These Slow Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes are a creamy (and dreamy) combination of red potatoes, zesty bacon, flavorful ranch seasoning, creamy cheese, and spicy onion all cooked in the Crock Pot for an irresistibly delicious side item.
Potatoes, cheese, and the Crock-Pot - three of my favorite things! One of my least favorite things about cooking potatoes is how long they take to cook in the oven. Using a slow cooker eliminates that problem! These Slow Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes are a flavorful, creamy side dish that is cooked to perfection in the crockpot.
One of the best things about slow cooker meals is how simple they are to make, and this recipe is no different. You simply add half of the potatoes, the bacon, and the butter into the slow cooker, then top with seasonings and cheese. You then repeat this with the second layer of ingredients. These layers help ensure that you get the full flavor in every single bite! After you have layered everything, you just let it cook until the potatoes are tender. You’ll have a delicious side item ready to go!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These cheesy potatoes are creamy, zesty, flavorful, and delicious.
- This side dish is made in the slow cooker, meaning minimal cleanup.
- The layers ensure that you get a little bit of everything in every bite.
- Did I mention that there is also bacon in this dish? You can’t go wrong with bacon!
- These potatoes are so tasty that your whole family will love them.
How To Make Slow Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
- Coat the slow cooker with a non-stick spray.
- Add half the potatoes, bacon, butter, and onions. Sprinkle ½ tsp of black pepper and 1 tbsp of ranch seasoning over the potatoes. Then cover with ¾ cup of cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Cook time is complete when potatoes are fork-tender.
What to Serve With
These slow cooker potatoes make a tasty side dish with just about any entree. One of my favorites to pair them with is this Slow Cooker Ham with Pineapple & Brown Sugar. Something about pairing potatoes with a slow-cooked ham just creates the perfect comfort meal. The sweetness of the glaze makes a tasty combo with the zesty flavors in the potatoes.
If you want to continue with the comfort meal theme through to dessert, opt for some classic chocolate chip cookies, or even an apple pie.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Turkey bacon can be used in place of pork bacon.
- If your family likes spicy foods, add some chopped jalapenos into the slow cooker mixture.
- A cheese blend can be used in place of the cheddar cheese.
How To Reheat & Store
These cheesy slow cooker potatoes will last for up to 3 days in the fridge. Make sure that they are completely covered or sealed. You can also freeze these potatoes! Once they have completely cooled, transfer them into an airtight, freezer-safe container. They will last in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Thaw them completely in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat leftover slow cooker potatoes, divide them into individual servings, and microwave each serving for 2 minutes, or until warm (microwave times may vary). If you have a large batch to reheat, you can heat it in the slow cooker or in the oven. For the oven, put the whole batch into an oven-safe dish and cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
FAQs
Sure, you can use Russet potatoes. I prefer the tenderness and size of the red potatoes, though, and I like to leave the skin on them.
When your potatoes are done, they will be soft and tender when poked with a fork. If the potatoes on top are done, the ones on the bottom are probably done, as well.
Nope! For this recipe, you’ll want to measure out 2 tbsp from the packet. You can keep the rest in your pantry in a sealed container.
Other Slow Cooker Side Dishes You’ll Love
- Crock Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Crock Pot Cheesy Hash Browns
- Crock Pot Ranch Potatoes
- Creamy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
- Best Crock Pot Baked Beans with Bacon
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Slow Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 lbs red potatoes (cut into quarters)
- 8 slices bacon (cut into ½" pieces then divided in half)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp ranch seasoning
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese (divided in half)
- 1½ cups yellow onion (diced & divided in half )
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Coat the slow cooker with a non-stick spray.
- Add half the potatoes, bacon, butter and onions. Sprinkle ½ tsp of black pepper and 1 tbsp of ranch seasoning over the potatoes. Then cover with ¾ cup of cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Cook time is complete when potatoes are fork tender.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Cathy says
Hi, do you cook the bacon before adding to slow cooker?
Ryan Allen says
No, you do not need to cook the bacon before adding it in.
Mairead says
I love cooking with my slow cooker and these potatoes will be made on repeat for my family. They're truly delicious and easy to make.
Ryan Allen says
I am so glad that you liked them.
Emily says
This was such a tasty combination of flavors! Everyone loved this along with your slow cooker ham! Thanks for another amazing recipe!
Ryan Allen says
So glad you like them and they do make a great addition to ham.
Tayler Ross says
We had these potatoes with dinner last night and they were amazing! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Ryan Allen says
So glad I could help with dinner.
Marsea says
Do I add water?
Ryan Allen says
There is no need to add water.
Susan says
How well cooked is the bacon?
Ryan Allen says
It is cooked all the way through.
Jess says
What size crock pot is best to make these with? Thanks!0
Ryan Allen says
I use a 6-quart crock pot to make these.
Barbara says
Can you replace the ranch dry mix with liquid dressing?
Ryan Allen says
I would not recommend using liquid ranch dressing. The dairy in it will separate and curdle.
Kim says
Can I double this batch and still have it turn out?
Ryan Allen says
I have found that if you try to put add more potatoes. The cook time drastically goes up depending on how many you add.
Barbara says
I made these today. Absolutely delicious. The only thing I did different was to add in some garlic paste. I cooked mine on high and they were done in 3 hours. Thanks for sharing this recipe Ryan.
Ryan Allen says
I am so glad you liked them
Shelby says
Love serving this with scrambled eggs.
Ryan Allen says
They would be so good with scrambled eggs.
Sandy says
I’m nervous that this won’t be done in time to serve for lunch…could I partially cook the potatoes in the air fryer before adding to the slow cooker?
Ryan Allen says
If you cook it on high for the 4-5 hours you will be good to go.