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The Tailgate Fries Tray Everyone’s Already Planning for Week One

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Wire-rack-crisped fries built in two layers with cheese, bacon, and jalapeños so every bite gets loaded, not just the top.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lb frozen crinkle-cut or steak fries
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 8 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
  • 4 oz pepper jack, shredded
  • 1/2 lb bacon, cooked and chopped (or cooked chorizo)
  • 1 cup warm queso or nacho cheese sauce
  • 1/3 cup pickled jalapeños, sliced
  • 3 green onions, sliced
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, thinned with 1 tbsp milk
  • Hot sauce, to taste
  • Kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Set a wire rack inside a rimmed sheet pan and mist with nonstick spray.
  2. Spread frozen fries in a single layer directly on the rack (not the pan). Bake 15 minutes.
  3. Flip fries and bake 10-12 minutes more, until deeply golden and crisp on both sides. Season with a pinch of salt.
  4. Spread half the crispy fries in an even layer on an oven-safe serving tray or cast-iron skillet.
  5. Scatter half the cheddar, pepper jack, bacon, and jalapeños over that layer.
  6. Add the remaining fries on top, then repeat with the rest of the cheese, bacon, and jalapeños.
  7. Return to the oven (or under the broiler) 3-5 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling at the edges.
  8. Drizzle with warm queso, sour cream, and hot sauce. Scatter green onions and serve immediately, straight from the tray.

Notes

The wire rack is what separates crispy fries from soggy ones — never skip it, and never skip the flip halfway through. Let shredded cheese come to room temperature before layering so it melts smoothly instead of clumping. Bacon and jalapeños can be prepped up to 2 days ahead and kept in the fridge until assembly. For a spicier tray, swap pickled jalapeños for fresh sliced serranos; for a heartier one, spoon warm chili between the layers instead of queso. Reheat leftovers under the broiler, never the microwave.

Find it online: https://www.receipster.com/the-tailgate-fries-tray-everyones-already-planning-for-week-one/