Slow Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
The easiest potatoes you can make right in the crockpot – perfectly tender, flavorful and cheesy!
Potatoes. Cheese. And bacon. With these 3, you can’t go wrong.
And when you can throw these in a slow cooker, well that’s a double win right there.
Now the hardest part about these is not the prep.
It’s the part where you have to hold yourself back before you eat every single perfectly-textured potato chunk smothered in cheesy goodness and crisp bacon bits.
And I really don’t even know how to classify this. It could be an appetizer, side dish, snack or an entree.
I actually had it as all of the above, and devoured every last potato. And don’t think that Jason and I weren’t fighting for that last bacon bit at the bottom of the plate!
Slow Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 3 pounds red potatoes, chopped
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 tablespoon Ranch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix, or more, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Spread bacon in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Place into oven and bake until brown and crispy, about 12-14 minutes. Let cool before crumbling; set aside.
- Line a slow cooker with aluminum foil, leaving enough to overhang to wrap the potatoes on top, and coat with nonstick spray. Place a layer of potatoes evenly into the slow cooker. Top with cheese, Ranch Seasoning and bacon, repeating 2 more times and reserving 1/2 cup cheese.
- Cover potatoes with aluminum foil. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours, or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Cover and cook until melted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with chives.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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Do you cover crock pot with its own lid after you close up foil?
Yes, please cover the slow cooker with the lid.
Can you use white potatoes
Yes, please feel free to substitute your favorite kind of potatoes.
Can you use golden potatoes?
Yes, that should work just fine.
I cook in my crock pot all the time, and have found that crock pot liners are my best friend. Wondering if I can use one of them, instead of the foil? Has anyone else tried this way, or should I just stick with the foil, and not mess with perfection?
Unfortunately, I haven’t tried using a liner before so I can’t answer with certainty if this is a good way to go. Please use your best judgment if you decide to use a liner.
This recipe looks really good! I am hosting the family Christmas meal tomorrow night so I’m looking for a good crotch pot side dish. I think this is the one we will all love!
P.S I am amazed at your patience to answer the same questions over and over and over again!!
No salt or pepper?
There’s really no need for salt or pepper if you are using the Ranch Seasoning Mix. But please feel free to add as needed to fit your desired preferences.
This is amazing….someone from my job brought this in as a side for a potluck and it was gone by the end of the party! The bottom of the crock-pot was clean. People were asking for more. I am going to make this for an upcoming Christmas party!
Hi, can anyone verify cooking time when doubling the recipe. Does it turn out ok? Thx.
Back with another silly question! I’m prepping to stick this in my crockpot tomorrow morning BUT, wanted to confirm- does the Ranch Seasoning and Salad dressing mix come in one packet? I’ve never purchased this before and just did a google search. I’m only seeing results that this is mixed together and sold in one packet. Therefore, that would mean, I am doing 1 tablespoon of the packet mixture?
Yes, that’s exactly right! And you can add more, to taste.
To those who added chicken….Silly question, but did you cook the chicken prior to putting it in with the potatoes in the slow cooker? Also, did you season the chicken as well?
Can’t wait to try this!
Carla, I recommend cooking the chicken prior to adding. And yes, seasoning is a must!
I tried this for a potluck. Followed the recipe exactly, was praying that nothing would turn gray or that water would be at the bottom after reading all the comments. The one difference was that I stopped the cooking process 1 1/2 hours before the completed 8 hours due to transporting the dish to work and then plugged it back in and cooked again for an hour. Everyone enjoyed the dish. I will definitely try this again. Thank you for this dish.
This went into the slow cooker about 30 minutes ago. I went “letter of the law” with the recipe, if I like it (and I’m assuming I will, as there is nothing here I don’t like!) I’ll make it again, and substitute shredded cheddar-jack.
Ooooo, I can’t wait until the odor wafts through my apartment!!
Is the ranch powder or bottled?
This requires ranch powder, not bottled dressing.
Are you using ranch mix and salad dressing mix?
Grady, the recipe calls for Ranch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix.
I’m assuming this dressing is not in UK as never heard of anything like that. What would you use in UK please
As mentioned in the previous comments, it may be best to make the Ranch Seasoning from scratch. There are a lot of easy DIY recipes available online.
Hi! I tried this recipe out for Thanksgiving and followed the instructions, but I also found an issue with liquid/water from the potatoes. Are there any tricks or tips during prepping (pre boil or bake potatoes, etc) that you do to prevent this? I dried the potatoes well using paper towels before placing them in the crock pot, but ended up having to drain quite a bit of water out, and the potatoes came out dark and not as appetizing as your photos :(. Any suggestions?
That’s really strange because I had absolutely no liquid from the potatoes at all! What kind of potatoes did you use?
🙁 I used red potatoes chopped into cubes! I may have done something wrong, but I did not include any ingredients outside of the directions. Will definitely try again!
I hope you have a better outcome next time!
Just wanted to a make a quick comment about the change in coloring of potatoes. Sometimes if you use aluminum knives the potatoes change. Also if you soak them in salt water while you are getting things ready they won’t turn grayish color.
I just put this in the crock pot but added chicken as well. I hope it turns out!!! It looks delicious.
It was yummy with the chicken!!!
Did you cook the chicken first? Or just put diced raw pieces in? I want to add chicken, but I’m not sure how to do it.
What if you want to make this with 5 pounds of potatoes? Can someone do the conversions? I usually am off on those. Also, will the potatoes entirely stick to the foil if I don’t use oil or spray?
Kelley, the recipe calls for 3 pounds potatoes so if you are using 5, you can roughly double everything else, or add it to taste. And no, the potatoes will not stick to the foil but if you are worried, you can always use nonstick spray such as Pam.
I LOVE everything about this recipe . . . except for the ranch, unfortunately. Ranch and I have never been friends, and I was wondering if you had any recommendations on substitutions for the ranch seasoning or if the flavor would be adequate without the ranch? Thanks for your time and your wonderful recipe.
Lindsey, the ranch is a very important ingredient in this recipe so I do not recommend omitting or substituting. If you are not a fan of Ranch, then I just don’t think this recipe is for you. Sorry!
What if you don’t use the ranch dressing mix and make it with other spices like black pepper etc. Will it still cook the same but just taste different ? Or does the ranch make it cook
The Ranch is simply a seasoning, not a cooking element.
I have found other recipes using lipton onion soup mixes. I haven’t tried it.I am trying it today. I am severely allergic to msg all ranch dressings contain it.
Here’s a recipe for homemade ranch powder! No msg!!
http://www.food.com/recipe/ranch-dressing-and-seasoning-mix-47249
Ranch Seasoning from scratch. There are a lot of easy DIY recipes available online.
Margaret C Murphy says:
May 18, 2015 at 2:03 PM
Here’s my recipe for the homemade mix:
1 1/2 tsp pepper
3 TBSP parsley flakes
1 TBSP garlic salt
3/4 tsp salt
4 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
1 1/2 TBSP granulated onion
3/4 tsp dill weed
———-
Maybe there is something that you could change in the “ranch” mix that will please your taste. I do it all the time. Do you like Italian dressing?
LINDSEY, i made this last night WITHOUT the Ranch seasoning, because I DONT LIKE Ranch dressing at all. I used black pepper, salt, chicken, bacon, and cheese..it turned out PERFECT!!! Im a great cook, and i experiment a lot..and always add my own little twists if a recipe calls for something me or my kids dont like. So YES you can make this without the Ranch seasoning!!
I want to make this for a breakfast in the morning but it will be 1 1/2 hrs before it is eaten would it ok to leave it on warm for that time
You can certainly give that a try but this is really best when served immediately.
This recipe looks awesome! quick question…If I make it the day before, will it still be good if i let it warm up in the crock pot? I’m just not sure I’ll have enough time to make it on the day of the event.
Unfortunately, I do not recommend making this ahead of time as this is really best when served immediately.