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If anyone would make chili cheese fries while camping, it would be me. Yes. You can make chili cheese fries In tinfoil over a fire or on your BBQ. You are welcome for this crazy addition to your junk food cooking repertoire.
Chili Cheese Fries
Nothing beats hot fries covered in chili and melted cheese! Ever since I had this idea and made these while camping, my son and Mr Magpie have been pestering me non-stop to make them and honestly, can you blame them? We tend to eat more “camping” type food while we are working out at our farm fixing it up, and these are a favorite treat.
How to Make Chili Cheese Fries Over the Campfire
- Layer two large sheets of alumiun foil then spray the inside of them. Add in a small package of fries, then seal up the aluminum foil into a packet.
- Place the packet on the grate over a fire, above coals not flames. Cook, shaking the package to make sure the fries don’t burn. Turn the package over, cooking all sides. You can open it carefully and take a peek how the fries are doing, be careful of the fire and any steam.
- Once the fries are done to your liking, pour a can of chili on top and sprinkle cheese on top. Seal up the aluminum foil again. If you want, you can heat the chili over the fire while the fries are cooking as well to save time!
- Return them to the fire until the chili is hot and the cheese has melted.
Make These Healthier
To be fair, these are not that bad for you, if you buy a healthy chili, low fat cheese and some non-oil laden fries! You can make these however you like thanks to the different ingredients used. In the grand scheme of food these are a pretty high protein, easy treat!
How to Make Chili Cheese Fries On the BBQ
- Take a small package of fries and place them in a cooking oil sprayed tin foil packet.
- Cook them on the BBQ at the same heat as the package dictates (usually around the 425°F) and voila! Fries! With little brown grill marks even!
- If wanted, you can heat up the chili as well before placing on top of the fries.
- Pour a can of chili on top and sprinkle cheese on top. Seal up the aluminum foil again.
- Return them to the BBQ until the chili is hot and the cheese has melted.
- Remove and serve.
Make Sure They Don’t Burn
Make sure that the aluminum foil is heavy duty and that you use at least two layers of it. This will keep a protective layer between the fries and the fire.
Use cooking spray and not butter or oil, the cooking spray can withstand hot temperatures and won’t burn as easily.
Also, remember to shake the package and move those fries around so they don’t burn!
Preventing Soggy Fries
We don’t mind that the fries get soft when cooking this on the fire, but if you do, the trick is to heat the chili before you put it on the fries and then it takes less time to cook, thus the fries don’t get too soggy.
It does involve an extra step, but you can do it!
Make These Chili Cheese Fries in the Oven
These are also easy to make in the oven, of course like traditional cheese fries.
- Cook the fries in the oven according to the package instructions.
- While the fries are cooking, heat up the chili in a pan on the stove top.
- Remove the fries when done, divide onto plates. Top with chili then the cheese and serve.
Happy cooking and happy camping this summer everyone!
Karlynn
Campfire Chili Cheese Fries
- Prep Time
- 3 minutes
- Cook Time
- 25 minutes
- Course
- Appetizer
- Cuisine
- American
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Calories
- 115
- Author
- Karlynn Johnston
Ingredients
- one 454 grams package frozen French fries
- one 425 grams can chili your choice
- 1-2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Spray the inside of a large doubled-up sheet of foil with cooking spray.
- Place the frozen fries in the middle of the sheet; fold the aluminun foil up to enclose.
- Cook the fries on your BBQ or over a campfire until they are cooked – around 15-20 minutes. Shake the package occasionally to move the fries around, browning all sides.
- Open the package, careful of any steam escaping. Spread the chili and cheese over the fries.
- Close the packet again and cook until the chili is hot and the cheese has melted.
- Remove, cool slightly and enjoy! We just ate it with forks right out of the package!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Remember that this is a camping recipe and that the fries are not going to be as crispy as oven baked but are still completely delicious and a treat!
Nutrition Information
All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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Dang Thai @ Embeya says
Tried it on the weekend. Had To put it on twice cause we were in a hurry and some of the fiies weren’t hot. Then some of the fries burned. Everyone loved it, though, even the kid who doesn’t like his food mixed together! Husband can’t wait to try it again
Dianne & Zarrellli says
This will be a great supper meal when we are in Napa (hotel – full kitchen) – we will be having big lunches out & need simple suppers
Amy says
These were softer but MAN OH MAN OH MAN!Five stars because of the IDEA! YOu are brilliant!
Karlynn Johnston says
They are on the softer side for sure!
Jim says
This is up town with 2 ice cold beers. !!!
Jenny Bullistron says
This is definitely going to be a new late-night summer delight in my home! I also love the idea of less dishes! ;D
Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says
I love this idea! It makes me so excited for camping!
Megan Ancheta says
Oh man! What a great idea to make at camp! I can’t wait for camping season now!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
Oh boy, this sounds terrific!! A must make!!
james.peter.mcmahon@gmail.com says
Good job I tried it with my buddy and we were in heaven
Sabrina says
This is such a genius idea! A delicious food and no clean up!
Jen says
I don’t care if they’re healthy or not, this is exactly how I want to eat when camping! Yum!!
Allyson Zea says
Can I just act like I am going camping and make these anyway? Cheese fries are my life!
ki says
Could you use tater tots instead of fries and what temp does the oven need to be set at?
Matt says
Top class Karlynn!!!
Anonymous says
THESE ARE AMAZING! Sure, don’t expect crispy fried, I mean it IS on a campfire. What a great treat while camping tho!
Angie says
Can these packets be frozen before or after cooking?
Linda Trapp says
You cant freeze it all together an the cut the bag and put it in foil then cook on grill
angela hammill says
these are so yummmy!! we make every camping trip , my kids love them
Karen Donaldson says
Doing this tonite
Mason Kerry Livermore says
Why not use real fries. Cutting a potatoe. Seems way more logical for camping…
The Kitchen Magpie says
The sky is the limit! All recipes are just a base for your own cooking ideas to build on! That would work too! I like the super crispy fries though from McCain, they are my weakness!
Curtis Vanrootselaar says
Try this Stacie Knapcik when you go to the cabin
Crystal Carlson says
Tried it on the weekend. Had To put it on twice cause we were in a hurry and some of the fiies weren’t hot. Then some of the fries burned. Everyone loved it, though, even the kid who doesn’t like his food mixed together! Husband can’t wait to try it again.
Arlene Price says
Jillian Moore yummmm
Jillian Moore says
Why u gotta show me that
MrsRoybal2013 says
Camping with my family this weekend. Made these chili cheese fries with dinner tonight. Holy moly deliciousness. Definitely will do this again even at home!
thekitchenmagpie says
MrsRoybal2013 AWESOME! I am so glad that you liked them! They are our favorite treat and yes, we make them at home too!
ClaireMacintyre1 says
Oh Holy mother!!!! How good is this! Tried it this weekend!
sbabij says
Great idea! I would never have thought to cook fries this way.. Thank you for sharing!
Haley says
Could you cook these on a blackstone?
Jennifer says
this will be made AGAIN at my house this weekend =) it was great
Christina Barr Clouse says
Love love these chilli cheese fries!!
Christina Barr Clouse says
Lol ON IT!!
The Kitchen Magpie says
You do have to eat these. I said so. Now you must!
The Kitchen Magpie says
Yup serious yum! And no oven! hurray!
Jennifer Print says
o.m.g. yumm
Christina Barr Clouse says
Oh dear , I am just have to eat that!!
Tena Hough says
How do you keep fries frozen while camping?