An easy snack or side dish with a lot of flavor: Cheesy Kimchi Fries! Crispy fries topped with lots of gooey cheese and spicy kimchi. Add creamy avocado, spicy mayo, and chopped cilantro for even more flavor and color. Everything can be baked and assembled on a sheet pan. One of those easy recipes that’s good for game days and parties.

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What are Kimchi Fries?

Kimchi Fries are a popular snack or side dish that can be found at pubs, bars, or food trucks. This simple dish combines crispy french fries with loads of sharp cheddar cheese and a generous amount of kimchi. The spicy kimchi adds so much flavor. All that fermented flavor and crunchy spice! An easy way to jazz up regular fries.

Amazingly, it’s easy to make Kimchi Fries at home. The secret is to use frozen french fries — the kind that come in a bag in the freezer section. Bake on high heat in a sheet pan and add the toppings. The combination of melted cheese and spicy, tangy kimchi makes an especially winning combination. Savory, spicy, sharp, and absolutely delicious!

Similar to Furikake French Fries, Cheesy Kimchi Fries make a great snack, side dish, or party food. I like to serve this easy kimchi fries recipe on game days, movie nights, or for a snacky dinner. Everything is made on a sheet pan. So easy!

The main ingredients are fries, kimchi, and cheese. In fact, the first time I ate Kimchi Fries at a local Korean Fried Chicken restaurant, it was served simply with these 3 ingredients. But at home, it’s easy enough to make loaded french fries with the addition of all the toppings your life: avocado, spicy mayo, and cilantro.

Ingredients:

• Frozen French Fries. For ease and convenience, use frozen french fries. The kind that come in a bag. Choose crinkle, straight-cut, shoestring, or waffle fries — whatever you like best. You can make homemade fries if you prefer but it will take longer.
• Kimchi. For that spicy, acidic bite! If using old kimchi, cook down until caramelized and mellow so it’s not too acidic. If using fresh kimchi, chop and add just as it is! Look for kimchi at your Korean grocers.
• Cheddar Cheese + Mozzarella Cheese. The best combo for nachos and loaded fries! Cheddar for the flavor and mozzarella for the cheesy stretch. Use shredded cheese for the best melted, gooey finish. Easier than a cheesy sauce, simply sprinkle all over and melt in gentle heat.
• Spicy Mayo. The finishing touch that’s creamy, spicy, and very flavorful. I used Wafu spicy mayo, but you can use Sriracha Mayo.
• Avocado. Add so much flavor and richness. Swap with creamy guacamole if you prefer.
• Cilantro or Green Onions. Sprinkle all over for a fresh, herby element. If you don’t like cilantro, swap with green onions.

For fully loaded french fries:

• chopped jalapeno
• dollops of sour cream
• cooked, crumbled sausage
• pico de gallo

How to make Kimchi Cheese Fries Recipe:

1. Bake. Preheat the oven to 425F/218C. *A preheated oven will ensure crispy french fries.* Place frozen french fries in a single layer on a sheet pan. Bake until hot, crispy, and golden brown. Or, follow package directions.
   • Note: Frozen french fries can also be cooked in an air fryer or deep fryer.
2. Prep kimchi. Cook OLD kimchi in a large skillet with a little oil until caramelized and golden orange over medium heat. OR chop up NEW kimchi into bite-sized pieces.
3. Add cheese. Smother fries with cheese.  Then scatter cooked kimchi on top of the cheese. Bake until cheese and kimchi melts together.
4. Garnish and serve. Add spicy mayo, cilantro, and avocado all over the top. Serve immediately. Enjoy!!

PRO Tips:

• Don’t crowd the sheet pan. To ensure crispy and crunchy fries, make sure the fries are in one layer, evenly spaced.  Don’t crowd them or they will steam! Use multiple sheet pans if necessary.  
• Salt the french fries. When they are done baking, sprinkle the fries with salt and toss with a spatula. An easy tip that keeps frozen french fries extra tasty.
• Melt cheese gently. After baking the fries, turn off the heat and sprinkle the cheese. Slide the sheet pan back into the oven, where the cheese should melt in the residual heat. Otherwise, the cheese will harden and lose its stretchy, melty appeal.

Helpful Kitchen Tools:

• Sheet pan. A large baking sheet with rimmed edges, also called a sheet pan, is the perfect tool for baking the fries extra crispy. Line with parchment paper, if you like.

What kind of kimchi should I use?

For this recipe, I recommend Napa Cabbage kimchi. In Korean cuisine, there are over 200 kinds of kimchi. Napa Kimchi is the most well known and accessible.

Note: Kimchi is a fermented food product and changes flavor as it ages. When kimchi has been stored a long time, it no longer tastes as good. Depending on the kind of kimchi in your fridge, I recommend the following:

• For OLD kimchi, cook it down until caramelized and golden orange. The flavors will deepen and intensify, while also mellowing and removing that overly acidic flavor. *FYI: Old kimchi is dark, juicy, and soft. When you take a bite, it will fizz in your mouth.

• For NEW kimchi, there’s no need to cook it down. Simply chop and sprinkle all over. That fresh, crunchy bite will be so tasty, just as it is!

More recipes with kimchi:

• Kimchi Queso Dip
• Kimchi Pizza with Bacon
• Thick-cut Pork Chops with Kimchi Pan Sauce
• Stir Fried Kimchi
• Kimchi Jjigae or Kimchi Soup
• Braised Kimchi with Pork Belly.