Wendy's Baconator Fries

5 from 3 votes

Crispy thin-cut fries topped with a silky two-cheese sauce and smoky chopped bacon, just like the Wendy's original. Ready in about 30 minutes.

Course Appetizer, dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Halal, Kosher

Keyword Baconator Fries, comfort food, indulgent, Quick, Wendy's recipes

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 554kcal

▢ 8 slices applewood bacon
▢ 6 ounces American cheese
▢ 4 tablespoons cheddar cheese divided use
▢ 2 tablespoons milk
▢ 8 ounces frozen french fries I recommend Alexia® House Cut Fries with Sea Salt or Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Fast Food Fries

Cook the bacon until crisp in a skillet over medium heat or in an air fryer for 6 to 8 minutes at 350°F. Drain the bacon and chop it into small pieces.
To make the cheese sauce, heat the American cheese, 2 tablespoons of the cheddar cheese, and the milk in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until the cheese melts.
To prepare the french fries, you can either deep-fry them in oil or air-fry them.
In oil: In a large Dutch oven, add vegetable oil until it is 4 inches deep. Heat the oil to 350°F. Cook the frozen french fries for about 4 to 5 minutes or until they are crisp. Drain on a wire rack.
In an air fryer: Heat the air fryer to 350°F. Place the frozen french fries in a single layer in the air fryer and cook for 14 to 16 minutes or until they are crisp.
To assemble the Baconator Fries, place the french fries on a plate. Cover them with cheese sauce, and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and the chopped bacon on top.

Keeping the heat low when making the cheese sauce is the most important technique in this recipe. High heat causes the proteins in the cheese to tighten up and separate from the fat, producing a grainy, broken sauce. Low heat and constant stirring give you the smooth result you are after.
Finish the fries last if you can. Fries lose their crispness quickly, especially once you add the sauce, so aim to have the bacon chopped and the sauce ready before the fries come out of the oven.
If the cheese sauce thickens before you are ready to serve, add a small splash of warm milk and stir over low heat to bring it back to the right consistency.

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