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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Special Diet ยป Egg Free ยป chili cheese fries

    chili cheese fries

    Published: Oct 4, 2012 ยท Updated: Mar 7, 2017 ยท This post contains affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These mouthwatering chili cheese fries are loaded with flavor without all the guilt of regular chili & cheese covered fries.

    These mouthwatering chili cheese fries from Living Well Kitchen are loaded with flavor without all the guilt of regular chili & cheese covered fries since they are made with butternut squash

    First off, I feel like I need to mention that today is National Taco Day!

    I love making all different kinds of tacos... Lentil Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Tofu Tacos, Fish Tacos, and Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos.

    When I was trying to decide what my top 10 favorite recipes were, I wrote down three out of the five taco recipes. But I decided to go with the tofu tacos since I had to pick just one. The tofu tacos make tofu actually taste good. Even tofu-haters liked them!

    But today, I'm not here with another taco recipe. Something better...Chili Cheese Fries

    And I made them healthy - almost guilt free!

    Oh happy day

    These mouthwatering chili cheese fries from Living Well Kitchen are loaded with flavor without all the guilt of regular chili & cheese covered fries since they are made with butternut squash

    They are worth every single second of time it takes to peel your squash {which happens to be one of my least favorite things to do, so I included step-by-step pictures for the butternut squash}.

    If you're in a pinch or don't want to deal with butternut squash, you can use sweet potatoes {be sure to keep the peel on the potatoes!}. The nutrition facts will change a little but not by too much.

    These mouthwatering chili cheese fries from Living Well Kitchen are loaded with flavor without all the guilt of regular chili & cheese covered fries since they are made with butternut squash

    I include the recipe I use to make the chili, but you can use your own chili recipe or use leftover chili.

    The recipe serves two but it can easily but doubled. Basically, one butternut squash makes enough fries for two people.

    These mouthwatering chili cheese fries from Living Well Kitchen are loaded with flavor without all the guilt of regular chili & cheese covered fries since they are made with butternut squash

    Total time is probably about an hour to an hour & and a half, start to finish.

    You're totally going to want to call me after you eat these and profess your love to me & thank me for sharing this recipe with you. I guarantee it

    Chili Cheese Fries

    These mouthwatering chili cheese fries are loaded with flavor
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Author: Meme

    Ingredients

    • 1 medium butternut squash 2 to 2.5 pounds
    • 3/4 tsp chili powder divided
    • 1/4 tsp salt divided
    • 1 tsp oil avocado or olive oil
    • 1/2 lb lean ground beef or lean ground turkey breast
    • 1 green bell pepper diced
    • 1 onion diced
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 1 cup tomatoes with juices {from a 15 oz. can no-salt added diced tomatoes}
    • 1/4 tsp cumin
    • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 oz.

    Instructions

    Make the fries

    • Peel* the butternut squash, and slice into fry shapes. Lay on paper towels and sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt.
    • Preheat the oven 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil; set aside.
    • When the oven is preheated and the squash fries have released their moisture {the paper towel will be damp}, put the fries on the baking sheet. Coat with 1 tsp oil and season with 1/4 tsp chili powder.
    • Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping fries halfway through baking.

    Meanwhile, make the chili

    • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, bell pepper, and onion. Break up the ground beef with a wooden spoon, and sauté until the beef is browned and the onions & peppers have softened. Reduce heat to medium.
    • Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, remaining 1/8 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp chili powder, and cumin.
    • Cook, stirring occasionally, until any juices {from tomatoes} have absorbed. Remove from heat.

    Make the chili cheese fries

    • Arrange the squash fries is two circles {for two people} on the baking sheet.
    • Top evenly with chili, and sprinkle each with 1/4 cup cheddar cheese.
    • Bake for 5-7 minutes, until cheese has melted.
    • Serve with chopped green onion, salsa, and/or plain yogurt if desired. Enjoy!

    Notes

    *I love my vegetable peeler! It's a Kuhn Rikon Piranha Swivel Peeler, and it works like a charm. It even makes peeling butternut squash almost painless.
    *Nutrition Facts per serving calculated with 93/7 ground beef.
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    I shared this recipe on Photobucket

    Tomorrow is my Blogiversary and I have a reeeeeaaally good recipe to celebrate

    Meme

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    Comments

    1. Michelle says

      October 22, 2012 at 9:27 pm

      oh my these look delicious. I would love some right now ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can't wait to see what you share this week! Have a wonderful week.
      Michelle

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    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme -- a thirty-something girl from Alabama living in San Diego! Join me as I prove that living a guilt-free, healthy lifestyle can be budget friendly, delicious & fun!
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