Instant Pot Crack Potatoes–addictive cheesy bacon sour cream potatoes made so fast in the Instant Pot (or slow cooker)! Only 5 ingredients!
Note: The SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below.

Instant Pot Crack Potatoes
There’s crack chicken out there and crack chicken chili and now there’s crack potatoes. These potatoes are so tasty and addictive! With only 5 easy ingredients this recipe comes together in no time! We served these potatoes with salmon and fresh raw veggies and it was the perfect dinner.
- I used peeled and cubed Russet potatoes. You can try red or yellow potatoes as well. Peeled or unpeeled it’s up to you!
- For best results use a steamer basket to cook the potatoes. I like this steamer basket*. If you don’t have a steamer basket you can add potatoes to Instant Pot with the water and then drain water. The potatoes will be a little grainy but should still work out.
- For sake of convenience, I like to use the bacon crumbles in the big bag from Sam’s Club or Costco.
- Don’t use ranch dressing in the bottle. I’m talking about dry ranch dressing mix. I like the Hidden Valley brand over any store brand. I buy the big container and use it for all sorts of recipes and dips. Some other recipes that use dry ranch dressing mix are: Instant Pot Mashed Ranch Cauliflower, Instant Pot Ranch Chicken Taco Rice, Slow Cooker Beef And Cheddar Ranch Potatoes, Instant Pot Wife’s Delight, A Cowboy’s Supper
- The dry ranch dressing mix is the key to the flavor in this recipe. It has a tangy flavor that can’t be replicated! You can make your own dry ranch dressing mix from scratch if you’d like.
- I only used a half cup of sour cream for these potatoes but if you really want to bump up the creaminess then use a whole cup.
- These potatoes taste best when served immediately. If you want to make ahead of time then the best method is to cook the potatoes and let them sit on warm with the lid on until you are ready to add in the rest of the ingredients and serve.

More AMAZING Instant Pot Potato Recipes…
Instant Pot Mother-in-Law Special–you’ll win your mother-in-law over with this loaded potato casserole
Instant Pot Disney Potatoes–they’re magical!
Instant Pot Dad’s Creamy Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes–a classic made in the Instant Pot
Instant Pot Easter Bunny Potatoes–potatoes and carrots mashed together for a slightly sweet take on mashed potatoes
Instant Pot Paula Deen’s Hash Brown Casserole–the key to these is the crushed potato chips on top
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham–comfort food at its finest
Instant Pot Mississippi Mud Potatoes–a bit of tangy mayo is the secret ingredient

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Instant Pot Crack Potatoes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Total Time: 19 minutes
- Yield: 5–6 servings 1x
Description
Addictive cheesy bacon sour cream potatoes made so fast in the Instant Pot (or slow cooker)! Only 5 ingredients!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 3 Tbsp Hidden Valley dry ranch dressing mix
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup crumbled bacon pieces
- Optional: dill (fresh or dried)
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Pour 1 ½ cups water into bottom of Instant Pot. Place potatoes in a steamer basket* and lower steamer basket into the Instant Pot.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 4 minutes (for firmer potatoes) or 6 minutes (for soft potatoes). When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid after pressure has released.
- Move the steamer basket out of the pot. Dump water out and dry the Instant Pot liner. Add potatoes into Instant Pot liner. Stir in the ranch dressing mix, sour cream, cheese and bacon.
- Sprinkle with dill, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Add potatoes into slow cooker. Fill with enough water to cover potatoes.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours or until potatoes are soft enough to be pierced by fork. Drain water.
- Stir in the ranch dressing mix, sour cream, cheese and bacon.
- Sprinkle with dill, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Try these other 5 Ingredient Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Recipes
If you want extra creamy potatoes add an additional ½ cup of sour cream.
- Category: Side
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

*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.
Hi Karen, I think it might be very helpful if each day, you could say whether that day’s recipe is in the cookbook or not. For years, I have been printing out the recipes and compiling them into a three ring binder. So, if you would include a note telling if it’s already in the cookbook, then I wouldn’t print it out…
Thanks for reading this!
Thanks! I have gotten this feedback from others and I really just need to implement it. Thanks. Just FYI if the recipe is from April 2017 until August 2020 it’s in the book, otherwise it is not in the book.
Karen – looks delicious! Have you ever served this cold…we are always looking for a good loaded-potato salad recipe.
I think cold would be amazing. I would cut potatoes smaller and add chopped sweet onion when adding other ingredients. Don’t know cooking time when onions are cut smaller. I always add ranch dressing when I make regular potato salad.
No I haven’t but I bet it would be super tasty!
Recipe for slow cooker??
The instructions are listed in the recipe card 😀