up to making homemade seasoning, you have to check out Copycat Taco Bell Seasoned Beef!
Browning Beef
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Using a spatula, carefully break up the meat into large chunks. Let the chunks of beef cook for approximately 1 minute. Then, break the chunks into smaller pieces and let cook for approximately 1 minute. Repeat the process of alternating between breaking up the ground beef and cooking for 1 minute until the ground beef is no longer pink. By the end, you will have successfully browned ground beef!
Nacho Fries Toppings
When the fries come out of the oven, carefully top with the taco meat and cheese sauce then layer on any additional toppings.
Keep it simple by topping with lettuce and tomato or upgrade by adding any of the following!
- Shredded cheese
- Guacamole
- Jalapeno peppers
- Sour cream
- Onions
- Beans
- Salsa
Once all the toppings have been added, serve immediately. You can serve this meal right from the baking tray – no need to dirty another dish!
Frequently Asked Questions
Thaw frozen ground beef before you plan to make this recipe or learn How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot that is ready in 25 minutes.
This recipe is best served immediately, it does not store very well. If you do end up with tons of leftovers, remove any toppings from the fries and store the fries (covered in meat and cheese) in an air tight container in the fridge. When ready to eat, place the fries back on the baking tray and cook in a 425°F oven until the fries are crispy.
More Copycat Fast Food Recipes
- Egg and Cheese McMuffin
- Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Crunchwrap Supreme
- Crispy Fried Chicken
- Loaded Waffle Fries
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Loaded Nacho Fries
Equipment
- medium-size skillet
- medium-sized saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 pound crinkle cut frozen french fries ✅
- 1 pound lean ground beef ✅
- 1 packet gluten-free taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 2 medium roma tomatoes, diced
Cheese sauce
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin ✅
- 2 teaspoons gluten-free flour or cornstarch
- 3/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend ✅
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven per the french fry package instructions, most likely 425°F.
- ⭐️Bake french fries. Pour the fries onto the baking sheet. Bake per package instructions.1 pound crinkle cut frozen french fries
- ⭐️Brown the beef. Add the beef to the skillet. Break apart and cook until browned. Drain then add back to the skillet. Add taco seasoning per package instructions.1 pound lean ground beef, 1 packet gluten-free taco seasoning
Cheese Sauce
- ⭐️Make the cheese sauce. To a medium saucepan, whisk together milk and cumin, heat until the edges just start to bubble. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the cheese, whisking until smooth. Turn heat down to low and stir occasionally until the french fries are done.1/2 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 2 teaspoons gluten-free flour or cornstarch, 3/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Layer the toppings onto the fries. When the fries come out of the oven, carefully top with the taco meat, cheese sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and any additional toppings. Serve immediately.1 cup shredded lettuce, 2 medium roma tomatoes, diced
Notes
Additional Toppings
- Shredded cheese, Guacamole, Jalapeno peppers, Sour cream, Onions, Beans, Salsa
Nutrition
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Ashlyn says
Why have I never thought of this before- kids loved it and it was super simple.