These are the easiest vegan dirty fries! All you need are four ingredients and 20 minutes to create a simple vegan, family-friendly dinner that will become your favorite weeknight meal!
When I think of an indulgent meal or appetizer, dirty fries are front and center! They are certainly not considered healthy food. However, I am giving chili cheese fries a makeover using store-bought vegan ingredients.
I first made this recipe as an after-school snack for my kids. They came home to find a sheet pan of warm fries covered in chili and and couldn’t wait to dig in! Then I realized that this recipe also made a fast and satisfying dinner for the nights my kids have a packed after-school schedule. I can whip up these vegan dirty fries in minutes, and I know they will leave for their sports activities with tons of energy to burn.
You will love the simplicity of this recipe for busy nights or a simple appetizer when your friends are over. It also makes an excellent game-day appetizer!
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💗 Why You’ll Love Easy Vegan Dirty Fries
Quick and Easy: This is an excellent recipe if you need a no-effort meal! It’s pretty much as effortless as throwing a bag of chips in a bowl with a side of dip. That’s how effortless this meal is! All you need to do is preheat the oven and place the ingredients on a sheet pan. Then, let the stove warm everything together for the ultimate meal!
Warm and Comforting: This is vegan comfort food at its best. Crispy fries are paired with vegan canned chili and gooey vegan cheese for the ultimate comfort meal.
Trader Joe’s Ingredients: If you are a Trader Joe’s shopper, this meal is for you! All the ingredients are readily available at TJ’s, with frozen oven-baked fries, vegetarian chili, and vegan cheese. But even if you don’t have a TJ’s, you can easily find these ingredients in any local grocery store.
🥣 Ingredients and Notes
Frozen Oven-Baked Fries: You can use many frozen oven-baked fries. I recommend using a thick fry that can hold up to the toppings. Consider using wedges.
Vegan Canned Chili: Be sure that the canned chili you use is vegan. I like to use Trader Joe’s Vegetarian canned chili or Amy’s vegetarian chili. But there are other brands available. Always look at the ingredient list to make sure that it is vegan. If you have leftover homemade chili, you can use that too.
Vegan Cheddar Cheese: Shredded vegan cheese is the easiest to use, but you can also make a homemade vegan cheese sauce to use instead.
Green Onions: Used for garnish.
📖 Variations and Substitutions
Make It Spicy: Tip with jalepeño peppers for a spicy twist, or add green chilis. Another option is to give your fries extra spice and seasoning. Toss them with ¼ teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder. Then bake.
Additional Toppings: Consider topping with vegan sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and fresh cilantro. You can really add whatever you like, and use up any extra ingredients you have in the fridge.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make Easy Vegan Dirty Fries
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Spread the frozen fries on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Toss halfway through so that they get crispy on all sides.
- When the fries come out of the oven, spread the chili on top, then sprinkle on the vegan cheese. Bake for another 8 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and top with diced scallions. Serve immediately while it’s hot and the cheese is gooey and melty.
📝 Alison’s Tips for Making Crispy Fries
- Ensure the oven is preheated adequately to 400°F. You can increase the temperature to 425°F. Don’t put the fries in the oven until thoroughly heated.
- Don’t overcrowd the fries on the baking sheet. Leave some space between the fries to allow air circulation, which helps them crisp up.
- Flip the fries over halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and crispiness on both sides.
- Putting the chili and the cheese on the fries will soften the fries since the chili is wet. However, if you pre-cook them to the point that they are very crispy before putting the chili on the fries, more crispiness will be retained.
❓ FAQS
Dirty fries are a dish made with a base of French fries or potato wedges that are then topped with various ingredients, including melted cheese, sauces, and other toppings. The toppings vary but include items like chili, jalapeños, green onions, and cheese. They are called “dirty” because they are messy to eat, and are an indulgent dish.
Most pre-cut frozen fries are vegan. But check the ingredient label to be sure. Look for cut fries that are made with a bit of oil, and salt without added preservatives or extra ingredients.
Many options are available, and the one you like the most will depend on your flavor preference. Here are a few of my favorites: Amy’s Vegan Kitchen, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods 365, Engine 2 Three Bean and Lentil Chili, and Pacific Foods Vegan Black Bean and Kale Chili.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
These dirty fries are pretty indulgent. Consider adding some vegetables to the side when serving. I suggest roasted air fryer broccoli or a fresh salad.
Serve this recipe on the sheet pan with tongs and bowls for each person to take their desired portion. You can also set up a bar with different toppings to be customized to each person’s liking. Provide bowls with chunks of avocado, sliced jalapeño peppers, salsa, vegan sour cream, vegan bacon bits, and more!
🫙 Storage
Fridge: These vegan dirty fries are best enjoyed straight out of the oven. They will become soggy when left out. However, if you have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: When ready to reheat, place them back on a baking sheet to warm and crisp up in the oven or in the air fryer to help them bring back some of their crispiness.
They will not be as crispy as they were when originally out of the oven since they’ve had time to sit with the vegan chili and cheese on top.
😋 More Easy Vegan Sheet Pan Recipes!
Recipe
Vegan Dirty Fries
Ingredients
- 28 ounces frozen oven baked fries
- 15 ounce can of vegan chili
- 2 cups vegan shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 scallions diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Spread the frozen fries on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Toss halfway through so that they get crispy on all sides.
- When the fries come out of the oven, spread the chili on top, then sprinkle on the vegan cheese. Bake for another 8 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and top with diced scallions. Serve immediately while it's hot and the cheese is gooey and melty.
Notes
-
- Ensure the oven is preheated adequately to 400°F. You can increase the temperature to 425°F. Don’t put the fries in the oven until thoroughly heated.
-
- Don’t overcrowd the fries on the baking sheet. Leave some space between the fries to allow air circulation, which helps them crisp up.
-
- Flip the fries over halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and crispiness on both sides.
-
- Putting the chili and the cheese on the fries will soften the fries since the chili is wet. However, if you pre-cook them to the point that they are very crispy before putting the chili on the fries, more crispiness will be retained.
- Storage: These vegan dirty fries are best enjoyed straight out of the oven. They will become soggy when left out. However, if you have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: When ready to reheat, place them back on a baking sheet, to warm and crisp back up in the oven, or place in the air fryer to help them bring back some of their crispiness.
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