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These cheesy Crockpot potatoes are a comforting side dish that’s as easy to make as it is delicious! If you’re looking for something new and fresh to do with potatoes, try this slow cooker cheesy ranch bacon potatoes recipe. It’s the perfect blend of tender potatoes, rich cheese, and savory bacon, all cooked to perfection in your Crockpot. With just a handful of ingredients, you can whip up a creamy, flavorful side dish that will have your family asking for seconds (and thirds). Ideal for busy weeknights or weekend gatherings, this recipe is sure to become a go-to favorite at your dinner table!
Tender red potatoes and onion combine with bacon bits, ranch dressing mix and plenty of cheese to make this delicious side dish you won’t be able to resist.
If you like this, you might also like loaded mashed potato casserole, ranch turkey taco casserole or garlic parmesan baby potatoes.
Why You’ll Love It
So simple to prepare: Chop your vegetables, throw everything into a slow cooker and let it cook low and slow. That’s all you need to do to make these tasty ranch bacon and cheese potatoes – it’s one of the simplest side dishes ever.
Tastes really good: Tender potatoes and onions, plenty of cheese, some bacon bits and that distinctive ranch dressing mix taste – I bet you can already imagine how delicious this is going to be.
Goes with everything: Serve crock pot cheesy potatoes with a juicy steak, grilled chicken, alongside hot dogs or burgers, as part of a buffet or even as a potluck dish. It goes with just about anything.
Slow Cooker Ranch Bacon Potatoes Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Red skinned potatoes: I like using these because they look colorful and hold together well in the recipe. If you prefer, you can use golden potatoes which are smooth and buttery or russet potatoes which are fluffier.
Yellow onion: Onion is always good in potato recipes.
Bacon bits: Although you can omit these, they do add a nice salty touch. You could also crumble in some crispy bacon you cooked yourself, adding it 90 minutes in, when you stir the mixture.
Salted butter: For a rich and luxurious flavor and creaminess. Unsalted butter works too – just add an extra pinch of salt.
Ranch dressing mix: This comes in a package. You need the dry mix not the liquid dressing.
Shredded cheese: Cheese makes everything more delicious! Use any variety you want.
How to Make Crockpot Ranch Bacon Potatoes
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Add ingredients to a crockpot: Put the raw potatoes and onion wedges in your slow cooker, sprinkle over the bacon bits and pour over the melted butter. Stir to mix, and then add the ranch dressing, and salt.
Add the shredded cheese: Sprinkle the cheese on top.
Cover and cook: Cook on high for about 3 hours, stirring halfway through, and then serve hot.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, make sure your ranch dressing mix and bacon bits are free from gluten.
Another kind of cheese: Anything goes – gouda, mozzarella, colby jack, or your favorite blend. And if you want to double the amount of cheese, go ahead! You can save some of the cheese and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top before serving.
Extra creamy: Stir in 1/4 cup of sour cream for extra tang and creaminess.
Add some spice: Some spicy cheese, chopped jalapenos or chopped banana peppers will spice it up, or you could add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
Other potatoes: Red potatoes, yellow potatoes or anything firm will work here. You could even use baby potatoes (whole or halved, depending on size).
Make it deluxe: Add mushrooms and serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.
Kid-friendly: Add extra cheese and crumble some crispy bacon over it before serving.
Toppings: Sometimes I add some snipped chives or green onions (for a pop of color) and sprinkle the remaining chives on top before serving. You could also add most of the bacon bits at the start of the cooking time and sprinkle the remaining bacon on top later.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Start the meal with cowboy sliders or bloody mary deviled eggs.
Main course: Slow cooker ranch potatoes would be great with Italian steak or one of these simple chicken recipes.
Desserts: How about some apple sheet cake or devil’s food cookies for dessert?
How to Store Ranch Potatoes
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight or aluminum foil wrapped container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 days.
Freeze: You could freeze this but it won’t have the same texture when thawed, so I recommend making it fresh.
Reheat: You can warm ranch bacon potatoes back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave. Another idea is to air fry leftovers at 390°F for 4 or 5 minutes.
Top Tips
Peeling is optional: You don’t have to peel the potatoes unless you want to.
Nonstick cooking spray: You can spritz some of this inside your crockpot to prevent the potatoes sticking.
Don’t overcook: Once the potatoes are fork tender, the recipe is done and you can dig in! Overcooking might make them fall apart so check after 3 hours (or slightly earlier) to see how they’re doing.
Cool before storing: Make sure any leftovers are completely cool before you store them. If not, the container will fill with steam and this will drip back into the potato mixture, making it watery.
Crockpot Potatoes FAQs
Leftovers, what leftovers? There usually aren’t any! But if you do have cheesy bacon ranch potatoes leftovers, they’re really good with an omelet or scrambled eggs for breakfast.
I used a thin tea towel and put it over the crockpot before securing the lid. Any excess moisture was caught by the towel instead of dripping back into the potatoes and making them watery. This is optional but you might like to try it.
Although a lot of slow cooker recipes can be left alone all day and they come out just fine, it’s best to stir the potatoes after 90 minutes. This stops them from sticking to the base of the crockpot and helps them cook evenly.
Crockpot Cheesy Ranch Potato Recipe
Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Bacon Potatoes
Equipment
- Kitchen Towel
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, cut into large wedges
- 3 Pounds red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1½ or 2-inch pieces
- 1 Cup bacon bits
- ½ Cup salted butter, melted
- 2 Tablespoons ranch dressing mix
- 1 Teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ Cup gouda, or mozzarella chees, shredded
Instructions
- Put the onion and potato chunks in a slow cooker and add the bacon bits.
- Pour the melted butter over and mix to coat the potatoes and onions.
- Sprinkle over the ranch dressing and salt and mix well.
- Sprinkle over the cheese.
- Cover the slow cooker with a towel and secure the lid on top.
- Cook on high for 3 hours, stirring halfway through, and serve hot.
Notes
Nonstick cooking spray: You can spritz some of this inside your crockpot to prevent the potatoes sticking.
Don’t overcook: Once the potatoes are fork tender, the recipe is done and you can dig in! Overcooking might make them fall apart so check after 3 hours (or slightly earlier) to see how they’re doing.
Cool before storing: Make sure any leftovers are completely cool before you store them. If not, the container will fill with steam and this will drip back into the potato mixture, making it watery.
Nutrition
Slow cooker cheesy ranch potatoes are so good! This might even become your new favorite potato side dish recipe. With tender petite red potatoes, tasty cheddar cheese (or your preferred type) along with onion, bacon bits, butter and ranch dressing mix, you can’t help but fall in love with this hearty, cozy potatoes side dish recipe.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
oh my! These were so tasty!