CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries - Semi Homemade Recipes (2024)

These CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries are easy to make and you’re going to love them! Crinkle fries smothered in grated cheddar and monterey jack cheese, topped with bacon! Perfect with a side of ranch!

CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries - Semi Homemade Recipes (1)

RECIPE IS BELOW IN PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BUT BLOG POST IS FULL OF “HOW TO MAKE IT”, TIPS, INFORMATION AND FAQ

When I was in college, I was a waitress and for a short time a bartender at Rock-ola Cafe. I absolutely loved it there and made some fantastic memories. Along with the memories and friendships, I also fell in love with the food there. Rock-ola’s cheese fries were probably one of our most popular menu items and I’ve been missing them since the restaurant closed down years ago. So I decided to try my hand at recreating the items on the menu! First up? The post popular appetizer…Loaded Cheese Fries!

Quick glance at what you’ll need to make Loaded Cheese Fries: (amounts in recipe card below)

  • frozen crinkle cut fries
  • seasoning salt
  • cheddar cheese
  • Monterey jack cheese
  • real bacon bits
  • Ranch for serving
  • Parsley optional for garnish

(amounts in recipe card below)

What fries to use for CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries:

I personally think that the best fries for these loaded cheese fries are fat crinkle cut fries. I love the Food Lion brand frozen crinkle cut fries for making these Cheese Fries at home but I’m sure other brands would work just as nice.

How to make Loaded Cheese Fries:

Cook those fries:

Preheat oven to 425F. and lay fries out onto a baking sheet in a single layer. Once the oven is preheated, bake the fries for about 25-30 minutesuntil fries are hot and crispy.As soon as you remove them from the oven, while fries are super hot, sprinkle seasoning salt over them.

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Pile fries up and top them with cheese:

Place a large oven safe plate onto a baking sheet and pile those fries on to it!Then it’s time to add the cheese. Go ahead and pile shredded cheese on top of fries. Speaking of these cheese, I really recommend that you buy blocks of cheese and shred the cheese yourself. It will taste better and melt better. Pre shredded cheese contains preservatives to keep the shreds from clumping together in the bag and it just doesn’t melt well.

CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries - Semi Homemade Recipes (3)

Add the bacon and melt the cheese:

Sprinkle on bacon bits.Place baking sheet with the plate of cheese covered fries into oven and turn broiler into high.Let broiler melt cheese for 3-5 minutes, keeping an eye in it so the cheese doesn’t burn. No one wants burnt cheese fries.Sprinkle Parsley garnish and serve hot with ranch!

CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries - Semi Homemade Recipes (4)

For even more cheesy coverage, layer the cheese and fries. If you pile the fries high with the layers of cheese in between the fries you may want to melt each cheese layer until the broiler before adding the next level of fries to make sure all of the cheese melts.

CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries - Semi Homemade Recipes (5)

For all of you locals, I’m in the process of experimenting with the famous Rock-ola ranch recipe and I hope to have it perfected soon! Until then, Franks on Memorial has super good ranch for cheese fries! haha

More Great Copycat Recipes:

CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries

CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries - Semi Homemade Recipes (6)

CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

These CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries are easy to make and you're going to love them! Crinkle fries smothered in grated cheddar and Monterey jack cheese, topped with bacon! Perfect with a side of ranch!

Ingredients

  • 32 ounce bag frozen crinkle cut fries
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • 8 ounce block mild cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 8 ounce block Monterey jack cheese, shredded
  • 1/4 cup real bacon bits
  • Ranch for serving
  • Parsley optional for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. Lay fries out onto a baking sheet in a single layer.
  3. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until fries are hot and crispy.
  4. Remove from oven and while fries are super hot, sprinkle seasoning salt over them.
  5. Place an oven safe plate into a baking sheet.
  6. Pile fries onto oven safe plate.
  7. Pile shredded cheese on top of fries.
  8. Sprinkle on bacon bits.
  9. Place plate of cheese covered fries into oven and turn broiler into high.
  10. Let broiler melt cheese for 3-5 minutes, keeping an eye in it so the cheese doesn't burn.
  11. Sprinkle Parsley garnish and serve hot with ranch!

Notes

For even more cheesy coverage, layer the cheese and fries.

Please don't use pre-shredded cheese. It's coated with stuff to keep it from clumping and won't melt as nicely.

CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries - Semi Homemade Recipes (7)If you make this recipe, snap a picture and share it onInstagramor Facebookwith the hashtag#semihomemaderecipesWe love to see what you’re making from the blog!

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CopyCat Rock-ola Loaded Cheese Fries - Semi Homemade Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are loaded fries made of? ›

Loaded fries are noted for being a cheap but filling dish. They are served with various toppings. Common ingredients include cheese, chopped bacon, and garnishes like sliced green onions or jalapeños. They are commonly served at Super Bowl parties in the United States.

Who made these cheese fries? ›

Two possible firsts involve Dairy Queen. One story goes that Austin Ruse invented them at a Dairy Queen in Missouri; another is that a 16-year-old diner named Don Jenkins mixed chili, cheese and fries at a Dairy Queen in Tomball, Texas.

How do you upgrade french fries? ›

Cayenne pepper, paprika, and chili powder can all add a spicy kick to your French fries. If you prefer milder flavors, try adding garlic powder or onion powder. For a more flavorful option, try using diced jalapenos or red peppers. You can also use different kinds of hot sauces such as Tabasco sauce or sriracha.

What toppings to put on loaded fries? ›

Ground beef, browned sausage, or taco meat. Brown gravy (trust me, it makes them AMAZING), a take from our fave poutine recipe. Diced tomatoes, sliced jalapenos, avocado, burger sauce, or even a big scoop of leftover chili. Sour cream or homemade ranch for dipping.

What kind of fries are best for loaded fries? ›

It's all about the waffle pattern

As recommended by The Kitchn, waffle-cut fries work really well when the plan is to load them up with toppings like melted cheese, cheese sauce, chili, or anything else, really.

Why are they called dirty fries? ›

These dirty fries are so loaded that you might even call them filthy fries. Also known as loaded fries, dirty fries typically involve french fries topped with cheese (either a cheese sauce or just grated cheese), bacon (veggie bacon in this case!), onions or another veg, and multiple toppings.

What is the name of the cheese fries? ›

Standard “cheese fries” come in a variety of forms. Mozzarella fries, spuds covered in cheese wiz, or even shoestring fries with a side of American cheese for dipping.

Can you melt Velveeta in microwave? ›

Microwave in 30 second intervals.

Repeat as needed until the cheese melts down into a smooth sauce. You may need to microwave the Velveeta for up to 2 or 3 minutes total. Frequent stirring is necessary if you want to prevent the cheese from burning as it melts.

How do you make homemade fries taste better? ›

13 Tips For Making Better French Fries At Home
  1. Use a french fry cutter for uniform fries. ...
  2. Avoid waxy potatoes. ...
  3. Make french fries in your air fryer. ...
  4. Soak sliced potatoes in water. ...
  5. Fry in batches. ...
  6. Select the right kind of oil. ...
  7. Remove moisture by frying twice. ...
  8. Fry potatoes with the skin on, but clean them well.
Aug 10, 2022

What is the secret to good fries? ›

A properly made fry must hit the oil twice--once at a lower temperature, and then again at 350 degrees Fahrenheit--to get the perfect creamy interior and crunchy exterior. Before all that, though, the secret is to briefly poach them in boiling water (or "blanch" them) before they go into the hot oil.

What is the secret to the best french fries? ›

The Double-Fry Method

When it comes to the actual cooking, you want to fry the french fries twice. The first round is at a lower temperature to cook the inside of the potato and the second time you'll use a higher temperature to make the fries golden brown and crispy.

What's the difference between loaded fries and dirty fries? ›

Also known as loaded fries, dirty fries typically involve french fries topped with cheese (either a cheese sauce or just grated cheese), bacon (veggie bacon in this case!), onions or another veg, and multiple toppings.

Where do loaded fries come from? ›

If you ask someone from Texas where chili cheese fries got their start, they will mention Don a Jenkins as the fellow that invented chili cheese fries. The legend is that the 16-year-old Mr. Jenkins was eating lunch at the local Dairy Queen in Tomball Texas, and he made the concoction to quickly get through his meal.

What does loaded fries mean? ›

The ingredients may vary, but the concept–French fries topped with gravy/sauce/salsa and finished with cheese/meat/condiment–is the same. More important, the results are universally pleasing. As you can see from the examples below, loaded fries are all about inspiration, creativity and mashing up tradition. Wendy's.

What are the loaded fries from Taco Bell called? ›

Loaded TRUFF Nacho Fries – Order Online | Taco Bell®

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