How to Make Loaded Fries in the Air Fryer
The Best Loaded Fries in the Air Fryer
If you love making French fries in your air fryer, frozen or from scratch, then you are going to love today’s recipe. This easy to make, and so delicious, loaded fries in the air fryer is going to step up your fry (and air fryer) game by ten-fold!
What Kind of Fries Do I Need for Air Fryer Loaded Fries?
If you have tried making this air fryer French fry recipe, then you know that making fries in the air fryer is pretty easy. But if you have ever tried cooking frozen French fries in the air fryer, then you know how incredibly easy that is too. For this recipe, I recommend using frozen French fries because it is quicker. But feel free to make homemade French fries if you want to. You can do any shape or size of frozen fries. I personally like either the skinny, shoestring fries or the steak cut fries.
Whatever type of fry you choose will depend on your taste. The shoestring French fries will allow you to savor more the toppings on your loaded fries. And the steak cut French fries are perfect if you love the amazing taste of potato in every bite.
How to Make Loaded Fries in the Air Fryer
The best thing about this recipe is that it is extremely adaptable. You can omit any of the ingredients that you don’t love and add in the ones that you do. This recipe is broken down into three parts, the fries, the toppings, and the dip. To make air fryer French fries, you will need:
- 14 oz frozen French fries
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
The first step to making air fryer loaded fries is to place the fries in the air fryer basket. Then, lightly spray the fries with avocado oil and toss with taco seasoning. Next, cook at 400°F/200°C for 15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
What Toppings Do I Need for Air Fryer Loaded Fries
The toppings are my favorite part of this recipe, everyone can personalize the toppings to their choice and liking. I recommend these toppings for air fryer loaded fries:
- 4 oz cotija cheese, grated
- ½ tomato, diced
- ½ avocado, diced
- 2 green onions, sliced
Once the fries are finished, remove them from the air fryer basket onto a piece of air fryer parchment paper. Then, place the parchment paper and fries back into the air fryer basket and top the fries with the cheese.
Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes at 350°F/175°C, or until the cheese is melted. Then, carefully remove the fries from the parchment paper. Finish it off by topping the fries with tomatoes, avocados, and green onions, and sauce.
What is Cotija Cheese
Cotija cheese is a type of Mexican cheese that has a salty flavor and is crumbly in texture. Cotija is comparable to feta cheese. Often you can substitute cotija cheese for feta cheese and vice versa. Like feta cheese, cotija doesn’t necessarily melt like cheddar or mozzarella, but it does soften.
While I love the flavor of cotija cheese with my loaded French fries, I recommend a substitute for Colby jack cheese if you want your fries to stick together more. You can also substitute it with feta cheese if you want a similar taste to cotija cheese but a cheaper alternative. Whatever you do with your cheese is up to you and your taste preferences.
How to Make a Dipping Sauce for Air Fryer Loaded Fries
You have two options for your dipping sauce with your air fryer loaded fries. Like everything else in the recipe, it is extremely adaptable to your preferences. For a sour cream based dipping sauce, you will need:
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon sriracha sauce
However if sour cream isn’t your jam and you want less of a sour cream sauce and more of a spicy fry sauce, you can use mayo instead of sour cream instead.
While the fries are cooking in the air fryer, whisk together the ingredients until well combined.
Final Thoughts
This air fryer loaded French fries recipe is the perfect side. It also serves well at parties or on game days. It is also fantastic as a tasty afternoon or midnight snack. I love how easy the recipe is to throw together and I love that I can adapt the ingredients to my budget, preferences, and what I have on hand. Share with us what you love most about this recipe!
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How to Make Loaded Fries in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 oz frozen French fries
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- avocado oil
- 4 oz cotija cheese grated, see note
- ½ tomato diced
- ½ avocado diced
- 2 green onions sliced
Sauce
- ⅓ cup sour cream see note
- ½ teaspoon taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon sriracha sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F/200°C for 5 minutes.
- Place the fries in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with avocado oil and toss with taco seasoning.
- Cook at 400°F/200°C for 15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
- While the fries are cooking, grate the cotija cheese, whisk together the sauce ingredients, and chop the tomato, avocado, and green onions.
- Once the fries are finished, remove them from the air fryer basket onto a piece of air fryer parchment paper.
- Place the parchment paper and fries back into the air fryer basket and top the fries with the cheese.
- Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes at 350°F/175°C , or until the cheese is melted.
- Carefully remove the fries from the parchment paper.
- Top the fries with tomatoes, avocados, and green onions, and sauce.
So this is great! I topped with some ground beef for an almost carne asada effect, and substituted guacamole and pico de gallo for the toppings. Didn’t score any cotijo cheese this time, I guess everybody beat me to it. By the way, I’m never browning beef the same way again! I used your ground beef air fryer recipe to get that done, and whoa! The family is content, so what more could I ask for?
So happy it worked out for you & the fam, Shirley! Thanks for your review!