Vegan Fajita Loaded Dirty Fries

 For a plant-based Tex Mex treat, try these vegan fajita loaded dirty fries. Serve them as they are or with a dressed salad for a fun family dinner.

Vegan Fajita Loaded Dirty Fries

Sometimes you just want a fun dinner.

Something that looks naughty but is actually pretty healthy like these vegan fajita loaded dirty fries.

Packed with veg and spices, these loaded chips are just gorgeous.

Serve them as part of a Mexican feast alongside enchiladas (try these sweet potato and spinach eenchiladas), quesadillas (these leftover bolognese quesadillas are rather good), vegan chilli or sheet pan fajitas.

They are also good just served as they are or with a dressed green salad on the side.

What are dirty fries?

Dirty fries are chips that are seasoned and loaded with toppings.

They are also called dirty chips, loaded fries, loaded chips or dirty french fries.

Here in Scotland, they are nothing new.

Chip shops, and Chinese and Indian takeaways have been serving us up dirty fries for years, although they never called them that.

Cheesy chips, which were always a favourite on the way home from a nightclub in the early hours in the morning.

Then there are the ever-popular chips with curry sauce, but chips are also served topped with macaroni cheese, chilli and many other toppings these days.

Which type of fries are best for loaded fries?

Big chunky freshly made chips or wedges are good when making loaded fries as they hold the toppings well.

However, I like to use oven chips when making vegan loaded fries.

I always have them in the freezer, so it's a fun meal that can be thrown together quickly.

Some people like to use skinny French fries, but I've not tried them.

Heck, they are all potato based, so I'm not going to turn any of these down.

What you need to make vegan fajita loaded dirty fries

Here are the simple ingredients you need to make these Tex Mex loaded chips.

1. Chips - I use frozen oven chips
2. Onion - red onion is good for these topped fries
3. Red pepper - or a mixture of colours of bell pepper
4. Corn - which added a burst of sweetness to this savoury dish
5. Paprika
6. Garlic powder - or fresh garlic
7. Cumin
8. Dried oregano
9. Chilli flakes
10. Salt
11. Olive oil
12. Lemon juice - or you could use lime juice

For a more authentic Mexican flavour, try this homemade fajita seasoning mix.

The recipe for the creamy herb dressing can be found in the full printable recipe card below.

Which other vegetables can you add?

Here are a few more ideas of vegetables you can add to dirty fries.

1. Tomatoes - in wedges or whole cherry tomatoes
2. Baby corn
3. Sugar snap peas - or snow peas
4. Broccoli
5. Mushrooms

Spice it up

If you like things spicy, you can spice up these Mexican loaded fries.

Either add finely sliced fresh chillies to the vegetables or add hot chilli powder to the spice mix.

Or you could add them both.

You could also mix some chipotle paste and mix it with vegan yoghurt for the final creamy drizzle before serving.

Adding toppings before you serve dairy-free dirty fries

I like to serve these fajita dirty fries topped with a creamy herb sauce (recipe card at the end of the post) and fresh coriander.

Here are a few more topping ideas.

• Grated vegan cheddar - added a few minutes before the end of cooking to give it a chance to melt
• Salsa - this is a great last-minute addition before you serve the fajita loaded fries, try this recipe for classic salsa
• Ranch dressing - instead of the creamy herb dressing, try this vegan ranch dressing
• Avocado - slices of creamy avocado
• Guacamole - add dollops before serving

Make a meal of it

As I said before, these Tex Mex loaded fries are great served as a simple meal, but they are great served on the side or beefed up with other dishes.

Here are a few ideas. 

Serve these fajita fries with:

• Bean burgers - try these 10-minute bean burgers
• Pizza - make a pizza go further by serving loaded fries alongside a couple of slices
• Enchiladas - serve with these sweet potato enchiladas
• Burritos - serve with these spicy bean burritos with cheese
• Chilli
• Green salad - a dressed green salad
• Corn on the cob & coleslaw

Love this? Try my Easy Lebanese Cauliflower and Potato Bake with Tahini Dressing.

Can you cook dirty fries in the air fryer?

You can definitely cook dirty fries in the air fryer.

Either the type with a drawer or shelves.

If you have an air fryer with shelves cook them in an oven dish that fits.

They will probably cook a few minutes quicker, so do keep an eye on them.

I've included instructions for cooking in the air fryer in the recipe card.

How long will dirty fries keep?

Dirty fries like these Tex Mex loaded fries are best made and served right away.

However, if you have any left over (is that a thing?), you can pop them in the fridge and reheat them in the oven covered in foil.

If you did have any left over, they would be rather good in a wrap too.

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How to make Vegan Fajita Loaded DIrty Fries

A step-by-step photo guide followed by a full printable recipe. I hope you enjoy these Tex Mex loaded chips.

Step 1

• Preheat the oven (the full recipe with ingredients and method is below these step-by-step photos).
• First butter a large baking tray, sheet pan or oven dish.
• Add the oven chips and then the veg.

Step 2

• Don't forget to add the corn, then add the spice mix, lemon juice and olive oil.
• Toss well to coat.
• Pop in the oven to cook.

Step 3

• Now make the creamy dressing.
• Add the dairy-free Greek yoghurt, lemon juice and herbs to a bowl.
• Season and mix well.
• Set aside to serve once the loaded fries are ready.

Step 4

• Once the fries are well cooked (cook them as crispy as you like them), add the toppings.
• Drizzle over the creamy dressing and top with fresh herbs.
• Serve and enjoy!

fries, chips, loaded fried, loaded chips, vegan dirty fries, dirty fries, fajita fries, Tex Mex Fries, Mexican dirty fries, vegan loaded fries

dinner

Mexican, vegan

Yield: 2-4

Author: Jacqueline Meldrum

Vegan Fajita Loaded Dirty Fries

For a plant-based Tex Mex treat, try these vegan fajita loaded dirty fries. Serve them as they are or with a dressed salad for a fun family dinner.

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinInactive time: 35 MinTotal time: 1 H & 10 M

Ingredients

• 550g (20 oz) frozen oven chips
• 1 red onion, peeled, halved and sliced
• 1 red pepper, topped, deseeded and thinly sliced
• 165g (drained 198g / 6 oz tin of corn) tinned (or fresh corn)
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder (or 1 clove garlic crushed)
• 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes (more if you like)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Dressing and toppings

• 3 tablespoons vegan Greek yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 8 mint leaves, chopped
• pinch salt
• 1 handful fresh coriander (to serve)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 220c / 200c fan / 425f / gas mark 7 (check notes for air fryer).
2. Butter a large oven tray, sheet pan or oven dish with vegan butter or spread.
3. Add the chips.
4. Next add the onion, pepper and drained corn (dry the corn off on kitchen paper to remove any liquid).
5. Next add the spices, salt, olive oil and lemon juice and toss well to coat.
6. Spread in an even layer and cook in the oven for about 25 minutes, give them another toss half way through the cook time.
7. While the chips are cooking, make the dressing. Add the yoghurt, lemon juice, mint and a pinch of salt to a bowl and mix well. Set aside to serve drizzled over the chips.
8. Once the chips are cooked, drizzle over the creamy dressing and add some fresh coriander (of you don't like coriander, fresh parsley would be fine).
9. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

• Air fryer - Preheat the air fryer to 200c for a few minutes and add the tossed, spicy mixture to the air fryer drawer. If you have the shelf variety, use an oven dish that fits. You may have to do them in two batches. Cook for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through.
• Vegetables - You could also add tomatoes, baby corn, sugar snap peas or broccoli.
• Toppings - You can add grated vegan cheddar near the end of the cook time, and serve topped with guacamole, salsa or avocado.
• Storing - These dirty fries are best served fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge overnight then reheated in the oven, the next day covered with foil.

Calories

2 large servings = 763 calories per portion

3 generous servings = 508 calories per portion

4 side servings = 382 calories per portion

Nutrition Facts

Calories

508.7

Fat (grams)

7.45 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

0.77 g

Carbs (grams)

97.36 g

Fiber (grams)

6.93 g

Net carbs

90.44 g

Sugar (grams)

6.3 g

Protein (grams)

17.67 g

Sodium (milligrams)

225.07 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

52.83 mg

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