Grandpa Jim’s Potatoes–Instant Pot or Crockpot potatoes with ranch, cheese and bacon. A delicious and easy side dish!

Grandpa Jim’s Potatoes
Today’s recipe is a delicious potato dish that has all the things you love. Ranch dressing, bacon crumbles, cheddar and potatoes just go together perfectly. Plus this recipe is super fast and easy! You’re going to love how you can steam potatoes to the perfect mashing consistency in your Instant Pot in just 8 minutes with a quick release.
Serving these potatoes alongside your grilled or roasted meats will leave everyone at the table with a smile and full tummy. You can also serve these potatoes at a potluck (use the keep warm setting to keep the potatoes warm until serving). You can also spread the potatoes into a 9×9 inch baking dish and cover with foil and keep in the oven on warm until ready to eat. These potatoes can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd. Try these potatoes out soon! I know you’ll love them 🙂
This recipe has been adapted from Grandpa Jim’s Potatoes in the Farmhouse Kitchen Cookbook.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Russet potatoes–you can also use Yukon gold or red potatoes
- Bacon crumbles–or you can fry up some bacon and crumble it
- Ranch dressing–I like Olive Garden Parmesan Ranch
- Cheddar cheese–I like to use sharp cheddar for more flavor
- Salt and pepper–kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper are my favorite
Steps
Peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch cubes. Place the potatoes into a steamer basket.

Pour 1 ½ cups water into bottom of Instant Pot. Place steamer basket into Instant Pot. Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 8 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.

Move potatoes out of Instant Pot and set aside. Discard the water. Dump potatoes into Instant Pot liner. Mash the potatoes. Stir in the bacon, ranch and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve and enjoy!

Notes/Tips
- These potatoes are a perfect side dish to roasted meats like roasted chicken or roast beef. You can also serve them alongside meatloaf or fried chicken.
- I used my silicone steamer basket*.
- This recipe is gluten-free.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. Keep the same amount of water beneath the steamer basket.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with bacon crumbles are It Ain’t Happening Casserole and What’s the Dill Soup.

More Instant Pot Potatoes You’ll Love…
Natalie’s Potatoes
An easy Instant Pot recipe of cubed red potatoes in a sour cream sauce with cheese.
Skyler’s Perfect Potatoes
Cubed potatoes in a cheesy sour cream and onion sauce made fast in your Instant Pot. With only 5 ingredients this recipe comes together in a snap.
Bussin Bussin Potatoes
If you want something better than plain mashed potatoes try this amazing potato dish that you can make in your Instant Pot in a hurry.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.


Grandpa Jim’s Potatoes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Instant Pot or Crockpot potatoes with ranch, cheese and bacon. A delicious and easy side dish!
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 pounds (28 ounces) Russet potatoes
- 1/3 cup bacon crumbles
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch cubes. Place the potatoes into a steamer basket.
- Pour 1 ½ cups water into bottom of Instant Pot. Place steamer basket into Instant Pot. Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 8 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Move potatoes out of Instant Pot and set aside. Discard the water. Dump potatoes into Instant Pot liner. Mash the potatoes.
- Stir in the bacon, ranch and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch cubes. Place the potatoes into slow cooker. Add enough water into slow cooker to cover the potatoes.
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low 6-8 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
- Discard the water. Mash the potatoes.
- Stir in the bacon, ranch and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Side
- Method: Instant Pot

*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Very dry. Needed milk to make them creamy.
★★★