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Home » Potatoes » Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes

By Chula King · June 27, 2020 · Updated July 24, 2020 2 Comments

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Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes are the ultimate in simplicity and taste making them the perfect side dish for any occasion. Once you try them, you’ll keep coming back for more.

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes

Here’s a Quick View of How to Make These Amazing Potatoes

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Ingredients for Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes

The main ingredient in this awesome dish is the red potato. I like to leave the skins on for the added taste.

The potatoes are flavored with ranch dressing, garlic powder, paprika, pepper, Cheddar cheese and crispy bacon. Are you drooling yet?

Ingredients for the potato casserole

Initial Cooking

I started by cutting the potatoes into 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces. To do this, I cut each potato in half lengthwise. Then, I cut each half lengthwise 3 times and across 3 to 4 times.

Cutting the red potatoes into pieces

Next, I brought a large saucepan of water with salt added to a boil. Once the water started to boil, I added the potatoes and cooked them for 10 minutes. 

Potatoes boiling in water in a large saucepan

As a side note, whenever I boil potatoes, I always put a wooden fork or wooden spoon in the pan with the potatoes. This prevents the potatoes from boiling over. I’m not sure why this trick that I learned from Susan works, but it does!

After 10 minutes, I drained the potatoes. They were perfectly done.

While the potatoes were cooking, I cooked the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. When the bacon was done, I transferred it to a paper towel lined plate to drain. After it cooled, I crumbled the bacon and set it aside.

Cooking bacon in a large skillet

Finishing the Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes

I rinsed out the saucepan and returned the potatoes to the pan. Then, I added the ranch dressing (Photo 1), garlic powder, paprika, pepper (Photo 2), half of the cheese (Photo 3) and crispy crumbled bacon (Photo 4) to the potatoes.

Adding ingredients to potatoes

I stirred the potatoes to make sure that all ingredients were well combined. Then, I transferred the Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes to a casserole dish that I had sprayed with non-stick spray. 

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes in casserole dish ready for the oven.

I popped the potatoes into a preheated 400°F oven, uncovered, for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, I removed the potatoes from the oven and sprinkled on the remaining shredded cheese.

Adding additional cheese to the potatoes

I returned the Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes to the 400°F oven for another 5 minutes or so until the cheese had melted and was bubbly.

Talk about good. The Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes were amazing. They were perfectly flavored and made an awesome side dish. Yum!

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes

Chula’s Expert Tips

  • My favorite potato to use in this dish is the red potato. You could also use Yukon Gold potatoes. However, I would avoid using Russet potatoes because they don’t tend to hold their shape like the red or Yukon Potatoes do.
  • I used Hidden Valley Original Ranch dressing. I’ve not tried this dish using low-fat ranch dressing, so unfortunately can’t comment on whether it would work as well or not. Sorry!
  • I would avoid using fresh garlic in this dish. The reason is that fresh garlic without being sautéed would tend to be over-powering.
  • I used extra sharp Cheddar cheese because that’s what I consistently have on hand. You could also use regular or sharp Cheddar cheese.
  • I always season potatoes by boiling them in water flavored with a tablespoon of salt. Even though a tablespoon of salt might seem like a lot, it produces the perfect amount of saltiness in the potatoes, at least for me – an I don’t like a lot of salt!
  • When I boil potatoes, I always place a wooden fork or wooden spoon in the water to prevent the potatoes from boiling over. This is a trick that I learned from Susa. I’m not sure why this works, but it does.
  • Leftovers, if any reheat beautifully. Generally, I reheat the leftovers for several minutes in the microwave. You could also reheat the leftovers in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes or until heated through.

Other Amazing Potato Recipes

I think that potatoes are my absolute favorite food. If you like potatoes as much as I do, you should check out these other amazing potato recipes:

  • Crispy Mojo Potatoes: Mojo Potatoes are amazingly crispy and crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. They are a snap to make and are perfect for a game day appetizer, a side dish or anytime when you’re craving deliciousness. 
  • Pommes Anna: Pommes Anna, also known as Potatoes Anna is a simple, yet impressive side dish that is sure to be a showstopper at your next dinner party. It’s buttery crispy on the golden brown outside, and melt in your mouth tender on the inside. 
  • Crispy Smashed Parmesan Potatoes: Crispy smashed potatoes topped with Parmesan cheese are an amazing side dish for your anytime feast. They’re easy to make and only require a few ingredients.
  • Potatoes Lyonnaise: Potatoes Lyonnaise is a buttery dish of pan-fried sliced potatoes cooked with caramelized onions. Potatoes Lyonnaise is simple to prepare, and absolutely delicious!
  • Easy Stove Top Roasted Potatoes: Easy Stove Top Roasted Potatoes are amazing. In fact, who doesn’t love Roasted Potatoes that are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside? Well, now you can make them. They’re super easy and made on the stove-top for a winning combination!
  • Pommes Fondantes or Melting Potatoes: Pommes Fondantes or Melting Potatoes – the name says it all – is an incredible side dish that’s easy to make and goes with just about anything.
  • Betsy’s Potatoes: I was first introduced to Betsy’s potatoes at a dinner party at her house some time back. I remember thinking how incredibly good they were and have been making them ever since.
  • Roasted Potatoes with Onions: I’ve been making Roasted Potatoes with Onions (I actually call them “little potatoes”) for as long as I can remember.  I’m not sure how I came up with the recipe which, by the way, is very simple and is a favorite of Susan’s. Interestingly, the caramelization of the onions as they cook adds a subtle flavor to the roasted potatoes.
  • Irish Stacked Potato Bites: The Irish are famous for their potato dishes. These incredible Irish Stacked Potato Bites are no exception. They’re easy to make, and perfect for any time.
  • Irish Pan Haggerty: Irish Pan Haggerty is a delicious twist on a classic Northumberland potato dish. Layers of potatoes, onions and Dubliner cheese are cooked together to create a spectacular dish.
  • German Fried Potatoes: German Fried Potatoes & Onions or Bratkartofflen is the ultimate comfort food. Imagine perfectly cooked potatoes complimented with caramelized onions and crispy bacon. Is your mouth watering yet? I know that mine is!

If you liked the recipe for Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. I’d love to know how you liked it!

✯ Thank you so much for visiting Pudge Factor. I hope you’ll come back! ✯

Cheese Bacon Ranch Potatoes

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes are the ultimate in simplicity and taste making them the perfect side dish for any occasion. 
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 247kcal
Author: Chula King

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds unpeeled red potatoes cut into 1 to 1-1/2 inch pieces (about 6 cups) (See Tip 1)
  • Kosher salt
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing (See Tip 2)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder (See Tip 3)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese, divided (See Tip 4)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 2 1/2 quart casserole dish with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  • Bring a large saucepan of water with 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil. Add potatoes; cook 10 minutes. Drain potatoes. (See Tips 5 and 6)
  • Rinse and dry pan used to boil potatoes. Return cooked potatoes to pan. Add ranch dressing, garlic powder, paprika, pepper, 3/4 cup of shredded cheese and bacon. Stir to combine. Transfer potatoes to prepared casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 400°F for 40 minutes.
  • Remove potatoes from oven. Sprinkle on the remaining 3/4 cup of shredded cheese. Return to 400°F oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Yield: 8 servings. (See Tip 7)

Chula's Expert Tips

  1. You could also use Yukon Gold potatoes in this dish. However, I would avoid using Russet potatoes because they don't tend to hold their shape like the red or Yukon Potatoes do.
  2. I used Hidden Valley Original Ranch dressing. I've not tried this dish using low-fat ranch dressing, so unfortunately can't comment on whether it would work as well or not. Sorry!
  3. I would avoid using fresh garlic in this dish. The reason is that fresh garlic without being sautéed would tend to be over-powering.
  4. I used extra sharp Cheddar cheese because that's what I consistently have on hand. You could also use regular or sharp Cheddar cheese.
  5. I always season potatoes by boiling them in salted water. Even though a tablespoon of salt might seem like a lot, it produces the perfect amount of saltiness in the potatoes, at least for me - an I don't like a lot of salt!
  6. When I boil potatoes, I always place a wooden fork or wooden spoon in the water to prevent the potatoes from boiling over. This is a trick that I learned from Susa. I'm not sure why this works, but it does.
  7. Leftovers, if any reheat beautifully. Generally, I reheat the leftovers for several minutes in the microwave. You could also reheat the leftovers in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 318mg | Potassium: 558mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 343IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment below and/or give this recipe a rating. On Instagram? Take a picture and tag @pudgefactor or #pudgefactor.

Filed Under: Casseroles, Potatoes, Vegetables

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan G Barnes says

    June 27, 2020 at 1:40 pm

    Chula, this looks great, but in step #3 in the recipe instructions, you forgot to add the bacon!

  2. Chula King says

    June 27, 2020 at 1:51 pm

    Yikes! Thank you so much for letting me know Susan.

    Chula

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I'm Chula King, the food blogger, award-winning photographer, and videographer behind Pudge Factor. Pudge Factor features amazing and well-tested recipes from my every day cooking. These recipes run the gamut from simple to sophisticated and everything in between. I not only present awesome recipes with tips and tricks that I've learned through the years, but also process photos from start to finish. For some of the recipes, I include videos detailing the actual making of the dish. Read More…

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