These air fryer waffle fries are loaded with plant based meat crumbles, cheese, and veggies. It makes a decadent dinner or shareable vegetarian super bowl snack!
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I get a lot of questions about what to cook in the air fryer if you're vegetarian or vegan. I have a few different things I'm working on, but in the mean time, I say don't forget how great it can be for the basics!
Frozen waffles fries in the air fryer come out crispier and faster than they would in the oven. I needed to do two batches because I was cooking a whole bag, but if you're only cooking for two this could be a 15 minute dinner!
I will be honest, I served this for dinner every time I tested it, but it would also make a great football or super bowl snack. It has everything - salty fries, melty cheese, crumbled (fake) bacon, plant based meat, and fresh vegetables.
Loaded air fryer waffle fries ingredients
- Frozen waffle fries
- Plant based meatless crumble
- Corn
- Cheese
- Tomatoes
- Green onions
- Olives
- Bacon bits
- Salsa
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
How to make loaded air fryer waffle fries
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
- Add the frozen waffle fries in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Cook 10 minutes or until lightly browned and crispy, flipping or shaking the basket once.
- While the waffle fries are cooking, prepare your meatless crumble according to package directions. If it looks dry after cooking, stir in ¼ cup or more of salsa.
- On a baking sheet or in a baking dish, layer half the cooked waffle fries, half the meatless crumble, half the corn, and half the cheese. Repeat these layers, then top with tomatoes, green onions, olives, bacon bits, and sour cream. Add extra salsa and cilantro on top if desired. Check the options below if you want to make sure your cheese is melted.
Top tips and questions
How to air fry waffle fries
Making waffle fries in the air fryer couldn't be easier. Heat your air fryer to 400ºF, add a single layer of frozen waffle fries, and let cook for 10 minutes, turning once. If you like them extra crispy you could let them go an extra minute or two. That's it!
Can I cook the whole bag of frozen waffle fries at once?
Air fryers need space around the food to cook them crisp. If you try add the whole bag of fries at once, they will be too crowded to get crispy. I recommend working in at least two batches for a full bag of fries.
Do I need to add oil to air fry waffle fries?
One of the best things about the air fryer is you don't need to use any extra oil. If you like the taste, you could toss the frozen fries with a little olive oil, or spray then with your favorite cooking oil, but it definitely isn't necessary.
Will this recipe work with any brand of frozen waffle fries?
As you can see from the photo, I tested this recipe using my favorite Ore Ida french fries. However, this recipe should work with Alexia, McCain, or any other brand of fries. One thing to keep in mind is that if your fries are on the larger side, they may need to cook longer. If they're smaller, they may cook faster.
How to melt the cheese for loaded fries
You have a few options for melting your cheese on top of your fries. It depends on what kinds of tools you prefer to use.
- Layer the fries, meatless crumble, and cheese in a baking dish, then cover with foil and allow the heat from the fries and meat to melt the cheese
- Layer the fries, meatless crumble, and cheese in a baking dish, then transfer to a warm oven until the cheese is melted
- Layer the fries, meatless crumble, and cheese in the air fryer and cook a couple more minutes until the cheese is melted
Personally I prefer to just pop it in the oven for a few minutes. This way you can keep the first layer warm and crisp while you're cooking the second batch of fries. Adding directly to the air fryer is another good option, but can get crowded and messy to clean up.
Are bacon bits vegan?
Most bacon bits you buy in the store are actually made with soy and are vegan. Make sure you check your package to see if your bacon bits are made with meat or not.
What kind of air fryer should I buy?
I have a Ninja Foodie (affiliate link), which works as an air fryer and grill. It's easy to clean and filters out any smoke or smells. I've also heard good things about the Cosori air fryer.
Can I use any meatless crumble in this recipe?
I really liked the flavor and texture of the Gardein meatless crumble in this recipe. You could use any meatless crumble, but keep in mind that they're all flavored very differently, so that will affect the final outcome of your dish.
If you are using a different brand, you may not need to add the salsa directly to the crumble since some come with their own sauce and flavoring. Keep in mind also that the amount of the crumble isn't necessarily important, just use as much or as little as you like.
How to reheat leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave, but will no longer be crispy.
I prefer to transfer them to a parchment lined baking sheet and baking at 400ºF until hot and crispy, about 10 minutes. You could return to the air fryer to reheat also, but this can cause the meatless crumble to dry out.
Tips for customizing loaded air fryer waffle fries
- Add shredded lettuce, diced bell peppers, or your other favorite nacho toppings
- Swap the waffle fries for crinkle cut fries, curly fries, or your other favorite fried potato
- Omit the cheese and sour cream or use vegan versions to make these loaded vegan waffle fries
- Swap the sour cream for ranch dressing
- Top with minced chives instead of cilantro
More vegetarian super bowl snacks
- Vegetarian Buffalo Dip
- Taco Dip
- Avocado Chimichurri Chip Dip
- Vegetarian Burrito Bites
- Oven Baked Potato Wedges
- Easy Vegetarian Chili
- Zesty Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
- Vegetarian Chorizo Nachos
- White Bean Dip
- Oven Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salsa
- Mango Avocado Salsa
- Sweet Potato Wedges
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Onion and Green Pepper Pizza
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Loaded Air Fryer Waffle Fries
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen waffle fries
- 1 package meatless crumble
- ¼ cup salsa, plus more if desired
- 1 cup canned fire roasted corn, drained, or frozen corn thawed
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar jack cheese
- 1 roma tomato, seeded and diced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons imitation bacon bits
- ⅓ cup sliced black olives
- Sour cream, optional
- Cilantro, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
- Add half the waffle fries in a single layer and cook for 10 minutes, flipping the fries or shaking the basket once. The fries should be lightly golden brown and crisp.
- Transfer the fries to a baking sheet or baking dish lined with parchment paper and keep warm in a low temp oven while you cook the rest of the fries.
- Cook the remaining fries in a single layer for 10 minutes, flipping the fries or shaking the basket once.
- While the fries are cooking, prepare your meatless crumble according to package directions. If it looks dry when it's done, stir in ¼ cup or more of salsa.
- Layer half the meatless crumble on top of the first half of fries, then top with half the corn and half the cheese. Repeat these layers with the remaining fries, crumble, corn, and cheese.
- Top with the tomato, green onions, bacon bits, and olives.
- Drizzle with sour cream and sprinkle with fresh cilantro if desired.
Notes
Nutrition facts do not include optional sour cream and cilantro.
Options for melting the cheese on your fries
- Layer the fries, meatless crumble, and cheese in a baking dish, then cover with foil and allow the heat from the fries and meat to melt the cheese
- Layer the fries, meatless crumble, and cheese in a baking dish, then transfer to a warm oven until the cheese is melted
- Layer the fries, meatless crumble, and cheese in the air fryer and cook a couple more minutes until the cheese is melted
Tips for customizing loaded air fryer waffle fries
- Add shredded lettuce, diced bell peppers, or your other favorite nacho toppings
- Swap the waffle fries for crinkle cut fries, curly fries, or your other favorite fried potato
- Omit the cheese and sour cream or use vegan versions to make these loaded vegan waffle fries
- Swap the sour cream for ranch dressing
- Top with minced chives instead of cilantro
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