What dish consists of French fries covered with chili and cheese?

French fries covered with chili and cheese are called chili cheese fries.

The dish combines fried potato sticks with chili—often chili con carne—and a layer of melted cheese, commonly American cheese or cheddar. The toppings may be added separately or assembled so the heat from the chili melts the cheese over the fries. Jalapeños, onions, sour cream, scallions, or other garnishes are frequent additions.

Chili cheese fries belong to the broader family of loaded fries and cheese fries. Cheese fries need only fries and cheese, while chili cheese fries specifically include chili. They are also distinct from disco fries, which traditionally pair fries with brown gravy and cheese, and from poutine, which uses cheese curds and gravy.

The dish is strongly associated with American diners, fast-food restaurants, chili parlors, and regional restaurant culture. Its exact origin is disputed. One oft-repeated account credits Don A. Jenkins of Tomball, Texas, while another attributes an early version to fry cook Austin Ruse at a Dairy Queen in Missouri. These competing stories are why no single inventor is universally accepted.