Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Ranch Potatoes--an easy to make, hearty dinner of cubed potatoes, ground beef, cheddar and crumbled bacon. Lots of delicious flavors in one pot.
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Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Ranch Potatoes
All I know about this dinner is that three hungry boys ate it in about 3 seconds. I was originally going to make this as a side dish without the beef but at the last minute decided to make it a one pot meal instead. It was a great choice since the beef really added a boost of flavor and heartiness.
Ingredient Notes:
- I used 6 russet potatoes that were small to medium-ish…it was 2 pounds.
- I used lean ground beef and it didn’t have much or really any grease on it. If you use a less lean ground beef you may need to drain off the grease.
- Because I had packaged bacon crumbles on hand I just used those. You can also fry up your own bacon and use that.
- I like the flavor that comes from medium or sharp cheddar as opposed to mild.
- I use Hidden Valley dry ranch dressing mix. I buy it in a big container from Costco. I like to use it for ranch potatoes, cilantro lime ranch dressing, ranch mashed potatoes, chicken bacon ranch pasta, and cheesy ranch orzo.
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What Slow Cooker Did You Use?
To make Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Ranch Potatoes I used my Ninja Auto-iQ 6 Quart Slow Cooker.* My favorite feature of this slow cooker is that it has a stove top function. This is perfect for sauteing or browning before you slow cook. This slow cooker has four manual cooking functions: slow cook, stove top sear/Saute, steam, and bake.
Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Ranch Potatoes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Total Time: 43 minute
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
An easy to make, hearty dinner of cubed potatoes, ground beef, cheddar and crumbled bacon. Lots of delicious flavors in one pot.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, browned and drained
- 3 Tbsp dry ranch dressing mix
- 1 (14 oz) can chicken or beef broth
- 2 pounds (about 6 medium) russet potatoes, cubed
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 cup crumbled bacon
- 1/2 cup grated medium or sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add the beef, ranch dressing mix, broth, potatoes and chili powder into the slow cooker. Stir a bit.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
- Toss in the bacon and cheddar. Stir.
- Scoop into serving bowls and enjoy!
Notes
I used my Ninja Auto-iQ 6 Quart Slow Cooker.*
- Category: Beef
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
*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.
Do you need to peel the potatoes before putting them into the crockpot?
You can if you’d like but you don’t have to
Can I use red potatoes?
yes
Do you think carrots would be good to add to it?
★★★★★
I do!
Will you tell me the crock pot of your choice!
Thanks!
Sure. I like this kitchenaid one: https://amzn.to/2sHnguD
And this one too: https://amzn.to/2Fn17YK
Can I add the ground beef in the crockpot without cooking it first?
I wouldn’t. But if you do make sure it is extra lean ground beef.
Do you cook the meat beforehand? or put in crockpot raw?
I browned and drained it before adding it in.
This was soooooo good! My only change was I used small red potatoes because I had some and needed to use them – everything else was the same and we loved it. I wish I had seen Chris’s comment because I thought about adding an onion when I was browning the meat – I’ll definitely do that next time, but even as written, it’s delicious. My husband took one bite and said this is really good. I served it with LeSueur Peas and Sister Schubert rolls. I also used the pre-cooked bacon crumbles – this is a really easy and fast dinner.
Many thanks, again, for your consistent, wonderful recipes!
★★★★★
Sounds so good!
What about adding a can of tomatoes and an onion?
sounds good to me!
Would this still be yummy without the bacon? I know, I know. I’m the only person on the planet who doesn’t like bacon!
yes it will still be good!