Cheesy Smashburger Fries
I’m such a big fan of cheesy fries! I mean, who isn’t? The whole smashburger vibe too? YUM. These Cheesy Smashburger Fries made such a delicious snack for me and my family. The homemade fries were crunchy and salty, the beef gave a crispy burger type of taste, and the toppings couldn’t have been a better fit. Gooey cheese, crunchy pickles, fresh onion, sesame seeds, then that Big Mac-style sauce drizzled over top? It turned out so good! These would be perfect for weekend snacking, a quick little lunch, or something for the kids to munch on after school.
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Where do cheese fries come from?
Cheese fries are an American invention! Way back in the 1920’s, fries were loaded up with cheese and sold at amusement parks and fairgrounds. People loved it, but it didn’t become easier to make things like this until processed cheese and other products like “Cheese Whiz” hit the market in the 50’s. This idea really blew up across diners and fast-food chains after that!
How about smashburgers? Are these a new idea?
The smashburger concept has been around for quite some time! During the Depression, beef mixed with onion was smashed into a thin patty to stretch meals further, though these weren’t called smashburgers. The closest thing to resemble the modern smashburger was actually created on accident by a cook from Kentucky in 1960! He took a bean can and used it to smash a beef ball down into a frying pan, creating those crunchy, crispy edges! And today, this old idea has sure made a trendy come up, exploding across TikTok and other social media platforms!
Did you know?
McDonald’s famous “Big Mac” was dropped in 1968, featuring its unique sauce that was made specifically for this burger! It was created by a Pennsylvania franchisee, Jim Delligatti, who had launched the burger and sauce at his McDonald’s a year prior, before sharing with the rest of the nation!
As much as people say that Big Mac Sauce is like a thousand island dressing, it’s actually not. The OG Big Mac Sauce features more pickle relish, a tangier flavor profile, and one secret ingredient!
What ingredients do I need to make this?
For the fries:
Russet Potatoes
Vegetable Oil
Salt
For the Big Mac-style sauce:
Mayo
Ketchup
Mustard
Pickle Juice
Black Pepper
For the smashburger beef:
Ground Beef
Worcestershire
Salt
Black Pepper
For the cheesy smashburger fries:
American Cheese
Mozzarella Cheese
Dill Pickle
Onion
Sesame Seeds
Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
What equipment do I need?
- Air Fryer
- Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Cutting Board
- Chef Knife
- Large Skillet
- Large Baking Sheet
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Paper Towel
- Strainer
- Vegetable Peeler
- Slotted Spoon
How do I make it?
To prep the fries:
To get started on this recipe, first we’ll need to prep our base – the fries! Wash and scrub the potatoes, peel them, then cut them into 3/8-inch sticks.
Next, rinse them with cold water, until the water runs clear, then soak them in some more cold water for a while. While we wait, let’s make the Big Mac-style sauce!
To make the Big Mac-style sauce:
In a small bowl, add the ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickle juice, and black pepper.
Whisk to combine, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Next, let’s get our fries cooking!
To make the homemade French fries:
Preheat the air fryer to 380F for a few minutes. Drain the fries, then pat them very dry with paper toweling. Next, add them to a large mixing bowl along with the vegetable oil and salt.
Toss with your hands to coat completely. Add the fries to the preheated air fryer in a single layer and cook for several minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Once they’re done, shake again, bump up the air fryer temp and cook a few minutes more, until crispy and golden.
While those air fry, let’s make the smashburger beef.
Pro Tip: It’s really important that the fries are in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You should work in batches if needed. This creates MAXIUMUM crispiness! I also would not recommend using foil on the bottom of the basket. The more air flow here, the better.
To make the smashburger beef:
In a large skillet on medium high heat, add the ground beef, then use a spatula to smash it down thin in the skillet. Add the Worcestershire, salt, and pepper, and continue cooking until the beef is crispy and no longer pink. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a paper towel lined plate until ready to use.
To prep the toppings:
Chop the dill pickles and mince the yellow onion, then set aside until ready to use.
To make the cheesy smashburger fries:
Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, then add the hot, fresh fries. The foil is awesome for picking everything up off the pan at the end too!
Top the fries with the crispy beef. Rip the American cheese slices into strips and layer it on top of the beef, in a lattice pattern. Sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese, then broil on high for a few minutes, until the cheese has melted.
Pro Tip: I chose to broil for this final step instead of using the air fryer because I wanted the cheese to be SUPER melty. The air fryer probably wouldn’t melt the American cheese very well, and it would’ve been tough to spread everything out and get decent coverage in the air fryer basket.
To serve:
Top the cheesy smashburger fries with the Big Mac-style sauce, onion, pickle, sesame seeds, and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Tips:
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the fries for 25-35 minutes at 425F, flipping after 20 minutes.
- Russet potatoes work best for French fries, but you could also get away with using Yukon Gold potatoes!
- If you’re in a hurry, use frozen fries instead. Nobody’s judging! Just cook those according to the package instructions and follow the rest of the recipe as normal.
Looking for more protein-packed snack recipes?
Need some more air fryer apps and sides? Check these out!
Cheesy Smashburger Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
For the fries:
- 2 Large Russet Potatoes scrubbed, peeled, cut into 3/8-inch sticks
- 1 ½ tbsp Vegetable Oil
- ¾ tsp Salt
For the Big Mac-style sauce:
- ¼ cup Mayo
- 1 ½ tbsp Ketchup
- 1 tsp Yellow Mustard
- 1 tsp Pickle Juice
- Pinch of Black Pepper
For the smashburger beef:
- ½ lb. Ground Beef
- 1 tsp Worcestershire
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
For the cheesy smashburger fries:
- 5 Slices American Cheese ripped into strips
- ¼ cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 3 tbsp Yellow Onion minced
- 2 tbsp Dill Pickle chopped
- Sesame Seeds
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
Instructions
To prep the fries:
- Wash and scrub the potatoes, peel them, then cut them into 3/8-inch sticks.
- Rinse them with cold water, until the water runs clear.
- Next, add them to a bowl filled with cold water, and soak for 30 minutes. While we wait, let's make the Big Mac-style sauce!
To make the Big Mac-style sauce:
- In a small bowl, add the ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickle juice, and black pepper.
- Whisk to combine, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Next, let's get our fries cooking!
To make the homemade French fries:
- Preheat the air fryer to 380℉ for 5 minutes.
- Drain the fries, then pat them very dry with paper toweling.
- Add them to a large mixing bowl along with the vegetable oil and salt, tossing with your hands to coat completely.
- Add the fries to the preheated air fryer in a single layer and cook for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Once they're done, shake again, bump up the air fryer temp to 400℉ and cook 3-5 minutes more, until crispy and golden. While those air fry, let's make the smashburger beef.
To make the smashburger beef:
- In a large skillet on medium high heat, add the ground beef, then use a spatula to smash it down thin in the skillet.
- Add the Worcestershire, salt, and pepper, and continue cooking until the beef is crispy and no longer pink, 4-5 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a paper towel lined plate until ready to use.
To make the cheesy smashburger fries:
- Line a large baking sheet with some aluminum foil for easy cleanup, then add the hot, fresh fries. The foil is awesome for picking everything up off the pan at the end too!
- Top the fries with the crispy beef.
- Rip the American cheese slices into strips and layer it on top of the beef, in a lattice pattern.
- Sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese, then broil on high for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
To serve:
- Top the cheesy smashburger fries with the Big Mac-style sauce, onion, pickle, sesame seeds, and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Please be aware that nutritional values are approximate and intended as a helpful guide
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