Cast Iron Skillet Cheesy Potatoes
Craving a side dish that’s crispy on the edges, creamy in the center, and bursting with smoky bacon, tangy ranch, and melty cheese? These Cast Iron Skillet Cheesy Potatoes take humble spuds to superstar status in just 30 minutes—boil, sauté, and bake right in your trusty skillet for that unbeatable sear and flavor infusion. Perfect for weeknight dinners, holiday tables, or any time you need comfort food with a gourmet twist. Grab your apron; let’s get cooking!
Ditch the bland spuds and meet your new family obsession: ultra-flavorful Cheesy Cast Iron Skillet Potatoes that turn any weeknight into something special!
With just a trusty cast-iron skillet, potatoes, onions, crispy bacon, melty cheese, and a few pantry seasonings, you’ll create pure comfort-food magic. We’re huge fans of cooking with cast iron—whether it’s our go-to skillets or a big Dutch oven. These heirloom-worthy pans are built to last generations, and once they develop that gorgeous seasoned finish, everything cooks more evenly and tastes downright amazing (these cheesy potatoes are living proof!).
Ready to level up your potato game? Fire up that skillet and get ready for the crispiest, cheesiest, most irresistible side ever!
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These Cast Iron Skillet Cheesy Potatoes are a total family obsession in our house—and we’re pretty sure they’ll steal the show at yours too! We took the classic recipe and cranked up the flavor with creamy sour cream, zesty ranch seasoning, sweet sautéed onions, and garlic. Trust us: this isn’t your average cheesy potato side dish; it’s next-level delicious!
Cast Iron Skillet Cheesy Potatoes:
Ingredients:
- 5 cups peeled and cubed potatoes, approximately 5-6 potatoes
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and sliced
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 Tablespoon ranch seasoning
- 2 cups shredded cheese
Equipment needed:
- 12 inch Cast Iron Skillet
- Large cooking pot
- Small mixing bowl
🥣 Recipe Tips
- Parboil Perfection: Don’t skip rinsing the potatoes after their quick boil—it removes excess starch for crispier edges without sogginess. For extra golden results, pat them dry thoroughly with a clean towel before adding to the skillet.
- Cheese Melts Magic: If your cheese isn’t melting smoothly, pop the skillet under the broiler for 1-2 minutes at the end—just watch closely to avoid burning. This creates a bubbly, caramelized top that’s pure comfort food heaven.
- Flavor Boost Hack: Amp up the ranch vibe by stirring in a pinch of dried chives or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the sour cream mixture. It adds a bright, herby tang that balances the richness without overpowering the smoky bacon.
How to make cheesy skillet potatoes:
Step 1: Parboil the Potatoes
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the cubed potatoes and boil for about 5 minutes, just until they’re fork-tender but still hold their shape. Drain in a colander and give them a quick rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and remove excess starch.
Step 2:Cook the Bacon
Heat your large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until perfectly crispy, flipping as needed. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, and leave that delicious bacon grease right in the skillet—it’s flavor gold!
Step 3: Sauté the Veggies & Potatoes
Right into that flavorful bacon grease, toss the chopped onion and sauté for about 2 minutes until it starts to soften. Add the minced garlic and the parboiled potatoes. Let everything cook undisturbed for several minutes at a time to develop a gorgeous golden crust—only stirring occasionally so the potatoes get beautifully browned and crisp on the edges.
Step 4: Make the Creamy Ranch Sauce
While the potatoes are crisping up, grab a small bowl and whisk together the sour cream, milk, and ranch seasoning until smooth and creamy. This dreamy mixture is what takes these potatoes from great to unforgettable!
Step 5: Stir in the Cheese
Add 1 cup of the shredded cheese to the creamy ranch mixture and gently fold it in until just combined—don’t overmix; those melty pockets are pure magic later!
Step 6: Combine & Thicken
Pour the cheesy ranch-sour cream mixture over the browned potatoes in the skillet. Stir gently to coat everything evenly, then let it cook over medium heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and gets irresistibly creamy.
Step 7: Top It Off
Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese in a generous layer over the creamy potatoes. Crumble or chop the reserved crispy bacon and scatter it on top—because everything’s better with bacon!
Step 8: Let It Get Gooey
Reduce the heat to low (or pop the skillet under the broiler for 1–2 minutes if you want a bubbly golden top). Let the cheese melt completely into that irresistible gooey blanket before digging in. Serve hot and watch it vanish!
There you have it—one skillet, a handful of simple ingredients, and 30 minutes later you’ve got the ultimate comfort side dish: crispy-edged, cheesy, bacon-loaded potatoes that disappear the second they hit the table. Whether it’s a cozy weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing holiday spread, these Cast Iron Skillet Cheesy Potatoes deliver big flavor with almost zero cleanup. Dig in while they’re hot and bubbly—pure comfort food bliss!
🥣 Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups potatoes peeled and cubed ,approximately 5-6 potatoes
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic smashed and sliced
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- 1 Tablespoon ranch seasoning
- 2 cups shredded cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Parboil the PotatoesFill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the cubed potatoes and boil for about 5 minutes, just until they’re fork-tender but still hold their shape. Drain in a colander and give them a quick rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and remove excess starch.
- Step 2:Cook the BaconHeat your large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until perfectly crispy, flipping as needed. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, and leave that delicious bacon grease right in the skillet—it’s flavor gold!
- Step 3: Sauté the Veggies & PotatoesRight into that flavorful bacon grease, toss the chopped onion and sauté for about 2 minutes until it starts to soften. Add the minced garlic and the parboiled potatoes. Let everything cook undisturbed for several minutes at a time to develop a gorgeous golden crust—only stirring occasionally so the potatoes get beautifully browned and crisp on the edges.
- Step 4: Make the Creamy Ranch SauceWhile the potatoes are crisping up, grab a small bowl and whisk together the sour cream, milk, and ranch seasoning until smooth and creamy. This dreamy mixture is what takes these potatoes from great to unforgettable!
- Step 5: Stir in the CheeseAdd 1 cup of the shredded cheese to the creamy ranch mixture and gently fold it in until just combined—don’t over mix; those melty pockets are pure magic later!
- Step 6: Combine & ThickenPour the cheesy ranch-sour cream mixture over the browned potatoes in the skillet. Stir gently to coat everything evenly, then let it cook over medium heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and gets irresistibly creamy.
- Step 7: Top It OffSprinkle the remaining shredded cheese in a generous layer over the creamy potatoes. Crumble or chop the reserved crispy bacon and scatter it on top—because everything’s better with bacon!
Nutrition
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