Cheddar’s is a popular American restaurant chain known for its homemade comfort food. One of their signature menu items is their famous loaded fries. Cheddar’s loaded fries are crispy french fries smothered in cheese, bacon, and green onions. They have become a customer favorite due to the delicious combination of flavors and textures.
The Ingredients
Cheddar’s uses fresh, hand-cut potatoes to make their fries. The potatoes are sliced into fry shapes, double fried to a golden crisp, and seasoned with salt. This gives their fries a fluffy interior and crispy exterior.
Once the fries are cooked, Cheddar’s tops them with a blend of melted cheeses. They use a proprietary mix of cheddar, Monterey jack, and American cheeses. The cheese is melted until gooey and blankets the fries.
In addition to cheese, Cheddar’s adds crispy bits of smoked bacon. The bacon provides a smoky, salty crunch that pairs perfectly with the melted cheese. Applewood smoked bacon is used to give the richest hickory flavor.
Finally, chopped green onions are sprinkled on top. The green onions provide a pop of freshness and color contrast. They also add a subtle onion flavor that brings depth to the dish.
The Cooking Process
Making Cheddar’s loaded fries requires careful timing and temperature control. Here is an overview of how they cook the fries and toppings:
- Cut whole potatoes into 1⁄4 inch matchstick fries and rinse in cold water.
- Soak the fries in room temperature water for at least 30 minutes to remove excess starch.
- Heat canola oil to 325°F in a deep fryer.
- Add fries to the oil and fry for 5 minutes until they are slightly softened but not browned.
- Remove fries and let drain and rest for 5 minutes.
- Increase oil temperature to 350°F.
- Fry the par-cooked fries a second time for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove fries and immediately season with salt while hot.
- Place fries in a dish and cover with grated cheese blend.
- Melt the cheese in an oven broiler for 2-3 minutes.
- Crisp smoked bacon pieces in a sauté pan until browned and crispy.
- Top fries with crumbled bacon pieces and chopped green onions.
- Serve immediately while hot and melty.
The double fry method results in fries with a fluffy interior and crispy exterior. Soaking the raw fries removes excess starch so they don’t turn gummy when fried. Melting the cheese thoroughly ensures it blankets the fries. And crisping the bacon provides crunch and concentrated smoky flavor.
Secret Menu Items
While the original loaded fries are famous, Cheddar’s actually has a few secret menu items that feature loaded fries:
- Onion Tangler Fries – Cheddar’s hand-breaded onion tanglers fried and topped with cheese, bacon, and green onion.
- Chili Cheese Fries – Cheddar’s fries loaded with their homemade beef chili, melted cheddar cheese, diced onions, and sour cream.
- Buffalo Chicken Fries – Crispy fried chicken tenders chopped up and served over fries, then drizzled with hot and spicy buffalo wing sauce and creamy ranch dressing.
These secret menu items aren’t advertised but can be ordered upon request. They provide fun twists on the original loaded fries by incorporating other popular Cheddar’s menu items.
Nutrition Information
While loaded fries make a delicious indulgence, they are certainly a treat. Here is the nutrition information for Cheddar’s loaded fries:
| Nutrition Facts | Serving Size 432g |
|---|---|
| Calories | 1420 |
| Fat | 89g |
| Carbohydrates | 90g |
| Protein | 39g |
| Sodium | 2330mg |
As you can see, the loaded fries are very high in calories, fat, and sodium. The large portion provides over half of the recommended daily value for sodium alone. Loaded fries make a great occasional treat but should be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet.
Prices
Cheddar’s offers their loaded fries as both an appetizer and a side. Here are the typical prices:
| Loaded Fries | Price |
|---|---|
| Side Portion | $2.99 |
| Appetizer Portion | $6.49 |
The appetizer portion is large enough to share for a table. Getting the loaded fries as a side is a more affordable way to enjoy them without overdoing it. Cheddar’s runs daily happy hour specials where they offer $2 off appetizers, making the loaded fries only $4.49 during that time.
Copycat Recipe
You can recreate Cheddar’s loaded fries at home with this copycat recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 russet potatoes, cut into 1/4 inch fries
- 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
- 1⁄2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1⁄2 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 2 slices bacon, chopped and cooked crispy
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse cut fries in cold water and soak for 30 minutes to remove starch.
- Pat fries dry thoroughly with paper towels.
- Heat oil to 325F in pot or deep fryer.
- Fry fries for 5 minutes until slightly softened but not browned.
- Drain fries and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Reheat oil to 350F.
- Fry fries a second time for 2-3 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
- Drain fries and immediately toss with salt.
- Place fries in oven-safe dish. Top with cheese blend.
- Broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is fully melted.
- Top with crumbled bacon pieces and green onions.
- Season again lightly with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot.
Tips for Making them at Home
Follow these tips for getting restaurant-quality loaded fries at home:
- Use fresh, thick-cut russet potatoes. They fry up the crispiest.
- Soak the cut fries in water before cooking to remove excess starch.
- Fry twice at different temperatures to get a fluffy interior and crispy exterior.
- Use a blend of cheeses like cheddar and Monterey for full, nuanced flavor.
- Cook the bacon until very crispy so it crumbles easily over the fries.
- Broil the cheese topping to ensure it’s fully melted and gooey.
- Sprinkle with green onion right before serving for a pop of freshness.
Variation Ideas
Some ideas for putting your own spin on loaded fries at home:
- Use blue cheese, pepper jack, or Swiss cheese instead of cheddar blend.
- Top with pulled pork or chili instead of bacon.
- Add sautéed mushrooms or caramelized onions.
- Use waffle fries, sweet potato fries, or tater tots instead of regular fries.
- Mix in shredded rotisserie chicken for buffalo chicken fries.
- Swap in crispy pancetta or prosciutto for the bacon.
- Drizzle with ranch dressing or salsa before serving.
The possibilities are endless for customizing loaded fries. Use your favorite ingredients and flavors to make your perfect loaded fry creation.
Conclusion
Cheddar’s loaded fries are an indulgent crowd pleaser. Their special blend of melted cheeses, smoky bacon, and fresh green onion toppings lets you experience sweet, salty, crispy, and creamy flavors in every bite. While the copycat recipe can come close, visiting a Cheddar’s restaurant and enjoying hot, freshly made loaded fries straight from the kitchen is the ideal experience. Just be sure to share them, or you might find yourself getting carried away with this addictive appetizer!