Mashed potatoes are a good that can heal my soul and thus cheesy ranch potatoes recipe always hits the spot best. The flavor is unmatched and absolutely the best baked cheesy ranch potatoes recipe you will find.
If anyone asks me what my favorite side dish is I immediately answer with this tasty recipe. Once you try it, you will understand. Not to mention that this recipe is always a hit with my husband and kids because they absolutely love cheese and potatoes so it is right up their alley. They ask for these all the time.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make our cheesy ranch potatoes, you need the following ingredients:
- Russet potatoes
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Yellow onion
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese
- Bacon
- Salt
- Milk
- Salt
- Milk
- Ranch dressing mix
- Green onion
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How to Make Our Cheesy Ranch Potatoes Recipe
- Start by washing the potatoes well and then pie wing them with a fork in several places.
- Once that is done for all the potatoes, place them in the microwave and heat them up for 10 minutes on high.
- When they are done, remove them from the microwave and let them cook down slightly.
- While they are cooling, preheat your oven to 350℉ and grease an 11×7 pan.
- Now in a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese and sour cream and use a hand mixer to beat them together until they are nice and smooth.
- When they are creamy, add the diced yellow onion, half of the cheese, half of the bacon bits, and salt and continue mixing it all together.
- After the potatoes have cooled slightly, cut them in half and use a spoon to remove the white flesh of the potatoes from the skin, and mash it up in a medium mixing bowl.
- Once they are mashed, add them to the cream cheese mixture and mix it all together.
- Now stir in the milk and ranch dressing mix and combine it all together.
- Next spread the potato mixture out evenly in the prepared pan and place it in the oven and bake it uncovered for 30 minutes.
- When the timer is done, remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle on the remaining cheese, bacon, and green onion and place it back in the oven for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Then just serve it immediately with dinner or dig in with a fork. 😉
Recipe Modification
I personally LOVE the KFC Famous bowl. It is just so good! All the cheeses, corn, mashed potatoes. Ah so delicious. Well with this baked potatoes recipe, instead of putting the cheese on right away, you can make your own homemade popcorn chicken recipe from Lil’ Luna and make your own famous bowl casserole.
Once the potatoes are done, pour on some warmed-up canned gravy, sprinkle on a can of drained corn, spread the popcorn chicken out evenly, and then top it off with the remaining cheese, bacon bits, and green onion. Then just place it back in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted, and bam you have yourself a delicious famous bowl casserole!
Recipe Notes
I have only made this in the oven, however, you could make this in the slow cooker. You will definitely want to spray the oven with non stick cooking spray, or use a slow cooker liner, but it would work.
Enjoy More Delicious Potato Side Dishes
Need the perfect compliment to your main dish? You’ll want to try these delicious side dishes. Browse our comprehensive collection of simple side dish recipes.
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Au Gratin Cheesy Potato Bake
- Crispy Hasselback Potatoes
- Funeral Potatoes
- Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
- Garlic Roasted Potatoes
- Homemade Scalloped Potatoes
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
- Mom’s Cheese Potatoes
- Pesto Potatoes
- Roasted Parmesan Potatoes
- Skillet Red Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Bacon Cheese Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes
- Smashed Cheesy Potatoes
- Smashed Italian Red Potatoes
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Cheesy Ranch Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large Russet potatoes
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup onion, diced
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese, divided
- 5 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- 1 (1 ounce) packet dry ranch dressing mix
- 4 green onions, finely chopped
Instructions
- Wash and pierce potatoes in several places with a fork. Microwave on high 10 minutes until tender. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease an 11 x 7 inch baking pan.
- Combine cream cheese and sour cream in a large bowl; beat until smooth.
- Add yellow onion, half of the cheese, half of the bacon bits and salt. Mix well.
- When potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut in half. Scoop out pulp and mash potatoes.
- Then add to the cream cheese mixture. Beat with a mixer. Stir in milk, dry ranch dressing mix, and mix well.
- Spread potato mixture in prepared pan. Bake uncovered 30 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining cheese, bacon pieces, and green onions.
- Bake 5 minutes longer, or until cheese melts.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
I’m assuming the bacon is cooked prior to mixing??? This looks like it would be a hit.
I’ve never try potato this way, and it seems so flavorful. Yum!
This sounds so good, kind of liked twice baked potatoes. I will cook this for sure! Thank you for sharing!
Yes, be sure to cook the bacon first!
I made this yesterday and loved them!! My hubby did too!! You ladies have become my go to recipe website!! Thank you for sharing such yummy goodness!
Have you ever frozen these to use for an upcoming event? Do you need to increase the liquid? Any changes at all?
We have never frozen this dish before. I think it would turn out OK.
Made it with hashbrowns since I’m lazy and YUM!
Made these with mashed cauliflower. Amazing!
Hi, I live in UK, what might the equivalent to ranch dressing be? I know it says “dry” so wasn’t sure what to use, we don’t have that here, well I have never heard of it. Could I use a soup powder instead?
We have never used soup powder. Does it come in a ranch flavor? Best of luck to you.
Made it today, kids and husband are happy. I didn’t mash the potatoes I cubed them instead so it will be more like baked potatoes. Thank you for the recipe.
How can we make this “lighter” with less calories and fat?
You could use a light or fat free cream cheese and sour cream. That would cut down on calories and still keep the same great taste.
Have you ever tried doing this with instant potatoes? I love the flavors, but often don’t have fresh potatoes. Any thing with instant potatoes would be great.
I bet this would be good piped or spooned into the potato shells if you’ve scooped the potato out carefully. Even small, red-skinned (or New Potatoes, as we call them in the deep South) would make yummy bite-size appetizers! I can’t wait to try this!
I make a dish like this and call it Twice Baked Potato Casserole. Cube the potatoes after baking leaving the skins on for that good baked potato flavor. Add to it carmelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, bacon, cheese, sour cream and anything else that you would put on a twice baked potato. Gently combine. Add some chicken broth so it isn’t too dry. Cover and bake for 30-40 min till hot, uncover and sprinkle so cheese on top and bake till cheese has melted. Try it! Yummy and great for a crowd.
Made this for dinner it was wonderful. The only change I made was I left the skin on the potatoes. Will be making this regularly!
I know its been yrs but I just saw this and thought I would share a mix recipe for Ranch 1/2 cup buttermilk powder
▢2 tablespoons parsley
▢1 teaspoon dill
▢1 tablespoon onion powder
▢2 teaspoons onion flakes
▢1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
▢3/4 teaspoon salt
▢1/2 teaspoon pepper
▢2 teaspoons chives
Instructions
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Place in an airtight container and store up to 6 months.
To Make Dressing
Add 3 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sour cream and 3/4 cup milk. Stir until well combined and refrigerate at least 20 minutes before serving.
To Make Dip
Combine 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix, with 1/2 cup mayonnaise & 1/2 cup sour cream. Add up to 1/2 cup milk to reach desired consistency. Stir will and refrigerate at least 20 minutes before serving.
To Replace 1 Envelope Ranch Dressing Mix
Use 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix in place of 1 packet of ranch mix.