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These Smokin’ DUI Fries pile pastrami, thick-cut bacon, Mexican blend cheese, jalapeños, and chili peppers over crispy fries. Bring them to the table when you want a loaded plate with plenty of toppings.
Serve them for game day, a casual get-together, or a comfort-food dinner. Get the toppings ready before assembling so the fries are ready to eat while they are still crisp.
🍽️ A Quick Look at the Recipe
Recipe Name: Smokin’ DUI Fries
⏱️ Ready In: Prepare the steak, chili, and cheese sauce before final assembly
👨👩👧👦 Serves: Build portions to suit your crowd
🥣 Main Ingredients: Fries, steak, pastrami, bacon, chili, cheese
📖 Dietary Info: Contains dairy; check prepared meats and sauces for other allergens
🔥 Flavor Profile: Savory, cheesy, and spicy
⭐ Best For: Game day or a loaded comfort-food dinner
Smokin’ DUI Fries
Smokin’ DUI Fries layer crispy fries with carne asada, pastrami, bacon, chili and cheese sauce. A loaded platter for game day or a casual gathering.
Key Ingredients
For Fries:
- Potatoes or frozen fries form the crisp base for the toppings.
- Frying oil cooks the potatoes until golden.
- Bacon sea salt seasons the fries while they are hot.
For Assembly:
- Pastrami adds a savory meat topping.
- Thick-cut bacon adds smoky flavor and texture.
- Mexican blend cheese goes over the hot fries.
- Jalapeños add a fresh pepper bite.
- Chili peppers add another layer of heat.
- Carne asada adds sliced grilled steak.
- Chili makes the loaded fries hearty.
- Cheese sauce brings the toppings together.
Useful Tools
A Chef Knife from my shop helps cut the potatoes and slice the rested steak against the grain. Use a sturdy cutting board and keep a clean platter ready for assembly.
The SnG Food Thermometer from my shop helps check the steak and reheated toppings. For steak, FoodSafety.gov recommends 145°F followed by a three-minute rest; reheat leftovers to 165°F.
More Ways to Build Your Fries
For a separate from-scratch fry method, try Ultimate Homemade French Fries. Irresistible Cheesy Sauce offers a Creole-seasoned sauce option. These are alternate recipes with their own ingredients and timing.
If you want a citrus-marinated steak recipe for another meal, see Grilled Carne Asada Tacos.
How to Make Smokin’ DUI Fries
- Prepare the marinated skirt steak and chili before you start assembling the fries.
- Peel and cut the potatoes into fries, or use frozen fries. Heat the frying oil to 375°F and cook until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels and season with bacon sea salt while hot.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove the flank steak from the marinade and grill, checking the thickest part with a thermometer. For steak, reach at least 145°F and rest for three minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
- Arrange the hot fries on a platter. Add the Mexican blend cheese, chili, cheese sauce, sliced steak, pastrami and cooked chopped bacon. Finish with sliced jalapeños and chili peppers.
- Serve right after assembling so the fries keep as much of their crisp texture as possible.
Expert Tips and Tricks:
- Don’t skimp on the bacon sea salt—it’s what takes these fries from good to downright amazing!
- Feel free to get creative with your toppings. Got some leftover pulled pork or brisket? Throw it on there! The more, the merrier!
- If you’re short on time, you can use store-bought chili and cheese sauce. Ain’t nobody gonna judge ya!
Summarize and Save
DUI Fries
Ingredients
For Fries:
- Potatoes (or frozen fries)
- Oil for frying
- Bacon sea salt
For Assembly:
- Pastrami
- Thick-cut bacon
- Mexican blend cheese
- Jalapenos
- Chili peppers
- Carne Asada
- Chili
- Cheese Sauce
Instructions
- To begin, marinate your skirt steak and make your chili and set aside.
- Peel and cut potatoes into fries, or use frozen fries. Heat oil in a deep fryer or pot to 375°F. Fry potatoes until golden and crispy, then drain on paper towels. Season fries with bacon sea salt while hot.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove flank steak from marinade and grill to desired doneness, about 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest before slicing thinly against the grain. Check with a food thermometer: steak should reach at least 145°F, followed by a three-minute rest. Use the time as a guide and continue cooking if needed.
- Layer fries on a serving platter. Top with Mexican blend cheese, chili, cheese sauce, sliced flank steak, pastrami, and chopped bacon. Garnish with sliced jalapenos and chili peppers. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Have the toppings ready before assembling and serve the loaded fries promptly for the best crisp texture.
- Store-bought chili and cheese sauce are options when you want to reduce component preparation, as suggested in the article.
- Refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers within two hours, or one hour above 90°F. Reheat to 165°F; do not rely on crispness alone.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Variations:
- Swap out the carne asada for grilled chicken or shrimp for a lighter twist.
- Add some diced avocado or guacamole for a creamy, dreamy finish.
- Drizzle some sriracha mayo or chipotle aioli on top for an extra burst of flavor.
- Experiment with different types of cheese—pepper jack, cheddar, or even blue cheese crumbles would all be delicious!
- For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and load up on veggies like bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
- Toss some diced tomatoes and green onions on top for a pop of freshness.
- Spice things up with a sprinkle of Cajun seasoning or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Crumble up some queso fresco or feta cheese for a tangy twist.
- For a decadent finish, drizzle some truffle oil over the top before serving.
- Turn up the heat with some sliced habanero or serrano peppers for all you spice lovers out
What to Serve With It:
For a game-day spread, set out BBQ Chicken Sliders as another shareable option. Deviled Egg Potato Salad adds a chilled, tangy side. If you want an extra dip for the fries, try Classic Burger Sauce.
- Ice-cold beer or your favorite craft cocktail
- Crisp, refreshing coleslaw
- Creamy mac and cheese
- Tangy pickles or pickled veggies
- Fresh fruit salad
- Homemade potato salad
- Garlic bread or cheesy garlic knots
- Crispy onion rings
- Grilled corn on the cob with chili lime butter
- Sweet potato fries or onion rings for an extra side of indulgence!
Freezing:
If you find yourself with leftovers (which, let’s be honest, is a rare occurrence with these Smokin’ DUI Fries!), you can absolutely freeze them for later enjoyment. Here’s how:
- Refrigerate perishable leftovers promptly in shallow containers, within two hours of cooking or one hour above 90°F. Do not leave them out to cool completely before chilling.
- Transfer the fries to a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze the fries until they’re solid, usually for about 1-2 hours.
- Once frozen, transfer the fries to a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag, making sure to remove as much air as possible before sealing.
- Label the container with the date and contents, then store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheating:
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen Smokin’ DUI Fries, here’s how to bring ’em back to life:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread the frozen fries out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes, then check the center of the toppings with a food thermometer. Reheat leftovers to 165°F, continuing as needed; the original timing is a guide.
- If desired, you can flip the fries halfway through the cooking time to ensure even heating.
- Once heated through, remove the fries from the oven and serve ’em up hot with your favorite dipping sauce or toppings.
