Dirty Fries with Chorizo

Definitely not let’s be honest!

I love cooking. Whether I’m trying new recipes or making old favourites, I genuinely enjoy it. 

But, sometimes, I just fancy something simple, tasty and fun. 

Dirty fries recipes are perfect for those times when you just want to sit on the sofa, watching TV, nibbling on something cheesy. 

So, below is a look at how to make dirty fries with chorizo and cheese sauce. 

Ingredients For Dirty Fries

So dirty fries, or loaded fries, are super versatile. I make a cheese sauce, but you can just throw toppings on. I add chorizo and onions, but dirty fries with bacon are perhaps more popular. This is what I use, but you do you. 

Frozen Fries – You could make your own, but this is a quick and easy treat, so I do not. Basic frozen oven fries are fine.

Red Onion

Chorizo 

Butter

Plain Flour

Semi-Skimmed Milk – I know some people insist on whole milk or full-fat milk for a rich cheese sauce, but I don’t think this is essential. We have semi-skimmed in, so that’s what I use. 

Hot Sauce – This is optional, and you can use any kind you like. 

Cheddar Cheese 

Mozzarella

Salt and Black Pepper 

You’ll Also Need

I bake my fries in a deep baking dish, the same one I use for crumble. I don’t really know why. Looks good?

Any baking tray is fine, really. The sauce is thick, so it shouldn’t just run everywhere. 

Then you just need a sharp knife and chopping board, a non-stick flameproof pan and spatula, and a cheese grater. 

How to Make Chorizo Dirty Fries – Step-by-Step Instructions

Full, easy-to-follow instructions and quantities are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step One

Bake the fries according to the packet instructions. This is usually about 20 minutes. You want them cooked but perhaps still slightly pale, as they’re going to go back in when topped, and you don’t want them to burn. 

I’m really, really impatient for chips, so you’ll see from my photos that mine are still a little pale at the end. 

Step Two

Place the chorizo in a large flameproof pan over medium heat on the hob. 

Ideally, this should be a saucepan, so it’s easy to make the cheese sauce in the same pan. This means you use all the lovely chorizo oil to flavour your sauce. 

Step Three

Fry for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until it has released lots of oil. 

Step Four

Add the onions and fry for 5 minutes until soft, stirring often. 

Step Five

Use a slotted spoon to remove the onions and chorizo, placing them in a clean bowl to one side and leaving as much of the oil from the chorizo in the pan as you can. 

Step Six

Take a few pieces of chorizo and dice to small pieces, and leave separate from the rest. This is optional, but I really like adding these little bits. Sometimes, I even fry them for a little longer so they are crispy. My husband calls these “chorizo croutons”, and we put them on soups too!

Step Seven

Add the butter to the pan and let it melt. It’ll look a bit weird because of the chorizo oil, but it’s fine. 

Step Eight

Add the flour.

Step Nine

Whisk until it forms a dough. 

Step Ten

Whisk in the milk, bit at a time, until the sauce is smooth. I add a little more milk than I do to my Mac and cheese sauce, so it’s more pourable. But it’s still fairly thick. Add more or less milk, depending on the consistency you prefer. Just remember, it’ll get a lot thicker once you’ve melted in the cheese. 

Step Eleven 

Remove from the heat. 

Step Twelve

Stir in the hot sauce. Optional, but yummy!

Step Thirteen

Add most of the cheese, retaining a handful to top. 

Step Fourteen

Stir until smooth. If it’s too thick now, you can stir in a splash more milk, adding a bit at a time until it’s how you like it. 

Step Fifteen

Carefully remove the fries from the oven. 

Step Sixteen

Sprinkle over the sliced chorizo and onion. 

Step Seventeen

Drizzle on the cheese sauce. 

Step Eighteen 

Sprinkle on the remaining cheese and the smaller bits of chorizo. 

Step Nineteen

Return to the oven for 5-10 minutes until the cheese has melted.

Serving Suggestions

How you serve your dirty chorizo fries depends on how you eat them. 

A cheeky snack? Or a late night treat? Serve them straight from the oven with dips like guacamole, soured cream and salsa for dipping. 

Part of a meal? Serve as a side dish. 

Bit in the middle? Serve with some bread and butter. 

Variations

Anything! Throw any toppings that you like. 

You could add things like sliced peppers to the top of your fries, sprinkle on a tsp cajun seasoning or add it to your cheese sauce instead of hot sauce. You could also add some garlic powder or onion powder for a deeper flavour. 

If you fancy some more heat, you could season with fries or the sauce with cayenne pepper. 

You could also try different types of grated cheese. 

Leftovers – Can You Reheat Dirty Fries?

Yes, you can reheat dirty fries. Pop them in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl or dish for a few minutes, or reheat in the oven in an ovenproof dish or on a baking tray. Just make sure the chorizo is piping hot before serving, and don’t be surprised if the texture changes. 

Storage 

Store leftover dirty fries in an airtight container in the fridge. I don’t recommend saving for longer than a day. 

Other Recipes 

If you like these loaded fries with chorizo and cheese sauce, you might also want to try:

• Homemade Nachos
• Chorizo Mac and Cheese
• Air Fryer Halloumi Fries
• Dirty Sweet Potato Fries
• Loaded Wedges