Street FoodMediumFree

Mexican Loaded Chips

Name: Mexican Loaded Chips
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 litre Vegetable oil for frying; 2 Avocados for guacamole; 2 cloves Garlic; 1 White onion; 1 tsp Chili powder; 3 Jalapeño chiles; 100 ml Sour cream; 200 ml Whole milk; 2 tbsp Butter; 800 g Potatoes for chips; 200 g Cheddar cheese; 400 g Ground beef

4.0(1 rating)

55 min (25 prep + 30 cook) Medium 4 servings Tex-Mex

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: Mar 25, 2026 · Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Chips with taco ground beef, melted cheese sauce, guacamole and jalapeños.

About this recipe

Crispy chips loaded with taco ground beef, melted cheese sauce, jalapeños, guacamole and sour cream. The ultimate Tex-Mex treat combining the best of chips with all the flavors of Mexico.

History & Origin

Mexican Loaded Chips (known as Mexican Loaded Fries in the United States) are one of the most emblematic dishes of contemporary Tex-Mex street food, emerging from the food trucks and casual restaurants of California, Texas and Arizona during the 1990s and popularised globally in the following decade. The concept of loaded chips already existed in American culture (cheddar cheese fries, bacon fries), but Mexican-American cooks took this format to another level by incorporating taco elements: ground beef seasoned with achiote and cumin, jalapeño salsa, fresh guacamole, sour cream, melted cheese and pico de gallo. The dish was born in border areas where chips - a basic element of American fast food - became the perfect base on which to pile Mexican flavors. The Tex-Mex melted cheese sauce, a creamy blend of American cheeses and jalapeños (different from traditional Mexican queso fundido), is the element that ties everything together. In the United Kingdom, this dish has become one of the favorites at pubs and casual dining restaurants. The homemade version far surpasses any commercial version: chips fried at the correct temperature, homemade taco ground beef and fresh guacamole make all the difference.

Estimated cost

$18.81

Total cost

$4.70

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on US supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

480

Calories

18g

Protein

44g

Carbohydrates

26g

Fat

Fiber

920mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Prepare the chips: peel and cut into thick batons or wedges. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes, drain and pat thoroughly dry with kitchen paper. Drying the chips well is key to getting them crispy, not soggy.
2
Fry the chips in oil at 160°C for 5 minutes (first fry). Drain and leave to cool for 10 minutes. Then fry again at 190°C for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy.
3
Whilst the chips are frying, prepare the ground beef: brown the ground beef with onion and garlic, add the taco seasoning, crushed tomatoes and 60ml of water. Cook for 8 minutes until thickened.
4
Make the cheese sauce: melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the milk gradually, whisking constantly, then add the cheddar cheese, the chopped jalapeños and a pinch of chili powder.
5
Spread the hot chips out on a wide serving dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the top, then distribute the taco ground beef.
6
Top with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, chopped cilantro and crumbled cotija cheese. Serve immediately so the chips do not go soggy.

Have you tried this recipe?

Tell us how it turned out. Your feedback helps other cooks.

Leave a review

Rate this recipe

Edmond Bojalil

Founder, Recetas Mexas

Mexican from Puebla, IT professional and foodie. Author of 1000+ authentic Mexican recipes adapted for home kitchens worldwide. Based in Madrid since 2018.