Cheesy Baked Bacon Ranch Little Potatoes

We love potatoes around here, especially Cheesy Baked Bacon Ranch Little Potatoes. In a word, they're awesome! With ingredients like Ranch dressing, garlic, bacon and lots of cheese, how could they not be? With or without the bacon, these cheesy Ranch potatoes are flavorful and hearty. A side you can't appreciate until you've tried it. And when you do, you won't be sorry.

Cheesy Baked Bacon Ranch Little Potatoes

I'm not one to share these kinds of things. But, here's a bit of wisdom I came across recently: We're all in the people business. Many cross our path for a reason. All any of us want is a bit of acknowledgment and understanding. So, if we can be a little more open to listening and sharing with one another, it will leave us feeling good about each other. How cool is that?

Maybe that thought doesn't sit well with you for all kinds of reasons. I get that. And you also may be wondering how this ties in with the recipe. Well, not much, but sharing recipes leads to people sharing meals together. And that can lead to all kinds of possibilities. So, let's get on with the business of making perfect cheesy baked bacon Ranch potatoes, shall we?

This baked potato casserole is so easy to make and the results are always delicious!  I love recipes that require minimal preparation time. If you use bacon that's already cooked you can save yourself some time.

More often than not, I make an effort to cook the bacon, but if you're pressed for time, pre-cooked bacon will do just fine. Or you can skip the bacon altogether. Either way, this dish is sure to be a winner!

Potato Casserole

Potatoes themselves are pretty awesome in and of themselves. The Incas (an ancient civilization from South America) worshipped the potato. They would hold ceremonies offering the best of the potato crop to the gods in the hope of gaining future bountiful crops.

Although we're not worshippers of the potato, we sure love them!

There are so many delightful ways of serving potatoes. And baked cheesy bacon Ranch potatoes is just one of many. We can thank bacon, cheese, and Ranch for that. These are winning ingredients that enhance potatoes like no other.

I took this dish to my food jury who gave it a two thumbs up! Two consider themselves to be potato freaks. Their words, not mine. From the first bite, they were sold! I think the other ingredients had something to do with it though.

What kind of Potatoes should I use?

As you can see from the recipe card, this potato casserole calls for Russet potatoes. Also called Idaho, these gems are white and fleshy, making them ideal for baking.

But you can also use baby potatoes. In a nutshell, these are young potatoes that are harvested early and come in red, white and purple. They're sweeter, creamier and less fleshy than Russets.

How Long to Boil Baby Potatoes?

Boil a pot of salted water and add baby potatoes. Cook for 10-13 minutes, or tender. The exact timing will depend on the type and size of the potatoes.

Cheesy Baked Bacon Ranch Little Potatoes

These delicious ranch bacon cheese potatoes are absolutely delicious. They stick to your ribs, so they're perfect to fill you up, and they're so easy to make! It's a winning combination for you and your family. With a recipe this delicious and easy, you'd be crazy not to give it a try! So read on, and let's make some delicious ranch bacon cheese potatoes. They're magical.

Ingredients

It only takes a few ingredients to make these delicious potatoes. Ranch bacon cheese potatoes just take potatoes, bacon, ranch, and a few other ingredients, and you'll be well on your way to a delicious dish in not time. Here's what you need.

• Russet potatoes or mini/baby potatoes
• salt
• bacon
• Ranch dressing
• garlic
• onion flakes
• green onions
• cheddar, shredded cheddar
• Parmesan, grated or shredded
• cooking spray

Instructions

Don't be overwhelmed by all the bullet points below. I said this recipe is super easy, and I meant it. It doesn't take much work at all to make them. It just takes a few steps. Each of those steps is super easy, so you're not going to spend a lot of time on this dish. I guarantee it. You'll find the complete recipe with amounts and times in the recipe card at the end of the post. For now, take a look at this overview to get an idea of just how easy this recipe is.

• Pull out and measure all of your ingredients.
• For Russet potatoes, peel first and then cut into 1-½ inch chunks or use little or baby potatoes without peeling or cutting.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add potatoes.
• Cook for 10-13 minutes, or until tender. The exact timing will depend on the type and size of your potatoes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Prepare a 13 x 9 pan or dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Chop and cook bacon (if using) according to package directions. I like it really crispy. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
• Once potatoes are cooked. Drain.
• Measure the Ranch dressing in a measuring cup and add garlic and onion flakes. Stir to combine. Set aside.
• Using a fork, press down on each one of the potatoes to slightly flatten and break them open.
• Place them inside a prepared dish or pan.
• Pour the Ranch dressing over the potatoes and spread out as evenly as possible.
• Cover the top with bacon.
• Sprinkle top with green onions.
• Cover the top with Parmesan and shredded cheddar.
• Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the biggest potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
• Remove pan from oven and set the oven temperature to broil, if desired.
• Return the pan to the oven and broil for a few minutes until the cheese starts to brown and bubble. Again, if desired.
• Enjoy every bite!

If you're looking for sides to serve have a look at our What to Serve with Potato Bake post for all our favorite ideas.

Cheesy Potato Casserole

When a recipe calls for cheese, I go hog wild and put more in than what it calls for. That may sound over the top and perhaps it is. But, if you're a real cheese lover like me, you'll get my drift. In my view, the cheesier this cheesy potato casserole is, the better. Full stop.

The amount of cheese that this Cheesy Baked Bacon Ranch Little Potatoes recipe calls for is more than adequate. Add as much cheese as you desire. The choice is yours. Make it the way you like it and you'll never be disappointed. And you can take that to the bank!

Cheese and Bacon Potato Casserole

Cheese and bacon potato casserole is a warm and comforting dish that I quite often make during the cooler season. But this casserole is so tasty, you can make it any time. If your family is anything like mine, they'll be happy to see it on the table no matter what it's doing outside.

In his youth, my son was glued to the phone. When I was ready to serve dinner, getting him to hang up was a bit of a challenge at times.  Whenever I pulled this cheesy bacon Ranch potato casserole out of the oven, he couldn't get off the phone quick enough! He'd beat his dad to the table with fork in hand ready to dive in. Looking back, it was amusing, I must say.

My mother used to make a version of this potato casserole. She made it nice and cheesy with bacon but never used Ranch. I don't think it ever occurred to her to use it. I find Ranch dressing gives this potato dish a really lovely flavor. If you agree, then we're on the same page.

What other dressing can I use instead?

When I introduced this bacon cheesy potato dish to my friend, Gayle, and her husband, they were smitten from the get-go! They couldn't wait to make it for their kids and grandkids, But as it turned out, they didn't like the taste of ranch dressing at all. So Gayle experimented with other dressings and finally found one they all loved.

If you're not a fan of plain Ranch dressing either, there are other options to consider. Caesar, blue cheese, barbecue ranch, peppercorn ranch come to mind. I've used these and the casserole turns out beautifully. Again, my personal favorite is Ranch, hands down. Like me, my husband and son are crazy about Ranch dressing. So, it's the one I will always stick to.  You can't argue with preferences. People like what they like. Right?

I would love to hear if you've tried other dressings and how it turned out. So, feel free to drop me a line in the comments section below. I may not get a chance to respond, but I read everyone.

Other Ingredients to consider

It never hurts to add in some protein. Toss in pieces of cooked chicken breast or some diced cooked ham. As I said earlier, you can skip the bacon and sprinkle the top with a few more green onions. And don't forget the extra Parmesan and cheddar cheeses. I know, I know, enough with the cheese already! I've made my point. I will say no more.

Storing Cheesy Baked Bacon Ranch Little Potatoes

These delicious cheesy bacon ranch potatoes will keep well in the refrigerator for up to three days in an air-tight container. I don't recommend freezing these, so be sure you only make as much as you can eat in that time. Don't worry, this dish tends to go fast, so you should have no issues with any of it going bad!

Cheesy Baked Bacon Ranch Little Potatoes Video

If you've got a few moments to spare, and would rather see how this cheesy baked bacon ranch little potatoes is made, check out the video below. My hope is that this casserole will exceed you and your family's expectations. It did mine.

Thanks for visiting! I hope our paths will cross again.

Try These Cheesy Baked Bacon Ranch Little Potatoes

These delicious cheesy bacon ranch potatoes are an easy to make dish that always keeps everyone coming back for more. They're easy to make and overflowing with delicious flavor, so give them a try. I guarantee you'll be making them far more often than you might have though.