Make them from scratch, or use up leftovers from a previous meal.
From taco toppings to Southern gravy and brisket, there is something everyone will enjoy and you're creative ideas can even make new garbage plates your family will enjoy.
Perfect for busy schedules, weeknight, appetizer or late night snack, this will be a recipe you'll make time and time again.
Why You Will Love Garbage French Fries
- Easy meal: Whether you use fresh or frozen fries, toppings can be from your favorite pizza or tacos
- Economical: Potatoes are inexpensive and hearty enough for a whole meal with meat or vegetable toppings
- Leftovers: Any leftover meats, vegetables with melted cheese can transform plain fries into a garbage plate
- Quick: Air fry, stovetop, baked garbage fries can be made quickly for a snack, side dish, appetizer or whole dinner
- Customizable: Top these with a variety of your family's favorite meats, cheese, and condiments, and the toppings can be different every time you make them
Garbage Fry Combinations
Brisket Top Fries with White Cheddar and Gravy = shredded smoked brisket or (leftover shredded beef of any kind), shredded white extra sharp cheddar or ale cheese, brown Guinness gravy
Chili Cheese Topped Fries or Your Favorite Taco Mix=Old World Chili, shredded, melted sharp Jack cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, black olives, and jalapenos
Barbecued Pork Topped Fries = Barbecued shredded pork, sharp melted shredded cheddar, diced onions, diced peppers, hot or mild
Philly Cheesesteak Topped Fries=Grilled sliced ribeye steak, melted swiss cheese or sharp cheddar, grilled onions
Asian Shredded Boston Butt Topped Fries=Bourbon Asian shredded pork, shredded cabbage or slaw, melted white cheddar
Italian Sausage, Meatball, or Chicken Parmesan with Tomato Sauce Topped Fries: Cooked loose Italian hot sausage meatballs, or cooked breaded chicken, marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, melted mozzarella
Chicken Cordon Bleu Fries: Cooked breaded chicken (or make our Easy Cordon Bleu), Swiss melted cheese, deli thin sliced ham cut into pieces
BLT Fries=Crispy crumbled cooked bacon mixed with 2 tablespoons of your favorite mayo (or make our BLT DIP), chopped beefsteak tomatoes, shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce, melted sharp white cheddar
Chicken Wing Fries=breaded boneless chicken cooked and chopped, melted shredded extra sharp cheddar, drizzled with ranch or blue cheese, hot sauce(optional ), and finely diced celery.
Deep South Gravy Fries=Cooked breakfast sausage or fried chicken with sausage gravy and white American cheese melted
Loaded Cheeseburger Fries: Cooked loose ground beef or leftover hamburgers, chopped, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, melted shredded cheddar cheese, crispy onion tanglers, and cooked crumbled bacon drizzle with any condiments you use on your burger
Tips for Garbage Plate French Fries
- Use steak fries for heartier meals
- Frying the potatoes will keep them crisp
- Avoid adding too many liquid toppings to avoid soggy fries
- Use a good melting cheese like Swiss or cheddar
- Save time with store-bought frozen fries
More Recipes
Asian Pork Roast in the Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Best Ever Boston Butt
Classic Pot Roast
Brisket Recipe
Other Suggestions and Toppings
- diced tomatoes, diced onions, diced peppers, shredded lettuce or any kind, shredded cabbage
- leftover cooked meats of any kind
- thinly sliced deli meats can be substituted
- breaded or grilled diced cooked chicken
- use your favorite kinds of shredded cheese
- make a Greek style with feta and cooked ground lamb, and cucumber sauce on top
- use leftover corned beef and make Reuben-topped fries (the sky's the limit, just get creative)
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Our Loaded Fries or Baked Potatoes!
Even though we talked all about Garbage French Fries with our loaded dirty dozen toppings, you can also do the same on Steakhouse Baked Potatoes for those who want to take a shortcut in time for cooking.
Just about any kind of meat, from thin-sliced deli to our delicious slow cooker Corned Beef recipe, will be delicious on your potatoes.
Perfectly Cooked French Fries for Garbage French Fries
Ingredients
- 5 pounds of russet potatoes peeled (or with partial skins left on) cut into vertical long pieces
- Peanut oil for frying
- sea salt
Instructions
- Peel and cut potatoes.
- Soak in cold ice water for 4 hours or overnight.
- Dry with paper towels
- Heat 3 inches of oil (a deep fryer works the best filling to the line)
- Get the oil to 300 degrees and make the fries in 3 or 4 batches at a time.
- Once they start to be golden turn up the heat at 400 degrees and fry until a bright golden not browned color.
- Drain on paper towels, salt to taste.
- Proceed with topping suggestions under notes.
Notes
Garbage Fry Combinations (Dirty Dozen)
Brisket Top Fries with White Cheddar and Gravy= shredded smoked brisket or (leftover shredded beef of any kind)shredded white extra sharp cheddar or ale cheese, brown Guinness gravy
Chili Cheese Topped Fries=Old World Chili, shredded melted sharp jack cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, black olives, and jalapenos
Barbecued Pork Topped Fries= Barbecued shredded pork, sharp melted shredded cheddar, diced onions, diced peppers hot or mild
Philly Cheesesteak Topped Fries=Grilled sliced ribeye steak, melted swiss cheese or sharp cheddar, grilled onions
Asian Shredded Boston Butt Topped Fries=Bourbon Asian shredded pork, shredded cabbage or slaw, melted white cheddar
Italian Sausage, Meatball or Chicken Parmesan with Tomato Sauce Topped Fries=Cooked loose Italian hot sausage or cooked breaded chicken, marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, melted mozzarella
Chicken Cordon Bleu Fries=Cooked breaded chicken, swiss melted cheese, deli thin sliced ham cut into pieces
BLT Fries=Crispy crumbled cooked bacon mixed with 2 tablespoons of your favorite mayo, chopped beefsteak tomatoes, shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce, melted sharp white cheddar
Chicken Wing Fries=Buffalo breaded, cooked and chopped boneless chicken, melted shredded extra sharp cheddar, drizzle with ranch or blue cheese, hot sauce(optional finely diced celery)
Deep South Gravy Fries=Cooked breakfast sausage and sausage gravy with white American cheese melted
Loaded Cheeseburger Fries=Cooked loose ground beef, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, melted shredded cheddar cheese, crispy onion tanglers, cooked crumbled bacon, drizzled with any condiments you use on your burger
Other Suggestions and Toppings
- diced tomatoes, diced onions, diced peppers, shredded lettuce or any kind, shredded cabbage
- leftover cooked meats of any kind
- thinly sliced deli meats can be substituted
- breaded or grilled diced cooked chicken
- use your favorite kinds of shredded cheese
- make a Greek style with feta and lamb with cucumber sauce on top
- use leftover corned beef and make Reuben topped fries (the skies are the limit just get creative)
- Use our topping on Baked Potatoes instead of fried
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Recipes for Potato Lovers
Air Fried Fan Potatoes
German Potato Salad(see photo below)
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2014. It was edited and re-published in 2022.
