When some of your favorite foods combine into one, you get cheeseburger fries! Yep, we are going there!
I’m talking crispy french fries, juicy and flavor-packed mustard ground beef, your favorite burger toppings, and of course, topped off with a delicious special sauce dressing to round them out.
Pretty much the ultimate comfort food, but made with wholesome ingredients.
Whether you are making them for game day, an appetizer or snack for a party, or a fun weeknight dinner, I promise these loaded fries will not disappoint.
Why we love these cheeseburger fries
- the best of both worlds – cheeseburger & fries!
- mustard-flavored beef – ground beef cooked with onions and flavored with mustard (In-N-Out anyone?!). It makes the beef so flavorful!
- special sauce dressing – what is a burger without a good sauce and this burger sauce is perfection!
- relatively easy to make – there are a few moving parts, but it mostly involves chopping and inactive time while the fries cook.
- can be a full meal or an appetizer for a party or game day
- they make a complete and balanced meal – we have protein from the beef, carbohydrates from the potatoes, healthy fat from the dressing, and fiber from the veggies and potatoes.
Are cheeseburger fries healthy?
Cheeseburgers and fries are definitely not the first things you think of when hearing the word healthy. When getting them out at a restaurant, they can be heavy on fat and carbs, and lower on protein. A small cheeseburger with mayo and an order of fries at a restaurant can easily be over 1000 calories with around 60 grams of fat and 85 grams of carbs.
Of course, all foods can be enjoyed in moderation, but something to think about if you have specific goals.
But this version is totally different! We are using leaner beef, aren’t using a ton of cheese, and also added in some veggies for fiber and micronutrients. A serving has 567 calories with 42 grams of carbs, 32 grams of protein, and 29 grams of fat.
Cheeseburger fries ingredients
- russet potatoes – the best potatoes for french fries
- diced onion
- ground beef – I used 90/10
- dijon mustard
- shredded cheddar cheese
- cheeseburger toppings – we used shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced dill pickles
- special sauce dressing
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
How to make cheeseburger fries
- Prep your fries. Wash potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch matchsticks/fries. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and add fries. Toss with oil and salt and pepper to evenly coat. Spread out on the baking sheets, making sure to leave some room in between them for even airflow. Bake at 450 degrees for 30-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
- Make the special sauce while the fries cook. You can also use store-bought.
- Prep your favorite burger toppings. Chop lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, and shred your cheese. Set aside.
- Make the mustard-ground beef. When there are about 8 minutes left on the fries, make your ground beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once hot, add oil and let it get hot, about 30 seconds. Add onions and salt and pepper and sauté for 4-5 minutes until soft and golden brown. Add ground beef and break it up with the back of a large spoon. Cook for about 7 minutes, adding mustard halfway through and stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Melt the cheese. When your fries are done, move to one large baking sheet in a somewhat even layer. Turn down the oven to 350 degrees. Top with cooked ground beef mixture and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Place back in the oven and let the cheese melt for about 3-5 minutes.
- Load up those fries! When the cheese is melted, remove them from the oven and top with the remaining ingredients. Evenly distribute with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and chopped pickles. Drizzle over special sauce dressing.
- Enjoy right away!
Special sauce dressing
Okay, by now you guys should know I love a good sauce! And you can’t have a burger without some kind of sauce in my opinion.
If you have been to In-N-Out, P. Terry’s (our household favorite), or maybe even McDonald’s, you should have an idea what special sauce is.
If not, it’s that red-orange-colored sauce that they put on burgers and it’s absolutely amazing!! It’s like a ketchup and mayo hybrid and it’s just magical. So of course I had to recreate a healthy version of it and, as it turns out, it is so easy to make!
To make homemade burger sauce, you need:
- mayo – homemade or store-bought
- tomato paste or ketchup
- pickles
- pickle juice (from your pickles)
- lemon juice
- dijon mustard
- paprika
- garlic powder
- salt and pepper
It’s as simple as mixing it all up and spreading it on everything!! Literally, you will want to dip everything into it. Check out the full recipe for burger sauce.
Tips for the best french fries
The fries can really make or break this recipe. And no one likes soggy fries. Here are my tips for the best french fries:
- cut into uniform pieces – cutting your potatoes in uniform shape and size will help ensure an even cooking time. We don’t want some fries undercooked and others burnt. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to get them the same thickness.
- don’t overcrowd when cooking – try to spread them out evenly and leave some room for airflow. If they are too close, they won’t be as crispy.
- cooking at high temperatures – high temperatures are what help them get crispy and brown on the outside. I like cooking mine at 450 degrees in the oven.
- flip a little after halfway through – you want to make sure you shake/flip them halfway through to ensure all sides are cooking evenly and getting even airflow.
Can you make french fries in the air fryer?
Yes, this cheeseburger fries recipe will work great if you want to use the air fryer. The air fryer is actually my preferred way to make fries, but I shared the oven version as I know not everyone has an air fryer and you do have to melt the cheese in the oven. Check out my full tutorial for air fryer french fries.
Substitutions or additions
- russet potatoes – I love russet potatoes for french fries as I find they give you the best crispiness. You can also use another kind of white potato or sweet potato if you like.
- french fries – if you don’t want to make homemade french fries, you can use store-bought as well. Waffle fries, crinkle cut, or steak fries will all work. Just heat them up according to the package instructions and follow the rest of the directions as written.
- ground beef – any kind of ground beef fat percentage will work. You can also use ground chicken or turkey to lighten up this recipe even more.
- special sauce – you can use a store-bought dressing instead of making it at home.
- cheese – any kind of shredded cheese will work for this recipe.
- oil – any kind of neutral oil will work
And here are some additions to add to these burger fries:
- bacon
- avocado
- diced red onion
- jalapenos (pickled or fresh)
More healthy comfort food recipes
- buffalo chicken fries
- healthy red chicken enchiladas
- philly cheesesteak skillet
- chicken parmesan pasta skillet
- chili spaghetti squash casserole
- chicken fajita casserole with rice
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced bowl, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Cheeseburger Fries
ingredients
- 2 pounds russet potatoes
- 1 1/3 tablespoon olive oil (divided)
- 1 cup diced yellow onion (120 grams)
- 1 pound ground beef (I used 90/10)
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
- 1 packed cup shredded lettuce (85 grams)
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (150 grams)
- 1 cup diced dill pickles (75 grams)
- 1/4 cup burger sauce
- salt and pepper, to taste
instructions
- Prep your fries. Wash potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch matchsticks/fries. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and add fries. Toss with oil and salt and pepper to evenly coat. Spread out on the baking sheets, making sure to leave some room in between them for even airflow. Bake at 450 degrees for 30-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
- Make the special sauce while the fries cook. You can also use store-bought.
- Prep your favorite burger toppings. Chop lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, and shred your cheese. Set aside.
- Make the mustard-ground beef. When there are about 8 minutes left on the fries, make your ground beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once hot, add oil and let it get hot, about 30 seconds. Add onions and salt and pepper and sauté for 4-5 minutes until soft and golden brown. Add ground beef and break it up with the back of a large spoon. Cook for about 7 minutes, adding mustard halfway through and stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Melt the cheese. When your fries are done, move to one large baking sheet in a somewhat even layer. Turn down the oven to 350 degrees. Top with cooked ground beef mixture and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Place back in the oven and let the cheese melt for about 3-5 minutes.
- Load up those fries! When the cheese is melted, remove them from the oven and top with the remaining ingredients. Evenly distribute with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and chopped pickles. Drizzle over special sauce dressing.
- Enjoy right away!
nancy says
excellent!!
Kelly says
Happy to hear that! Thanks for trying them, Nancy!
Debbie says
Next time I will use frozen french fries to save on time and effort.
Kelly says
Yes, you can definitely use frozen! Thanks, Debbie!
Dan says
They were really good
Kelly says
Glad you enjoyed them!
Lisa Parsons says
This was amazing! Wanted a burger and fries and this was a great option! Easy to make and delicious!
Kelly says
So happy to hear it satisfied your cravings! Thanks for trying it, Lisa!