Copycat Taco Bell Nacho Fries BellGrande

Who better to reinvent the wheel than Taco Bell; they did with their Nacho Fries BellGrande. And Grande they are. Heaped with meat and nacho cheese sauce...you may forget chips ever existed.

• Ready In: 1 hr 45 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 3  cups  Copycat Taco Bell Seasoned Beef for  meat

• Nacho Cheese Sauce

• 1⁄2 yellow onion, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1  green bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 1  jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 3  garlic cloves, crushed
• 2  teaspoons ground cumin
• 1  teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
• 2  cups  whole milk
• 1  tablespoon tomato paste
• 1  teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 2  cups cheddar cheese, grated
• 2  cups Velveeta cheese, grated
• 1 (32 ounce) bag frozen french fries

• French Fry Seasoning

• 1  tablespoon sweet paprika
• 1  tablespoon chili powder
• 2  teaspoons kosher salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cumin
• 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder

• Toppings

• 2⁄3 cup sour cream
• 2  tomatoes, chopped

Directions

1. In a small bowl mix together French Fry Seasoning ingredients.
2. Cook frozen French Fries according to package directions; halfway through cooking, sprinkle french fries with french fry seasoning and toss to coat. Set cooked fries aside.
3. Nacho Cheese Sauce:
4. In a large saucepan over medium, heat oil. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until onion has softened about 5 to 7 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk, tomato paste, and vinegar, until well combined; allow to steep for 20 minutes.
5. In a large heatproof bowl, combine grated cheeses, Place a fine mesh strainer over the bowl containing the cheese. Strain milk mixture into the bowl. Discard solids from strainer.
6. Using a wooden spoon stir cheese mixture until smooth and saucy. If cheese doesn’t melt completely, set bowl over a pot of simmering water and stir until cheese melts and mixture comes together.
7. On a large platter top Seasoned French Fries with Copycat Taco Bell Seasoned Beef, Nacho Cheese Sauce, sour cream, and tomatoes.