They may be pricey, but they are SO worth it! Would you order these?
French fries are great and all, but have you tried loaded cheese fries? A ton of chains are doing it—Wendy’s, Shake Shack, Arby’s, Taco Bell, and of course, In-N-Out’s “animal style” fries. Even we have our own Loaded Waffle Fries recipe that’s so good, we can’t stop making it. So it was only a matter of time until McDonald’s released their own twist on loaded fries. And for that, we have one word: BACON.
Yep, you read that right. McDonald’s has officially launched their Cheesy Bacon Fries across the United States. Curious to what all the hype is about, I decided to walk over to McDonald’s and give them a try myself.
Kiersten Hickman/Taste of Home
What do they taste like?
To be honest, the fries are exactly what you would think. It’s classic McDonald’s fries topped with cheese sauce and bacon bits. You won’t get any surprises with this dish, but if you watch closely, you may get a thrill from watching the McDonald’s employee squirt on that cheese with a syringe that looks very similar to a squirt gun! It was exhilarating.
Kiersten Hickman/Taste of Home
You’ll know what to expect, but I promise you the flavor is still a delightful one! These fries really are the perfect snack after a long day at work, and it was fun getting to share some with my co-workers.
What are the details?
Unlike the usual side of McDonald’s fries, the Cheesy Bacon Fries come in a box and are served with a fork. We all know it’s the polite way to eat loaded fries…but we still like to pick them up with our fingers anyway.
The fries are a bit pricier, which makes sense given the extra topping. I snagged a box of these for $4.24, which is around the same price you could probably snag one of their double cheeseburgers and a small fry, and up there with McDonald’s latest 2 for $5 deal. But hey, when it’s time for some good snacking, it’s hard to refuse an order of loaded Cheesy Bacon Fries.
No word yet on how long these fries will be on the menu, so if you’re craving your own, you may want to get to a McDonald’s ASAP!
This is one of those dishes that sounds so wrong but tastes so right! Trust me—barbecue chicken leftovers are fantastic with the fries. We like it with lettuce, tomato and pickle, but you can add almost any toppings you like. —Janet Telleen, Russell, Iowa
I roast these sweet potato fries when I want a fun and different side. The crispy Parmesan coating is the best. We like mustard, but they're also great dipped in garlic aioli, barbecue sauce or even ketchup. —Amy Green, Carrollton, Texas
This dish combines the hearty, spicy flavors of my beloved slow-cooker short ribs with my all-time favorite comfort food: fries and gravy. With a little prep in the morning, it's just about ready when I come home from work (plus, the kitchen smells amazing!). If you are sensitive to spice, reduce the amount of Sriracha chili sauce. —Erin DeWitt, Long Beach, California
Yes, you do want fries with that—especially these crispy, golden fries, full of garlic flavor and just a little bit of heat. —Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin
Kids love this cheeseburger french fry casserole because it combines two of their favorite fast foods. And I like the fact that I can whip it up with just four ingredients. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana
I came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn't stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be refrigerated and reheated. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Make any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. —Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois
I recommend serving these Parmesan potato wedges alongside a salad for a light lunch or serving them as a side dish with a chicken or beef entree. —Beth Ask, Ulster, Pennsylvania
Convenience items like frozen vegetables, cottage fries and a jar of cheese sauce make it a snap to assemble this comforting pork chop supper. It's a simple one-dish meal. —Gregg Voss, Emerson, Nebraska
I can never get enough of this baked sweet potato fries recipe! Even though my grocery store sells them in the frozen foods section, I still love to pull them out of my garden and chop them up fresh! —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
My husband and two grown sons really enjoy these fun nachos—they can devour a platter of them in no time. They're also fun to make when friends come over. —Debra Morgan, Idaho Falls, Idaho
I love Reubens, so I turned the classic sandwich into a fun appetizer with corned beef and sauerkraut on waffle fries. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
Sweet potatoes roasted with curry and smoked paprika delight everybody at our table. The mango chutney makes a tangy dip. —Simi Jois, Streamwood, Illinois
This peerless pastrami sandwich was adapted from a menu favorite at Primanti Bros. Restaurant in Pittsburgh. We took the basic ingredients—grilled cold cuts, cheese, fried potatoes and tomatoes—and created a tasty replica that includes our version of their secret coleslaw topping. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
I jazz up these baked french fries with paprika and garlic powder. Something about the combination of spices packs a punch. The leftovers are even good cold! —Heather Byers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
My family is all about chili fries, but restaurant versions pile on the calories. For a healthier approach, bake the fries and serve them with green onions and avocado. —Beverly Nowling, Bristol, Florida
I'm a small-business owner, so most of my recipes are a result of not having time to run to the store, and doing with what's on hand. Here's a perfect example. Dip these wedges in anything. —Dana Alexander, Lebanon, Missouri
This is a very popular dish at restaurants in central Pennsylvania. Prepared sweet-and-sour dressing is good on this salad, too. —Nancy Collins, Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Better than french fries, these tasty potatoes have just the right touch of garlic and Parmesan cheese. This is the only way my daughter will eat sweet potatoes, and she loves 'em!. —Marie Nicolau Schumacher, Larchmont, New York
Here’s a deliciously downsized version of the ever-popular Philly cheesesteak. For perfect bite-size snacks, the sandwich ingredients are layered on waffle-cut fries instead of buns.
I taught my nieces to make these easy, cheesy oven-baked potatoes. When the whole family comes over, we triple the recipe—and have no leftovers. —Ann Brown, Niles, MI