Delicious Cheeseburger Fries w/ Special Sauce Dressing

Last updated November 11, 2022 By Kelly Nardo | 10 Comments
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Flavor-packed cheeseburger fries made with crispy french fries, mustard-flavored beef, melted cheese, your favorite burger toppings, and topped with a special sauce dressing. Absolutely delicious and perfect for a fun and healthy comfort food dinner or game day.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings 4 servings
4.88 from 8 votes

When some of your favorite foods combine into one, you get cheeseburger fries! Yep, we are going there!

I’m talking crispy french fries, juicy and flavor-packed mustard ground beef, your favorite burger toppings, and of course, topped off with a delicious special sauce dressing to round them out.

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Pretty much the ultimate comfort food, but made with wholesome ingredients.

Whether you are making them for game day, an appetizer or snack for a party, or a fun weeknight dinner, I promise these loaded fries will not disappoint.

Close up of cheeseburger french fries on a large baking sheet. The fries are topped with ground meat, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and special sauce.

Why we love these cheeseburger fries

  • the best of both worlds – cheeseburger & fries!
  • mustard-flavored beef – ground beef cooked with onions and flavored with mustard (In-N-Out anyone?!). It makes the beef so flavorful!
  • special sauce dressing – what is a burger without a good sauce and this burger sauce is perfection!
  • relatively easy to make – there are a few moving parts, but it mostly involves chopping and inactive time while the fries cook.
  • can be a full meal or an appetizer for a party or game day
  • they make a complete and balanced meal – we have protein from the beef, carbohydrates from the potatoes, healthy fat from the dressing, and fiber from the veggies and potatoes.
Overhead shot of burger fries on a large baking sheet with melted cheese, ground beef, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and special sauce.

Are cheeseburger fries healthy?

Cheeseburgers and fries are definitely not the first things you think of when hearing the word healthy. When getting them out at a restaurant, they can be heavy on fat and carbs, and lower on protein. A small cheeseburger with mayo and an order of fries at a restaurant can easily be over 1000 calories with around 60 grams of fat and 85 grams of carbs.

Of course, all foods can be enjoyed in moderation, but something to think about if you have specific goals.

But this version is totally different! We are using leaner beef, aren’t using a ton of cheese, and also added in some veggies for fiber and micronutrients. A serving has 567 calories with 42 grams of carbs, 32 grams of protein, and 29 grams of fat.

Cheeseburger fries ingredients

  • russet potatoes – the best potatoes for french fries
  • diced onion
  • ground beef – I used 90/10
  • dijon mustard
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • cheeseburger toppings – we used shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced dill pickles
  • special sauce dressing
  • olive oil
  • salt and pepper
Overhead shot of a jar of special sauce, bowl of shredded cheese, 5 russet potatoes, bowl of tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles, bowl of raw ground beef, bowl of oil, bowl of mustard, and a bowl of diced onion.

How to make cheeseburger fries

  1. Prep your fries. Wash potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch matchsticks/fries. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and add fries. Toss with oil and salt and pepper to evenly coat. Spread out on the baking sheets, making sure to leave some room in between them for even airflow. Bake at 450 degrees for 30-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
  2. Make the special sauce while the fries cook. You can also use store-bought.
  3. Prep your favorite burger toppings. Chop lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, and shred your cheese. Set aside.
  4. Make the mustard-ground beef. When there are about 8 minutes left on the fries, make your ground beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once hot, add oil and let it get hot, about 30 seconds. Add onions and salt and pepper and sauté for 4-5 minutes until soft and golden brown. Add ground beef and break it up with the back of a large spoon. Cook for about 7 minutes, adding mustard halfway through and stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Melt the cheese. When your fries are done, move to one large baking sheet in a somewhat even layer. Turn down the oven to 350 degrees. Top with cooked ground beef mixture and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Place back in the oven and let the cheese melt for about 3-5 minutes.
  6. Load up those fries! When the cheese is melted, remove them from the oven and top with the remaining ingredients. Evenly distribute with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and chopped pickles. Drizzle over special sauce dressing.
  7. Enjoy right away!

Special sauce dressing

Okay, by now you guys should know I love a good sauce! And you can’t have a burger without some kind of sauce in my opinion.

If you have been to In-N-Out, P. Terry’s (our household favorite), or maybe even McDonald’s, you should have an idea what special sauce is.

If not, it’s that red-orange-colored sauce that they put on burgers and it’s absolutely amazing!! It’s like a ketchup and mayo hybrid and it’s just magical. So of course I had to recreate a healthy version of it and, as it turns out, it is so easy to make!

To make homemade burger sauce, you need:

  • mayo – homemade or store-bought
  • tomato paste or ketchup
  • pickles
  • pickle juice (from your pickles)
  • lemon juice
  • dijon mustard
  • paprika
  • garlic powder
  • salt and pepper

It’s as simple as mixing it all up and spreading it on everything!! Literally, you will want to dip everything into it. Check out the full recipe for burger sauce.

Overhead shot of special sauce for burgers in a jar with a spoon holding some above the jar.

Tips for the best french fries

The fries can really make or break this recipe. And no one likes soggy fries. Here are my tips for the best french fries:

  • cut into uniform pieces – cutting your potatoes in uniform shape and size will help ensure an even cooking time. We don’t want some fries undercooked and others burnt. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to get them the same thickness.
  • don’t overcrowd when cooking – try to spread them out evenly and leave some room for airflow. If they are too close, they won’t be as crispy.
  • cooking at high temperatures – high temperatures are what help them get crispy and brown on the outside. I like cooking mine at 450 degrees in the oven.
  • flip a little after halfway through – you want to make sure you shake/flip them halfway through to ensure all sides are cooking evenly and getting even airflow.

Can you make french fries in the air fryer?

Yes, this cheeseburger fries recipe will work great if you want to use the air fryer. The air fryer is actually my preferred way to make fries, but I shared the oven version as I know not everyone has an air fryer and you do have to melt the cheese in the oven. Check out my full tutorial for air fryer french fries.

Substitutions or additions

  • russet potatoes – I love russet potatoes for french fries as I find they give you the best crispiness. You can also use another kind of white potato or sweet potato if you like.
  • french fries – if you don’t want to make homemade french fries, you can use store-bought as well. Waffle fries, crinkle cut, or steak fries will all work. Just heat them up according to the package instructions and follow the rest of the directions as written.
  • ground beef – any kind of ground beef fat percentage will work. You can also use ground chicken or turkey to lighten up this recipe even more.
  • special sauce – you can use a store-bought dressing instead of making it at home.
  • cheese – any kind of shredded cheese will work for this recipe.
  • oil – any kind of neutral oil will work

And here are some additions to add to these burger fries:

  • bacon
  • avocado
  • diced red onion
  • jalapenos (pickled or fresh)

More healthy comfort food recipes

If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced bowl, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!

Cheeseburger fries on a large baking sheet topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and special sauce.
Cheeseburger fries on a large baking sheet topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and special sauce.
4.88 from 8 votes

Cheeseburger Fries

Author: Kelly Nardo
Flavor-packed cheeseburger fries made with crispy french fries, mustard-flavored beef, melted cheese, your favorite burger toppings, and topped with a special sauce dressing. Absolutely delicious and perfect for a fun and healthy comfort food dinner or game day.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Main Course
Calories: 567kcal
Protein: 32g
Carbs: 43g
Fat: 29g
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

ingredients

  • 2 pounds russet potatoes
  • 1 1/3 tablespoon olive oil (divided)
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion (120 grams)
  • 1 pound ground beef (I used 90/10)
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
  • 1 packed cup shredded lettuce (85 grams)
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes (150 grams)
  • 1 cup diced dill pickles (75 grams)
  • 1/4 cup burger sauce
  • salt and pepper, to taste

instructions

  • Prep your fries. Wash potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch matchsticks/fries. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and add fries. Toss with oil and salt and pepper to evenly coat. Spread out on the baking sheets, making sure to leave some room in between them for even airflow. Bake at 450 degrees for 30-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
  • Make the special sauce while the fries cook. You can also use store-bought.
  • Prep your favorite burger toppings. Chop lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, and shred your cheese. Set aside.
  • Make the mustard-ground beef. When there are about 8 minutes left on the fries, make your ground beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once hot, add oil and let it get hot, about 30 seconds. Add onions and salt and pepper and sauté for 4-5 minutes until soft and golden brown. Add ground beef and break it up with the back of a large spoon. Cook for about 7 minutes, adding mustard halfway through and stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Melt the cheese. When your fries are done, move to one large baking sheet in a somewhat even layer. Turn down the oven to 350 degrees. Top with cooked ground beef mixture and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Place back in the oven and let the cheese melt for about 3-5 minutes.
  • Load up those fries! When the cheese is melted, remove them from the oven and top with the remaining ingredients. Evenly distribute with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and chopped pickles. Drizzle over special sauce dressing.
  • Enjoy right away!

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nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cheeseburger Fries
Amount Per Serving (1 serving (1/4 of recipe))
Calories 567 Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Fat 29g45%
Saturated Fat 9.9g62%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 9.3g
Cholesterol 103mg34%
Sodium 538mg23%
Potassium 1544mg44%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 7.3g30%
Sugar 5.8g6%
Protein 32g64%
Vitamin A 208IU4%
Vitamin C 30mg36%
Calcium 224mg22%
Iron 4.5mg25%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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4.88 from 8 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Do not sleep on this recipe!! We did it with tater tots, but that sauce!!! I could put it in everything! And the mustard in the ground beef with the onions is a game changer! So easy, so delicious.