By Kelly Bogard

Football is here! From Friday night lights to Sunday tailgates, it’s time to cheer on the boys of fall.

Like many homes in Texas, our fall weekends are filled with family, football and fun. And when you need to feed a crowd with an appetite, you better have the right snacks.

Of course, there are some favorites, queso, wings and tailgate sandwiches. But if you want to be the MVP of the game, it’s all about the fries.

For Loaded Fries, you will need…LoadedFries
3 large baking potatoes
2 c. Colby jack cheese, grated
1 pkg. bacon, chopped
oil for frying
salt for seasoning
chives, chopped
homemade ranch dressing

Our big game day is usually Saturday. We turn on the TV, invite some friends over and we snack while watching a game or two. Saturdays are not for counting calories.

Start by washing and slicing the potatoes into strips. I like to cut them in half, then in quarters, followed by slicing and then in half again. This gives you the prefect size fries for dipping and sharing.
LoadedFries

Once the potatoes are sliced, rinse them in a bowl of cold water until the water is no longer cloudy. The trick to crispy fries is the to get the extra starch out of them. Once the water is clear, fill the bowl one more time and cover. Let the potatoes chill in water in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before getting them ready to fry.
LoadedFries

Now that the potatoes have been soaked and chilled, remove them from the water and pat them dry with a towel while you heat your oil. You want the oil to be around 300 degrees for the first fry. Yep, you got it. We’re going to fry these spuds twice for optimal crispness.
LoadedFries

When the oil is hot enough, fry the potato slices in batches for about five minutes per batch. You can fry your bacon up in a separate pan while you’re working with the fries. Place the cooked fries on a wire rack with paper towels to soak up excess oil. Do the same with your bacon once it is crispy.
LoadedFries

After all the fries have been cooked one time, turn the heat up on the oil to about 400 degrees. Fry the potatoes again in the hotter oil until they begin to turn golden. Repeat the process until all of the fries are cooked. Then season with a little bit of salt.
LoadedFries

Line a large round baking sheet with foil and spread out half of the cooked fries on it. Top them with half of the chopped bacon and some of the grated cheese.
LoadedFries

Add a second layer of fries topped with the rest of the bacon and cheese and place under the broiler to melt the cheese. Be sure to watch it closely, so they don’t burn. Once everything is melted together sprinkle on fresh chives and serve with ranch dressing.
LoadedFries

These taters are definitely a game changer when it comes to game day snacks and you will be the MVP of the game, at least at your house, with these crispy, golden snacks. Plus, Texas is home to several potato farmers. So, you’re supporting agriculture in our state! I hope your teams do well this season and for all of us at Texas Table Top, enjoy!

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Loaded Fries
LoadedFries
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
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Rate this recipe!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 2 hours
Servings
servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 2 hours
Servings
servings
LoadedFries
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Wash and slice the potatoes into strips.
  2. Rinse the potatoes in a bowl of cold water until the water is no longer cloudy.
  3. Fill the bowl with fresh water and cover.
  4. Refrigerate the potatoes for two hour in water prior to cooking.
  5. When ready to cook, pat potatoes dry with a towel while you heat your oil to 300 degrees.
  6. Fry the potato slices in batches for about five minutes per batch.
  7. Fry bacon in a separate pan while you are working with the fries.
  8. Place the cooked fries on a wire rack with paper towels to soak up excess oil.
  9. Do the same with your bacon once it is crispy.
  10. After all of the fries have been cooked one time, turn the heat up on the oil to about 400 degrees.
  11. Fry the potatoes again in the hotter oil until they begin to turn golden. Repeat the process until all of the fries are cooked.
  12. Season with a bit of salt.
  13. Line a large round baking sheet with foil.
  14. Spread out half of the cooked fries on it.
  15. Top them with half of the chopped bacon and some of the grated cheese.
  16. Add a second layer of fries topped with the rest of the bacon and cheese.
  17. Place under the broiler to melt the cheese.
  18. Sprinkle on fresh chives and serve with ranch dressing.
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