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Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
These cheesy bacon ranch crockpot potatoes melt in your mouth with every bite, blending rich, gooey cheese, savory bacon, and a kick of ranch flavor, all slow-cooked to perfection for a comforting and indulgent side dish.
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Dive into these super yummy cheesy bacon ranch potatoes! They're all gooey with melted cheese and packed with crispy bacon bits, seasoned with a fun ranch twist. Just toss them in the slow cooker and let them do their thing.
They're the perfect warm and cozy side to jazz up any meal!
More Recipes ⭐ Loaded Scalloped Potatoes | Cheesy Potato Casserole | Hasselback Potato Casserole
This recipe brings together the delicious crunch of bacon, the smooth taste of cheddar and Mexican cheeses, and the rustic flavors of red potatoes and red onions.
A dash of zesty ranch seasoning gives it a flavorful boost, and a sprinkle of chives or green onions tops it off with a burst of freshness, making this dish a truly tasty and fulfilling treat.
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes Ingredients
What you'll need to make these cheesy potatoes:
- 8 slices of bacon
- 1 cup of cheddar cheese, shredded, divided in half
- 5 pounds of red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup of Mexican blend shredded cheese
- ½ red onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning
- 2 tablespoons of chives or green onions, chopped
Substitutions and Additions
These easy substitutions and additions can easily be swapped out while still maintaining the deliciousness of these ranch potatoes:
- JALAPEÑOS: For a spicy kick, toss in some chopped jalapeños with your potatoes.
- RANCH SEASONING: Make sure to use powdered ranch seasoning mix for this recipe. Liquid ranch dressing from a bottle won’t give the same results.
- CHEESE: Feel free to experiment with different cheeses. Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Sharp Cheddar would all be great choices. For an added touch of creaminess, consider mixing in a few cubes of cream cheese with the shredded cheese.
- POTATOES: While red potatoes are ideal for this dish, you can also use russet, yellow, or Yukon gold potatoes.
How to make Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
This recipe is incredibly easy to make. Just toss all the ingredients into your crockpot and let it do the magic for you. There's no need for constant checking or stirring, making it perfect for a fuss-free cooking experience.
Pro Tip
If potato skins aren’t your thing, go ahead and peel the potatoes before popping them into the crockpot. Whether you peel them or not is totally up to you and won’t change the delicious flavor of the dish.
FIRST STEP: Place the bacon on a baking sheet (on a rack if possible) and bake in the oven at 400°F for about ten minutes, until just crispy.
Remove and, once cooled enough, chop into small pieces.
SECOND STEP: Take a piece of aluminum foil and line the inside of a 7-quart crockpot with an extra overhang, as you’ll need to fold it back over the top of the potatoes.
Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
Pro Tip
Using foil in this dish is crucial to prevent the potatoes from turning mushy and to ensure they steam perfectly. Plus, it makes cleanup a breeze afterward.
THIRD STEP: Before you start layering the ingredients, set aside a half cup of the cheese in a small bowl for later.
FOURTH STEP: Working in layers, add the first layer (a third) of the potatoes to the bottom of the crockpot.
Sprinkle the bottom potatoes with a third of the red onion and a third of the bacon.
Dust with a third of the ranch dressing mix, then take a third of the remaining cheese and sprinkle over the top.
FIFTH STEP: Repeat with the next two layers. Once finished, use the overhanging foil to close up the potatoes.
This will enable the potatoes to be steamed while cooking.
SIXTH STEP: Place the cover on the crockpot and turn it on high. Cook for five to six hours.
Pro Tip
My crockpot needs about five hours on high to cook the potatoes until they're fork-tender. Depending on your model, you might need slightly more or less time. Alternatively, you can set it on low for roughly seven to eight hours.
If you have a smaller crockpot, you can easily halve this recipe. I used a 7-quart crockpot which was quite full. Just remember, if you're using fewer ingredients, you'll also need to cut down the cooking time.
SEVENTH STEP: When the potatoes are cooked and you’re ready to serve, open up the foil and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
Cover back up and cook for a further two minutes until the cheese is melted.
EIGHTH STEP: Garnish with chopped chives or green onions and serve.
How to Serve These Cheesy Potatoes
Our loaded bacon cheddar and ranch potatoes make an ideal side dish to complement grilled chicken, fried pork chops, or meatloaf with sautéed vegetables for a robust meal.
For an extra touch of creaminess, add a dollop of sour cream on top of these delicious potatoes before serving.
Do you love serving potatoes as a side dish? We’ve got you covered with more easy recipes, including our loaded scalloped potatoes, cheesy potato casserole, hasselback potato casserole, or these crispy fried potatoes.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
IRRESISTIBLE FLAVOR: Dive into the layers of yum with these potatoes! The crispy bacon, creamy cheeses, and punch of zesty ranch come together to create a flavor explosion that's hard to put down.
COMFORTING AND SATISFYING: Looking for comfort food at its finest? You’ve found it! The soft red potatoes mixed with luscious cheese and bacon make a filling and comforting dish perfect for any time.
EASY TO MAKE: This recipe is a total breeze. It's laid out with simple steps and uses ingredients you probably already have, making it easy for anyone to whip up an impressive dish.
This slow cooker cheesy bacon ranch potatoes recipe is ideal for a no-fuss side or main dish. Just give the potatoes a quick roast, toss everything in the crockpot, and let it do its magic. You’ll return to a scrumptiously satisfying meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Serve with Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes?
These delicious potatoes are incredibly versatile and can complement almost any main dish. They pair beautifully with chicken, pork, or beef, alongside a serving of vegetables, to create a balanced and hearty meal.
How to Reheat Leftover Cheesy Potatoes?
To reheat, simply place the potatoes in a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for three minutes. For an extra cheesy experience, sprinkle some additional cheese on top before heating.
Can You Freeze Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes?
It's best not to freeze these potatoes as the freezing process can alter their texture, making them less appealing when reheated. For the best taste and texture, enjoy them fresh or stored in the refrigerator.
Storing this Recipe
Now that you’ve savored the delicious taste of these cheesy fiesta potatoes, let's talk about how to store them so you can enjoy them again:
Make Ahead Tips: Get a jump on preparation by cooking the bacon, chopping the red onions, and mixing the Ranch seasoning with the cheese ahead of time. Store these prepared ingredients in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you're ready, just assemble the dish and bake.
Storing Leftovers: Keep any leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge and they'll stay fresh for four to five days.
Freezing: Freezing these potatoes is not recommended, as they can undergo a texture change which might affect the creamy consistency upon reheating.
Reheating Instructions: For small servings, zap them in the microwave in a covered microwave-safe dish for 30-second bursts, stirring occasionally, until hot. For larger amounts, reheat in an oven preheated to 350°F (175°C), covered with foil to keep them from browning too much, for about 20-25 minutes, or until they're hot all the way through. Always check they're piping hot before digging in again!
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
These cheesy bacon ranch crockpot potatoes melt in your mouth with every bite, blending rich, gooey cheese, savory bacon, and a kick of ranch flavor, all slow-cooked to perfection for a comforting and indulgent side dish.
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Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded (divided in half))
- 5 pounds red potatoes (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 cup Mexican blend cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup red onion (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 2 tablespoons chives (chopped)
DIRECTIONS
- Place the bacon on a baking sheet (on a rack if possible) and bake in the oven at 400°F for about 10 minutes, until just crispy.
- Remove and, once cooled enough, chop into small pieces.
- Take a piece of foil and line the inside of a 7-quart crockpot with extra overhang as you’ll need to fold it back over the top of the potatoes.
- Spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Before you start layering the ingredients, set aside ½ cup of the cheese for later.
- Working in layers, add a first layer (⅓) of the potatoes on the bottom of the crockpot.
- Sprinkle with ⅓ of the red onion and ⅓ of the bacon.
- Dust with ⅓ of the ranch seasoning, then take ⅓ of the remaining cheese and sprinkle over the top.
- Repeat with the next two layers.
- Once finished, use the overhanging foil to close up the potatoes. This will enable the potatoes to be steamed while cooking.
- Place the cover on the crockpot and turn it on high. Cook for 5 to 6 hours.
- When the potatoes are cooked and you’re ready to serve, open up the foil and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Cover back up and cook for a further 2 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Garnish with chopped chives and serve.
Notes
- If you don’t like the skins on your potatoes, feel free to peel them before adding them to the crockpot. This is a personal preference and won’t affect the taste of the potatoes.
- The foil is a must for this dish so that the potatoes do not turn to mush and just steam as they are. It will also make for easy clean up later.
- My crockpot takes about 5 hours on high to get the potatoes to where they are fork tender. Yours may need a little more or less time. You can cook on low, expecting about a 7 to 8 hour cooking time.
- This recipe can be cut in half if your crockpot is not big enough; my 7-quart was nice and full with these amounts. If you reduce the quantities, you’ll have to reduce the cooking time.
Nutrition
Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 428mg | Potassium: 1064mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 221IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 2mg
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