View source for Cheese fries

{{Short description|Fast-food dish of fries and cheese}}
{{for|Wisconsin-style cheese fries|garlic fingers}}
{{multiple issues|1=
{{more citations needed|date=June 2016}}
{{globalise|date=September 2019|is that it's widely available in the UK, and not as an import from the US}}
}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = Cheese fries
| image            = shake shack cheese fries.jpg
| caption          = Cheese fries served by a [[Shake Shack]] outlet in New York City
| image_size       = 250px
| alternate_name   = Cheesy chips, chips and cheese
| country          = United States
| region           = 
| creator          = 
| course           = [[Side dish]], [[snack]] 
| type             = [[Fast food]]
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[French fries]], [[cheese]]
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}
[[File:Chili cheese fries (25145052653).jpg|right|thumb|Chili cheese fries]]

'''Cheese fries''' (or in the United Kingdom '''cheesy chips''') is a dish consisting of [[French fries]] covered in cheese, with the possible addition of various other toppings. Cheese fries are generally served as a lunch or dinner dish. They can be found in fast-food locations, diners, and grills mainly in English speaking countries.

== Origins ==
The origin of the dish is not known. Cheese fries have been said to have grown in popularity in the United States after canned cheese products such as [[Cheez Whiz]] were introduced in 1952.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foodandwine.com/fwx/food/not-so-american-history-cheez-whiz|title=The Not-So-American History of Cheez Whiz|work=Food & Wine|access-date=2017-07-07}}</ref> Don A. Jenkins is said to have invented the chili cheese fry variation at the age of 16, in [[Tomball, Texas]]. Another report claims that a young fry cook named Austin Ruse was the first to serve this dish while working at [[Dairy Queen]] in [[St. Charles, Missouri]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://visionlaunch.com/who-invented-chili-cheese-fries/|title=Who Invented Chili Cheese Fries - Vision Launch|last=Zorn|first=Marc|date=2014-08-18|work=Vision Launch|access-date=2017-07-07|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/dining/reviews/2018/03/22/5-try-cheese-fries/437993002|title=5 to Try: Cheese fries|work=Commercial Appeal|access-date=2018-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mashed.com/1477043/poutine-vs-loaded-fries/ | title=Poutine Vs Loaded Fries: Everything You Need to Know | date=25 December 2023 }}</ref>

==Variations==
===United States===
Throughout the Southwest US, [[loaded fries]] are often covered in melted cheddar cheese, bacon bits, jalapeño slices, and chives, and served with [[ranch dressing]]. Alternately, they are also served as [[carne asada fries]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In [[Philadelphia]], pizza fries are topped with melted mozzarella and served with pizza sauce on the side, while "mega fries" are topped with cheddar (or sometimes Cheez Whiz) and mozzarella cheese and bacon, usually served with a side of ranch dressing.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In [[New York City]], Long Island, and [[New Jersey]], they are covered with melted American, mozzarella, or Swiss cheese. [[Disco fries]] have the addition of [[brown gravy]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saxena |first1=Jaya |title=Disco Fries Fever |url=https://www.eater.com/24415596/disco-fries-restaurant |website=[[Eater (website)|Eater]] |access-date=18 October 2025 |date=24 April 2025}}</ref>

In other parts of the US, [[nacho cheese]] is often used, especially at snack stands.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

Chili cheese fries are topped with [[chili con carne]]. The cheese is usually either American or cheddar. In [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], they use their own [[Cincinnati chili]] for their chili cheese fries at the local chili restaurants. In New Mexico, they use [[New Mexico chile]] for their chili cheese fries, often adding chopped lettuce, tomato, and olives as garnish.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In [[Puerto Rico]], they have gained some popularity on fast food trucks known as crazy fries (papas locas). Potatoes, yams, batata (a white sweet potato with purple skin), [[cassava]] fries or [[mofongo]] are coated with bacon, cheese with roasted pork, chicken, beef or all three, drizzled with ketchup and mayonnaise. Corn, chopped lettuce, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, and bell peppers are often added as a garnish.

===Internationally===
In Ireland, a variation called "taco fries" consists of fresh-cut fries covered in ground beef, tomato, peppers, onions, and various seasonings. This is covered in taco sauce and shredded cheddar.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-01-06|title=Healthy Taco Fries|url=http://www.virginmediatelevision.ie/shows/irelandam/article/1.65.1482.1484/227317/|access-date=2020-09-24|website=virginmediatelevision.ie|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WATCH: The ultimate fakeaway - Taco cheese chip with less than 400 calories|url=https://www.independent.ie/videos/life/watch-the-ultimate-fakeaway-taco-cheese-chip-with-less-than-400-calories-36755793.html|access-date=2020-09-24|website=Irish Independent|date=29 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-02-14|title=Maria's Valentine Taco Fries Recipe|url=https://www.todayfm.com/dermot-dave/tacofries-353065|access-date=2020-09-24|website=TodayFM}}</ref> Another staple of Irish fast food restaurants, both stand-alone [[Fish and chip shop|chippers]] or chains such as [[Supermac's]], is "Garlic Cheese Chips", which consists of chips covered in [[garlic sauce]] and cheese, usually cheddar.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barrie|first=Josh|date=2019-08-09|title=Supermac's: The Irish McDonald's rival coming to the UK|url=https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/food-and-drink/supermacs-mcdonalds-copyright-ireland-burger-chain-open-uk-menu-london-324150|access-date=2020-09-24|website=inews.co.uk|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Varley|first=Declan|date=17 September 2020|title=No more naked fries as Supermac's chips get dressed up for going out|url=https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/116967/no-more-naked-fries-as-supermacs-chips-get-dressed-up-for-going-out|access-date=2020-09-24|website=Galway Advertiser}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Amy|date=8 June 2018|title='Few celebrity chefs would eat whirly burgers in Roma II, but Anthony Bourdain did and that's what made him so magic'|url=https://www.dailyedge.ie/anthony-bourdain-dublin-4060387-Jun2018/|access-date=2020-09-24|website=www.dailyedge.ie}}</ref>

In [[Bulgaria]], a common side dish offered in most restaurants consists of French fries, topped with grated or crumbled ''[[sirene]]''.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In the Netherlands, a dish named '[[kapsalon]]' is served as fast food. This consists of fries covered with cheese, salad, and shawarma or doner kebab. It is often consumed with large amounts of [[garlic sauce]] or [[chili sauce]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In the United Kingdom, cheesy chips are often served in pubs. Preparation includes the pouring of [[cheddar sauce]] over chips or sprinkling cheddar over chips and then putting the dish under a grill.  A popular version in pubs  is loaded fries which are  made with french fries served with nacho sauce, crispy onions, sour cream and bacon bits.  A variation adds beef gravy or [[curry sauce]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-isle-of-man-42867480/national-chips-cheese-gravy-day-proposed-on-isle-of-man|title=Chips, Cheese and Gravy Day proposed|work=BBC News }}</ref> In some cases mozzarella cheese is used rather than cheddar, particularly in takeaway restaurants which sell pizza.

==See also==
* [[Poutine]]
* [[Pub grub]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Potato dishes}}
{{Cheese dishes}}

[[Category:Fast food]]
[[Category:French fries]]
[[Category:Cheese dishes]]
[[Category:Canadian cuisine]]
[[Category:American vegetable dishes]]