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Monday, October 01, 2012

Roasted Ranch Potatoes with Bacon and Cheese

 
Okay.  I realize that several of my recent posts have included bacon in some form or another. I think it is partly due to the fact that a couple of weeks ago my grocery store had a killer deal (half off!) on thick, center cut bacon.  Of course, I stocked up.


Honestly, however, let's just admit that bacon is just so darn tasty!  There need be no excuse reason to eat it. In fact, last year we traveled from Michigan to Arizona for our son's college graduation.  We took a couple of days to travel into California to go to Legoland and due to our adoration of bacon, we made specific plans to go to Slater's 50/50 (a bacon-lover's paradise of a restaurant that we had seen featured months prior to our trip on a bacon-themed food show).  They grind bacon into their burger meat, offer a maple-bacon milkshake and serve bacon brownies.  It was heaven!
 
So, when I came across this recipe, it appealed to me in every way. I developed it into something kind of amazing and based on our preferences! It has become a real family favorite and is often even requested by relatives at family gatherings.

Ingredients:

Non-stick cooking spray
2 pounds potatoes (unpeeled, washed and cut into chunks)
1/2 cup ranch dressing (bottled, not packet)
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus 1/4 - 1/2 cup more for topping
1/4 cup crumbled, cooked bacon
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
3 scallions, washed and chopped
Salt
Pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine (in a large bowl) the ranch dressing, dill, cheese and bacon.  Add in the potatoes.  Sprinkle in a generous pinch of salt and pepper.  Toss to coat potatoes.

Spoon into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.  Cover with foil.

Bake for 60 minutes.  Stir gently halfway through to get the bottom potatoes rotated to ensure they don't become burnt and to ensure that the middle and top potatoes get a chance to brown. 

Remove foil.  Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees.  Gently stir again, as necessary.

Bake for an additional 15 minutes, then sprinkle on additional cheese.  Bake a few more minutes or until everything is gooey, browned and bubbly on top.

Serve with scallions sprinkled on top for garnish.


Great with a dollop of sour cream.

NOTE:  The original recipe from which I adapted this one called for jarred real bacon pieces.  I made the recipe using real bacon (about 5 - 6 slices) that I cooked until crisp and then broke into pieces.  Although I am a firm believer that there is never a substitute for real, fresh bacon, I would think that the kind from a jar would be fine (as long as you don't use imitation bacon bits).

 

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UPDATE 12/4/12:  This recipe has taken off like wildfire ... with over 300,000 hits (and thousands of pins and shares) in the first month alone after it was posted!  So many of you have provided positive feedback and suggestions for substitutions when it comes to flavors in this recipe!  One great suggestion is to use a ranch dressing that is flavored with chipotle or to use other kinds of creamy dressings.  People are adding in chicken to the dish to make it a more-complete meal.  Also, many of you have changed up the spices and used garlic or other herbs in addition to or in place of the dried dill weed.  What fabulous ideas.  I love that this has inspired so many to mix it up and make it their own!  Thank you for your comments and emails!  Keep 'em coming!  If you've tried the recipe, I'd love to hear how you liked it.


11/13/16: Updated photos and made clarifications to the post.
 

176 comments:

  1. Never apologize for loving bacon! ;) This looks awesome!

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    1. if i would use the jarred bacon pieces would i use the whole jar??

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    2. Oh there's your comment. I knew Blogger had been having some issues with comments. I was looking everywhere for it! LOL!

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    3. this was amazing!!! i added a little bit of sour cream and a little of dash chipotle seasoning mix! SUPERB!!!! :)

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    4. Yum! So glad it was a big hit at your house! And, I'm loving the flavor vaiations! :) Thanks for stopping back by to comment! :)

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    5. I wanted to make these for dinner tonight but I couldn't find the recipe, although I searched my facebook for almost an hour. I threw potatoes( pre boiled because I wasted all that time looking for the recipe), cheese, bacon and onions into a baking dish and sprinkled a little salt pepper and olive oil. Baked it for 20 mins and it was crappy, then I come on tonight and the recipe is on my facebook again. I cant wait to make these. It is now a short cut on my desktop.

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    6. So glad that you were able to make your way back to the recipe. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it when you make it again!

      Angela

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    7. This was just absolutely amazing for sure make it a home favorite

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  2. WOW! Thanks, readers, for making this recipe my top post to date! Thousands of hits in just a few days! :)

    ~Angela

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  3. Thank you to Dori at "Riches to Rags by Dori" for featuring this recipe on her blog! You can check out her post at http://richestoragsbydori.blogspot.com/2012/10/roasted-ranch-potatoes-with-bacon-and.html

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    1. Fantastic recipe! I made it for dinner tonight and my husband and kids loved it!! Thank you for sharing :)

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    2. Sarah ... so happy to hear that you all loved it! :) Thanks for letting us know!

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  4. I just made these last night. How delicious. had to tell you how much we loved this dish. and, yes it was super easy to throw together and with a salad on the side, a comple meal. I made a chive sour cream for topping the taters. Very good.

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    1. I love getting feedback from readers who try the recipes here on Joyously Domestic! Thank you so much for your comment ... and, for the compliment on the recipe! :)

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  5. AS far as the Ranch dressing...just the powder, right??

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    1. Actually, it is the bottled dressing kind. It may sound odd, but I think that due to the oil in the dressing, it helps crisp up the potatoes ... besides adding flavor, of course! If you were to use the packet of Ranch dressing (powdered), I would think you may need to coat the taters in some olive oil a bit before baking. Thank you for your question ... and, for stopping by to visit! :)

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    2. Oh, and I did update the recipe to clarify that it's the bottled type of Ranch dressing. Thanks for pointing out that it wasn't super clear! :)

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  6. This looks amazing! Is the dill weed crucial in the taste department? What if I leave it out? hmm.

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    1. Hi there. The dill does help with flavor. But, I would think you could maybe substitute something else like garlic powder or some hot sauce (if you like heat) or another herb. If you don't substitute anything else, I would just make sure you season well with salt and pepper.

      Thanks so your question ... and for stopping by!

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  7. Can't wait to try it, looks absolutely yummy

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    1. Hi, Yvonne. It IS super delicious! Let me know if you give it a try! :)

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  8. I had to adapt your recipe because I didn't have any Ranch dressing, but I did have some left over prepared Chipotle Ranch Dip that I made the night before for a Taste-Testing party...what a delicious twist! My family loved it...bottled Ranch dressing is on my grocery list though, really want to try it the way it's written. Thank-you for sharing!

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    1. Chipotle Ranch Dip sounds yummy, too, Lori! I would think one could use a variety of dreamy dressings. I just went with Ranch, but now you have me thinking of other possibilities!

      So glad your family liked it!

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  9. Any idea if this could go be turned into a crockpot recipe?? Anyone tried it? I've got all the ingredients and was hoping to make it for a pitch-in this weekend.

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    1. Hi there. I have not tried it in a slow cooker. I'm sure it would be possible ... just don't know if you'd have crispy potatoes all the way through. When cooking in the oven, the recipe requires that you stir gently a few times thoughout cooking to ensure that all of the potatoes have a chance to brown and crisp up. In the slow cooker, the potatoes in the center may just cook, but not be crispy. Also, the bacon may get soft and not remain crispy. If you do try it, let us know, please! Thanks so much for visiting!

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    2. Yes, you can make this in the crockpot. I have made a similar potato dish that just didn't have the ranch. You would mix all the ingredients above together and then line the crockpot with foil, spray it with cooking spray and to cook on low 10 hours. (I'm pretty sure I didn't leave mine in that long though.) They won't be crispy like the oven version, but it CAN be done!

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    3. Thanks, Trina, for commenting about using a slow cooker! I have never lined my slow cooker with foil, so I will be trying that with cooking with sticky or gooey ingredients! Major cleanup time-saver, I'm thinking! It would make sense since I have a few posts on here about making a full meal at one time in the slow cooker by wrapping like, a few baked potatoes, corn on the cob and meat separately in foil and throwing it all in the crock pot at once! So, your technique makes sense, too! :)

      I appreciate your visit and your comment! :)

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  10. Bacon makes everything better!!!

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  11. I tried your recipe today and it was so delicious that my husband was surprised! He asked me to make this again for the weekend. Thank you :)

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    1. Awesome! I so love to hear that people have tried something here on Joyously Domestic ... and, loved it! Thanks for updating that you made it and that it was a success!

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  12. This looks amazing and I will be making this recipe for annual Octoberfest next weekend! Just curious what kind of potatoes you used....yukon?

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    1. Hi there, Chelsea Rose! I have made this with yukon gold potatoes, red potatoes and regular russets. I don't see an issue with using whatever you have on hand or prefer. It worked great no matter what kind I used ... in my experience anyways. Thanks for the question and for stopping by! :)

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    2. Awesome, thank you so so much! Can't wait to try it!! My husband just saw the picture of the potatoes and asked if we could have it tomorrow for breakfast. (: That's always a good sign

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    3. You'll have to report back on how he (and you!) like the dish!

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  13. Fantastic recipe, I made it for dinner tonight and my husband and kids loved it!!! Thank you for sharing :)

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  14. can't wait to try! I even had to share on FB & pinerest! Keep on sharing your great food ideas.

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    1. Hi there, Julia. I so appreciate you visiting, commenting, sharing this post and your encouraging words! Thank you so much!

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  15. This looks amazing! I'm thinking of making it for a church luncheon next week - how well does it keep? I'd have to make it the day before and refrigerate it overnight. Will it still be good that way, or do you have recommendations for saving it? Thanks!

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    1. I am not sure about making these the day before. If you're talking about prepping everything, but not baking it the day before ... I would think you'd have an issue with the raw potatoes turning brown. I have not tried making it in advance, so I'm sorry that I can't be much help.

      Maybe one suggestion for a time-saver would be to clean and cut up the potatoes and allow them to sit in water overnight in the fridge, then drain and pat them dry before throwing everything together and baking in time for your luncheon. I am not sure if doing it this way would alter the texture of the potatoes or not, but I would think they would be just fine!

      Good luck and let me know if you do make it! :) Thanks for visiting!

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    2. I ended up not making them for the church thing, but I did make them for Thanksgiving yesterday, and they were delicious! We ended up putting in a bit more bacon and cheese than the recipe calls for, and it only made it better. :) Definitely a dish I'll be adding to my repertoire.

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    3. Oh, so glad you all liked the dish! And, extra bacon and cheese is always a good thing! ;) Thanks for coming back by to follow up on your previous comment! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

      Angela

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  16. We call these "crack taters". Homemade ranch tastes much better than the bottled kind. It adds much more flavor without making the dish oily.

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  17. Ann, Is this a main course a side dish, looks really good?

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  18. We have served this both ways. As a main course, we'll have a salad and maybe some dinner rolls with it. So, either would work! :)

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    1. Thank you for answering my question, I am going to make it this week:)

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  19. A HUGE "thank you" to my readers for sharing and re-posting this recipe on FB and Pinterest! We've had over 100,000 views for this post alone just in the past couple of weeks! Awesome!

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  20. Someone left a comment asking the amount to use if using the jarred bacon bits. There have been some issues with Blogger recently involving comments posting, so that may be why your comment is not showing. To answer your question ... you would still use 1/4 of a cup to 2 pounds of potatoes.

    I am not sure the amount in a whole jar, so you would just need to check the label. :)

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  21. Is this recipe gluten free?

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    1. Ya know, I'm not really familiar with GF issues. Any readers who have GF wisdom know if this is? Sorry I am not more help!

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    2. As long as you use a GF ranch dressing and ensure that all spices going in are pure and not mixes (which often contain wheat/gluten as a bulking agent) there is no reason this dish WOULDN'T be GF. :) I know this is an old post but thought I'd let you know! <3

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  22. Got this in the oven right now can't wait to try it :)

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  23. Bacon rules. This looks awesome, and is a must-try. Congrats on the major success! :)

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    1. Thanks, wordchef! It is pretty darn tasty! :) Thanks for stopping and commenting!

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  24. My husband LOVES bacon! Who doesnt!?! This will be added to our menu this week!

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    1. You're right ... bacon is so yummy! Hopefully, you love this dish, too! :)

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  25. Hi, Nikki! I think it may depend on if you're serving it as a side dish or main dish. For a main dish, it was perfect for my family of two adults and three children ... with a tiny bit leftover. It is made in a 9 x 13 dish. It'll depend, too, on how big of eaters you're serving! But, overall, I would say probably 5 - 7 adult-size portions. :) Hope that helps!

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    1. Thank you! I'm making it as a side for my sons first birthday party :) can't wait to try it!

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    2. Niki ... how fun! 1st birthdays are the best! Happy birthday to your little guy! And, I hope the recipe is a big hit! :)

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  26. Do you think this would be ok with Turkey bacon, as we don't eat pork? Or would it be better to just leave it out altogether? Thanks :)

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    1. Hi, Tifanie! I haven't tried it without pork bacon, but I do love turkey bacon sometimes, too, with breakfast. I would think it would be worth a try! :)

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  27. this was fabulous!!! Yuuummmyyy I used garlic powder instead of dill weed (its what I had on hand) my house of picky eaters gobbled it up...thanks a million for this recipe <3

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    1. So glad everyone enjoyed it! And, garlic powder sounds great in it, too! I appreciate you stopping back by to offer feedback! :)

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  28. Hi Angela -

    I'm making this as we speak! Easy-peasy! Taking this over to my son's and his new wife's home for our first dinner together since they got married...

    I think you've found a new life-long friend. Thank you for taking the time to put together some great recipes to make my life, as well as others, so much easier! Have a great weekend!

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    1. Hi there, Nolanda! Thank you very much for the positive feedback and kind words! You'll have to let me know how everyone likes the dish!

      And, congratulations on your son's wedding! How exciting! :)

      Thanks for stopping to visit!

      Angela

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  29. Being a domestic goddess is hard enough work without adding the added pressure of keeping meals interesting and delicious. :-) So yesterday I joined Pinterest in search of new recipes. I saw this recipe immediately and being the potato lover I am I had to make it for dinner. I served it with cheeseburgers and I substituted the dill with creole seasoning. Thanks so much.

    Anita

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    1. Hi, Anita! Pinterest is wonderful for finding inspiring new ideas! So glad you came across my blog and so glad to have you visit (and comment)! This recipe has become my most-visited and most-shared post on FB and Pinterest. Lots of people just seem to have fallen in love with this recipe! It couldn't be easier and I'm so happy to hear that you loved it, too! Again, I appreciate you taking the time to comment and post positive feedback!

      From One Potato Lover to Another,
      Angela

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  30. I too found this on Pintrest. My hubby and I are expecting our first child. This has my mouth watering! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Congratulations on the pending baby arrival! How exciting! I hope you try the recipe and love it as much as I do! Thank you for stopping and sharing! :)

      Angela

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    2. How old is your picture? I can't believe you have a kid graduating from college!

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    3. LOL ... actually, my photo in my sidebar is pretty recent (last year or two). We have five children all together ... our two oldest are my step-kids (a.k.a. "bonus" children). I came into their lives when they were 3 and 5 (when I was in my early-twenties) ... and, they are now 20 and 22. I am in my late-thirties actually and my three bio kids are 13 and under. So, yeah ... I have many people ask how I could be old enough to have kids in their twenties. While they are not biologically mine, I have always considered them to be! :) Thanks for the question! Made me chuckle!

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  31. How many servings would you say this recipe makes? I have a work Christmas "pot luck" party coming up and would love to make these, but don't want to have to spend too much money to serve enough people!

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    1. When I make this as a main dish, it is enough to feed my family of five (plus we had an adult for company the last couple of times I made it) plus a couple of servings leftover. Since you're talking about taking it to a potluck where they will be lots of other food, people may not take as large of a serving. I would say as a main dish it would serve 5 - 7 adults ... as a side dish, you could probably get 10 -12 servings out of it. Hope that helps! And, thanks for the question!

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    2. Okay great, thanks for sharing! :) I definitely think i'll be making this.

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    3. I could not wait to try it. So I just did it now! Ha, ha. I trimmed the bacon off most of the fat and added the grease (little) to the potatoe mix. I used buttermilk ranch dressing (happened to have it in the fridge),klot of extra sharp cheddar cheese. Wow, its very very good. Added a side dish of diced tomatoes with olive oil, green onions, salt/pepper. A winning combination. Thanks so much for sharing!!

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    4. Super glad you liked it! All of your variations sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year to you!

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  32. Definitely going to try! Looks so delicious

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  33. I stumbled across this from pintrest.
    It looks sooooo good.
    May I ask though (since I to prefer fresh cooked bacon as well) about how many slices of thick center cooked bacon it too to get a 1/4 of a cup?

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    1. Hi, Candis. I'm wanting to say that 4 slices of regular bacon equal around a 1/4 of a cup of cooked, crumbled bacon, but I think I do around 5 or 6 slices per the 2 pounds of potatoes called for in this recipe. A little extra bacon does not hurt this recipe at all! ;) I've had readers tell me that they used almost a whole pound and loved it.

      Thanks for your great question!

      Happy Holidays!
      Angela

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  34. would this work in the crockpot? It looks delicious.

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    1. I have never tried it in the slow cooker simply because I am not sure that the potatoes would get super crispy and I wonder about the bacon becoming too soft and rubbery throughout such a long, moist, enclosed cooking process. But, here is what a reader posted in a previous comment about using a slow cooker:

      "Yes, you can make this in the crockpot. I have made a similar potato dish that just didn't have the ranch. You would mix all the ingredients above together and then line the crockpot with foil, spray it with cooking spray and cook on low 10 hours. (I'm pretty sure I didn't leave mine in that long though.) They won't be crispy like the oven version, but it CAN be done!"

      Hope this info helps.
      Thanks,
      Angela

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  35. I did this and used french fries!!! It was great and cut the cook time down by a lot!

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  36. I just popped this in the oven but instead we used turkey bacon. I am hoping it turns out ok even though i cooked the bacon in with the potatoes /;

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    1. You'll have to let us all know if it was a success! Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  37. Love the site but would love to see a print button :)

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    1. I have had a few other people requesting a print button recently, so I've been doing some research into getting that feature here on JD. From the way it looks, it'll be done one recipe at a time. So, although it may take a bit of time, it is in the works!

      Thanks so much!
      Angela

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    2. Just added the PRINT feature to this recipe and will be working in the days/weeks to come to convert all of the posts here on Joyously Domestic over to having a PRINT feature. Thank you so much for your suggestion and I hope that makes things a little easier! ;)

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  38. So... Back story: I'm not that great of a cook and I have to make a mean every week for church.

    Like every Saturday, today I was desperately browsing my recipe board on Pinterest, searching for one that would be good for tomorrow's lunch. As soon as I saw this recipe I though, "that will be perfect!" Can't wait to make it tomorrow. Will try to remember to come back and let you know what everyone thought.

    Thanks for helping me out!

    Alana - The Bliss Diaries
    http://www.domesticblissdiaries.com

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    1. Hi, Alana. Thanks for stopping by. I, too, love to browse Pinterest for recipe ideas! So glad it brought you here! I was just spending some time on your blog ... the name of your blog caught me eye! ;) What an adorable and meaningful spot you have here on the web! I'm loving the "Bliss Project Idea."

      Yes, you'll have to let us know how the potatoes turn out for you!
      Blessings!
      Angela

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  39. I found this recipe on Pinterest and made it to bring to a dinner party. It was such a hit that I am making it for another dinner party this evening! Thanks so much for such a yummy recipe!

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    1. Hello, Lisa. I appreciate you taking the time to post feedback here on Joyously Domestic. And, I'm so happy that this dish was a success for you! Happy New Year to you and yours!

      Angela

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  40. I made this for dinner last night. I added chicken and garlic to the recipe it was a big hit!! I took some to ladies that I work with and had to write out the recipe for everyone!!! Thanks so much for sharing :D

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    1. Jessica. I love the concept of adding in chicken. May I ask how you did it ... did you add raw chicken or already cooked? In chunks? Shredded? I love the idea. So glad it was a hit for you! Thanks for the feedback and for commenting! :)

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  41. I took boneless chicken breast and cut them in chunks cooked it on the stove with lemon pepper seasoning then also baked it in the full time. I was afraid of the chicken not getting done completley if I would had not cooked it first :) I also used coconut oil rather than butter to cook it in.

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    1. Thanks for sharing this, Jessica! Sounds yummy! And, I just recently tried cooking with coconut oil and am loving it! Thank you for coming back to update and answer! :)

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  42. Thanks for sharing this recipe, big hit with my boys tonight!

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    1. Awesome, Sarah! So glad it was a success for you all! Thank you!

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  43. Gametime!! Thanx for recipe

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  44. I used ranch, hormel real bacon bits, minced garlic, & shredded colby jack. I used sat & Pepper fir seasoning. In addition i greased the pan with real butter. The family loved it & i can think of so many variations it won't get boring.

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    1. So happy it was a success for you! And, yes ... there are many options for changing this recipe up! Thanks for posting! ;)

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  45. Can I use baby potatoes?

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    1. I've used many different types of potatoes, so I'm sure it would be fine. :)

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  46. Just finished putting it in the oven! So excited! :)

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    1. Hope it was a success! :) It's a favorite now here in our house! :)

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  47. I added cooked chopped onions and Chicken and added it on to the mix along with mushrooms and it came out delicious! I used Sour Cream for the topping too. Thanks for sharing the recipe.. I can't wait to make this again.

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    1. Oh, all of your additions sound so yummy! I think I'm going to try it with chicken the next time, too! Thank you for posting and sharing! :)

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  48. gets browner and crispier when no foil is used... I put it in for 60 minutes and it was just as if I had just put it in,(besides the potatoes getting soft)...

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    1. Sorry you had issues with the recipe. Just a question to try to see what went wrong ... did you realize that there were further baking directions AFTER the initial 60 minutes of baking? Once you remove the foil after 60 minutes, you should raise your oven temp to 400 degrees, stir and bake for another fifteen minutes, then bake a few more minutes if you chose to add additional cheese at the very end. The initial 60 minutes is pretty much just to fully cook the potatoes ... the remaining bake time uncovered at a higher temp is when the potatoes really crisp up. Hope this helps if you try the recipe again. I've never had any issues, so I'm thinking maybe you just didn't bake for the whole time ... based on the wording of your comment.
      Angela

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  49. I like to cut my bacon with kitchen shears prior to frying. This sounds really good, perfect for Sunday dinner.

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    1. Susan, somehow I missed responding to your comment when you visited. I, too, use kitchen scissors a ton in the kitchen. They would work great here. :)

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  50. I made these potatoes last night. They were wonderful. They have earned a place in my recipe binder. I think next time I will add onions in with the potatoes. Thanks for a great recipe.

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    1. So happy you enjoyed the recipe! Onions in this - yum! :) Another great addition idea.

      Angela

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  51. I kind of ballparked this recipe and, if you count 1 9x13 pan as 8 servings, that there are only about 172 calories per serving and 5.8 grams fat. Not too bad. I will have to try this sometime. It looks wonderful.

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  52. Also, why can't we use ranch dressing from the mix? I never buy the bottled stuff because I don't like the taste as well, and when I make it from the packet, I use 1% milk and light miracle whip. Just wondering so I will know if I have to buy a small bottle for this or if it is just personal preference. Thanks!

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    1. I have never tried it using a mix packet, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. :) The one thing the bottle dressing does (besides add flavor) is add an oil factor to help things crisp up. So, as long as you use some sort of mayo, I think you could accomplish the same result. If you do try it, please come back and let us know how it turns out. I, too, prefer the flavor of the mix at times, so it might be a fabulous substitute! Thanks so much for visiting!

      Angela

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  53. Do you recommend any particular potato? I like red potatoes! Making this tomorrow.

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    1. Hi there. I have used all kinds - russets, reds and golds. I haven't had an issue with any of them not working great in this recipe! Hope you enjoy the dish! Thanks for your question!

      Blessings!
      Angela

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  54. Thinking of this for an Easter brunch. My bake day is Thu. Would it keep in fridge till Sun?

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    1. I have never attempted to make this in advance. I would probably not recommend making it that far in advance because the bacon would become very soft and soggy ... the potatoes may not have the right texture and the cheese would probably turn a little slimy or weird. Perhaps you could wash and chop the potatoes the night before and store them in the fridge submerged in water overnight. Honestly, once the potatoes are chopped up and the bacon cooked, everything else comes together super quick.

      Thank you for your question and may you enjoy a wonderful Easter!
      Angela

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  55. I also make my own bacon bits. But instead of cooking it and them breaking them up I mince it and then cook them. It's even easier if you mince them while slightly frozen.

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    1. Yes ... chopping bacon before cooking and while partially frozen works great, too! :)

      Thanks!

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  56. Wow, gotta try this! It's like crumbled potato skins. Yummy!

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  57. Oh. My. Gosh. This was INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!! I pinned it a few weeks ago and finally made it. Soooo different than I expected and sooooooooooooooooooooo much better! Seriously, my son (who is VERY picky) went back for FOURTHS! My husband and I were in awe of it's deliciousness. Thank you for a recipe we will use for the rest of our lives!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. I'm so thrilled that you all enjoyed this recipe, Jamy. Thank you for your feedback and kind words! :)

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  58. So if I do add chicken in do I cook it before hand like the bacon? Im new to the family thing and cookimg never done either one. when I married my husband he already had two kids and we just had a baby, we are running shor on money so I am trying to learn how to cook. and this looks so yummy!

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    1. Another commenter mentioned that they used chicken in this dish. They fully cooked their chicken first and said it was a success. :)

      Best wishes on your cooking endeavours! And, congrats on the baby and the family! :)

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  59. This is my fiances fav dish now lol

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    1. Hi, Kim. So glad he enjoys it! It IS pretty super yummy! Thanks for the feedback and for stopping by! :)
      Angela

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  60. I have a very important question, first off how many does this serve? I want to make this potato dish to serve approximately 100 people so I need to know about how much does this serve so i can alter the recipe? please let me know as soon as you can thanks

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    1. Hi, Amanda. This make enough to feed our family of five with a little leftover. I would guess maybe 6 - 7 servings. Hope that helps. Thank you for your question. :)

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  61. We are HUGE bacon and potato eaters and I've seen this several times. Not a fan of dill but will definitely try with garlic. I see this on the menu this weekend!! For SURE! Thanks!

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    1. Hello, Cindy. I hope you enjoy the dish! It's the most popular here on the blog! Thank you for visiting! :)

      Angela

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  62. Thank You for posting this recipe!!! I am definitely going to try this out!!! :)

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  63. Are these pre-boiled or straight raw into the oven when cut into chunks? Thanks.

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  64. I tried making these a few weeks ago and the potatoes would not cook AT ALL. I baked them as directed, and they were still totally hard! Tried cooking them longer with foil and without foil. Almost 2 hours of cooking and they never did get done. Am I doing something wrong? Should I try pre-boiling them first?

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    1. Sorry that you've had trouble with this recipe. I am not sure what has gone wrong. I believe that the only time anyone commented on the recipe that their potatoes didn't cook all of the way or brown up was because they thought they were following the recipe all of the way through, but they didn't realize there was more to the directions. I've never had an issue with the potatoes not cooking and I've made this several times. After this bakes covered in foil for an hour, it needs additional time to bake per the directions. (Just making sure that you saw that part.) :) If you've done that and still had issues, maybe you could try par-boiling the taters just a bit. Otherwise, I'm not sure why your are not cooking properly. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.
      Angela

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  65. This was delicious...My family raved about it so much...Thank you for such a wonderful dish...

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  66. Loooove this recipe! I added chicken, green peppers, celery, and onions to make it more of a meal. Defiantly going to be making this again!
    Thank you!!

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  67. Left out the dill but added onion and garlic. Yummy.

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  68. Fixing this dish tonight to go with shrimp scampi and a big salad. Can't wait to hear my family say Yummmy!! :) Thanks so much for posting this recipe!

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  69. this looks awesome. Going to give it a try tonight. Salmon and potatoes and asparagus. Yummmy.....

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  70. this was awesome.. but i dont have oven at home.... any tips on using microwave instead?

    thanks

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    1. I have never tried this in the microwave, so I'm sorry that I really can't help out with any advice. I wouldn't think things would crispy up too well and everything would just kind of "steam." So, I'm not sure how it would turn out. Sorry I can't be of more help.

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  71. I made these and not one bit was left over. Delicious.

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  72. Holy cow! These are AMAZING!!! I didn't add quite as much dill because my husband doesn't like it but he didn't say anything except (through a mouth full of potatoes, sour cream and green onions) "These are great!". Thanks for a fantastic recipe!

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    1. Thrilled that you all loved the recipe, Elaine! :)

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  73. Iv made this a few times and my family and i found them to be very yummy.

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  74. I have looked at this recipe for months and could not cook it because my daughter is highly allergic to MSG and Ranch has it. After diligently searching and writing Hidden Valley I finally found a ranch that does not have MSG so now FINALLY I get to have my potatoes.

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    1. I truly hope you all enjoy the recipe ... especially after of the effort you've put in to finding a dressing you can use! :)

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  75. making this again tonight...this time adding chicken to it. my husband and 2 year old love these. I have to make it at least once a month for them....

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    1. Hi, Melissa. Thank you for visiting. So glad you all enjoy the recipe! And, I've done it with chicken, too, and it was wonderful! :)

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  76. This looks delicious!! Of course, you had me at potatoes...

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  77. This looks so delicious. Potatoes are my favourite!

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  78. My mom is so incredibly picky about food and this is the one thing she requests from me all the time! Plus the little feeling of satisfaction when she chooses my cooking over my food network wannabe sister makes me feel great. ;) Lol!

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  79. Oh, that so made me crack up! That's awesome. :)

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  80. easy to throw together, and delicious. Thanks!

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  81. I absolutely love this recipe and have received many compliments. The only change that I've made is to use the peppercorn ranch. It just seems to add a little zip. Add to the fact that it takes absolutely no time to put together - I've made up the casserole early in the day and just put it in the oven later for dinner.

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    1. So glad that you have enjoyed the recipe ... and, the peppercorn dressing sounds like a delicious switch-up! Thank you for leaving feedback. I always appreciate it so much.

      ~ Angela

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  82. Im new to this site, I was wondering, could u add something like kalabasa and maybe broccoli, to make as a main meal. With salad on the side

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    1. Absolutely! Know that the sausage may bring some grease to the dish, so just be cautof that maybe. And, the broccoli addition sounds great. Either maybe keep the pieces o the smaller side or blanch them quickly in boiling water first ... just my thoughts, but haven't tried it. :) And, btw ...welcome!

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  83. This looks really amazing :D .
    Thanks for sharing

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  84. looks great!! How many does this recipe serve???

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  85. Can I use frozen hash brown potatoes

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    1. I have not personally tried frozen potatoes of any kind, so I cannot answer with any certainty unfortunately.

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