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Crack Potatoes is the perfect side dish with the best blend of ingredients. The potatoes are loaded with Ranch seasoning, cheese, bacon and more. It is the best comfort food.
This is seriously one of the best recipes for a potato side dish. It is the best comfort food and so easy to make. The recipe includes some of my favorite ingredients. The combination of the sour cream, cheese, bacon and ranch taste amazing.
If you enjoy these flavors, you might also enjoy Slow Cooker Crack Chicken and Crock pot crack potato soup.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
It is the type of recipe you will be hooked once you try it. My kids ask for this all the time. Even better, the recipe is quick and easy. Everything is baked in one pan so you have less dishes to wash.
This easy dish is perfect for gatherings, pot lucks or family dinner. It is easy to prepare and never disappoints. Just be prepared for everyone to ask for the recipe. It is always the first dish to go.
The next time you need an easy side dish, give this a try. It is inexpensive to make, easily doubles and turns out fabulous. There is so much to love about this amazing potato side dish.
Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes – Washed, peeled and diced
- Bacon – Cooked and chopped. You can also use already cooked bacon
- Butter – We used unsalted butter
- Green Onion, diced. This can be omitted but adds a nice pop of color and tastes great too.
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
Variations Ideas
- Hashbrowns. You can use a 30 oz bag of frozen hash browns potatoes instead of potatoes for this recipe. You can use diced or shredded varieties. The cooking time may be adjusted based on the type of potato you use. You do not need to thaw the frozen potatoes before using if cooking this variety.
- Potatoes. I used Russet potatoes but red potatoes would be delicious in this recipe as well.
- Cheese. Cheddar is delicious but feel free to use the type you prefer. Colby, sharp cheddar and Pepper Jack would be tasty. You can even mix several different types of cheese.
- Bacon. If you need to save time, you can use real bacon bits instead of cooking bacon.
- Seasoning. Garlic powder and onion powder also taste great in these ranch potatoes.
- Cream cheese. Instead of sour cream, use a block of cream cheese to make these potatoes. Full fat is best in this recipe if using cream cheese.
- Cream of Chicken soup. Add a can of cream of chicken soup for a creamier casserole.
- Meat. Turn this into a complete meal by adding shredded chicken, diced ham or turkey to the casserole.
How to Make Crack Potatoes
- Step 1 – Preheat the oven. It needs to be set to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 – Prepare the potatoes. Peel and dice the potatoes into approximately 1 inch pieces. Place the potatoes in a large bowl and toss them with the melted butter, salt and pepper.
Step 3 – Bake the diced potatoes. Then move the potatoes into an 8X8 baking pan. Cover the pan with foil and bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
Step 4 – Combine the other ingredients. In a separate bowl, stir together the sour cream, ranch seasoning mix, half of the chopped bacon and half of the cheddar cheese. Pour this mixture on top of the cooked potatoes. Gently stir the potatoes to coat the potatoes with the sour cream mixture.
Step 5 – Top with shredded cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and chopped bacon on top. Bake for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted. Remove the baking dish of potatoes from the oven. Top with the diced green onions and serve warm. It is such an easy recipe.
Recipe Tips
- Ranch Seasoning. This recipe calls for the dry seasoning packet and not ranch dressing. Make sure to only use the dry packets.
- Shredded Cheese. Hand grated cheese melts better than the bags of pre-shredded cheese. The casserole will have a smoother texture. It really is worth the extra couple of minutes to shred the cheese yourself.
- Potatoes – Dice the potatoes about the same size so they cook evenly.
What To Serve With Crack Potatoes
This delicious side dish is really good with just about anything. While it is amazing with dinner, do not overlook brunch or breakfast.
It pairs nicely with breakfast food as well. In fact, we often serve leftovers the next day with breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no need to cook the potatoes before placing in the baking dish. The potatoes will bake in the seasoning mixture soft and tender in the oven. Then then are mixed with the ranch seasoning mixture for even more flavor.
Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container up to 5 days. They can be reheated in the microwave or oven until heated through.
Yes, this potato side dish is absolutely freezer friendly. You can make this in advance or make an extra pan to freeze. I like to double the recipe to enjoy one right away and freeze one for later. It is so easy to do this and does not take any extra time.
Cover tightly with foil and freeze up to 2 months. You can also place the casserole dish inside a freezer bag for extra freshness. If I have a disposable pan, I often use those for the freezer ones. This is also great if you need to take a meal to someone and makes a great side dish. When ready to enjoy, allow to thaw overnight in the fridge. Bake as normal.
This recipe is super easy to make ahead of time. Mix everything together and cover.
Place in the refrigerator until ready to bake. This is really helpful if you meal plan or have a crazy week ahead. It will be waiting for you when ready to bake.
You can make it up to 2 days in advance. Allow the potatoes to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to baking.
More Easy Potato Recipes
Easy Side Dishes
Ranch Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Easy Side Dishes
Cheesy Potato Casserole
Easy Side Dishes
Cottage Potatoes
We love to hear from you. If you make Crack Potatoes Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Crack Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Russet Potatoes washed
- 8 slices Bacon cooked and chopped
- 3 Tbsp Butter melted
- 1 packet Ranch Seasoning Mix 1 oz packet
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- 2 cups Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 1 green Onion diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Peel and dice the potatoes into approximately 1 inch pieces. Place the potatoes in a large mixing bowl and toss them with the melted butter, salt and pepper.
- Then move the potatoes into an 8X8 baking pan. Cover the pan with foil and bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the sour cream, ranch seasoning mix, half of the chopped bacon and half of the cheddar cheese. Pour this mixture on top of the cooked potatoes. Gently stir the potatoes to coat the potatoes with the sour cream mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and chopped bacon on top.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven. Top with the diced green onions and serve warm.
Yes you can.
Can you substitute turkey bacon for the pork bacon?
This was so delicious and my family loved it! Great side dish for grilled pork tenderloins! Substituted sautéed sweet onions for green onions and was delicious with the onion flavor! Will definitely fix this again!
I havne’t tried it but I bet it would taste great. You can even sub for diced hash browns and make it similar to my crock pot cheesy potatoes recipe.
Delicious! Can this be made in a crockpot?
I haven’t tried the crack pot potatoes but it look delicious. Will try it this week. Not sure what I would serve with it. It has enough in it now so maybe nothing.