Loaded Buffalo Chicken Fries
A quick and easy recipe featuring crispy fries topped with spicy buffalo chicken, melty cheese, and a homemade ranch drizzle. Perfect for game day, casual gatherings, or a comforting snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Frozen French fries (about 4 cups / 600g) – preferably shoe-string fries
- Olive oil or vegetable oil (2 tbsp)
- Chicken breasts or thighs, cooked and shredded (2 cups / 300g) – rotisserie chicken works great
- Buffalo sauce (½ cup / 120ml) – Frank’s RedHot recommended
- Butter, melted (2 tbsp)
- Garlic powder (1 tsp)
- Smoked paprika (½ tsp) – optional
- Shredded cheddar cheese (1 cup / 110g)
- Crumbled blue cheese (½ cup / 60g) – optional
- Green onions, thinly sliced (2 tbsp)
- Fresh cilantro leaves (a handful) – optional
- Ranch dressing (½ cup / 120ml) – homemade or store-bought
- Fresh lemon juice (1 tsp)
- Black pepper, freshly ground (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) or air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Toss frozen fries with 2 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil. Spread evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in the air fryer basket.
- Bake fries for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, or air fry for 15-18 minutes until golden and crispy.
- While fries cook, combine shredded chicken with buffalo sauce, melted butter, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a mixing bowl. Stir well to coat.
- Transfer cooked fries to an oven-safe dish or keep on baking sheet. Spread buffalo chicken evenly over fries, then sprinkle shredded cheddar and crumbled blue cheese on top.
- Return to oven or air fryer for 5-7 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles.
- Mix ranch dressing with fresh lemon juice and black pepper. Drizzle over loaded fries.
- Scatter sliced green onions and fresh cilantro on top. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
For extra crispiness, broil the loaded fries for 1-2 minutes at the end but watch closely to avoid burning. Pat chicken dry before tossing with buffalo sauce to prevent soggy fries. Adjust buffalo sauce heat by adding more butter or honey for milder flavor. Use gluten-free fries and buffalo sauce for gluten-free diet; swap cheeses and ranch for dairy-free or vegan options.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Protein: 28
Keywords: buffalo chicken fries, loaded fries, buffalo sauce, game day snack, easy appetizer, spicy fries, comfort food