Effortlessly Delicious Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes: Your New Favorite Creamy Side Dish
Are you searching for a quick, mouth-watering side dish that everyone at the table will love? Look no further than these incredible Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes! Combining the comforting creaminess of red potatoes with the zesty kick of ranch dressing and the irresistible crunch of bacon, this recipe delivers a flavor explosion in every bite. It’s an incredibly easy dish to whip up, making it perfect for those busy weeknights when time is of the essence, but you still want to serve something special.
Potatoes, ranch, and bacon – for many, these are three of the greatest flavors known to man, especially in the Midwest! This simple Instant Pot recipe is one of my personal favorite side dishes, and it’s always a huge hit with my family. With just a few simple steps, you can create a delectable accompaniment that pairs perfectly with any main course meat, making weeknight dinners stress-free and delicious. The Instant Pot truly shines here, transforming humble potatoes into a rich, flavorful side with minimal effort and maximum speed.
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Ranch Potato Recipe
- Incredibly Fast: The Instant Pot significantly cuts down cooking time, delivering perfectly tender potatoes in minutes.
- Effortlessly Creamy: With the addition of cream cheese, these potatoes become luxuriously smooth and rich, a texture difficult to achieve as quickly with traditional methods.
- Packed with Flavor: Ranch seasoning and savory bacon create a robust flavor profile that appeals to almost everyone.
- One-Pot Potential: You can cook the bacon and potatoes in the same pot, reducing cleanup.
- Versatile Side: Pairs wonderfully with a variety of main dishes, from grilled chicken to roasted pork, or even a simple steak.
Top Instant Pot Recipes to Try Next!
If you love your Instant Pot as much as we do, you’ll be thrilled to discover more fantastic recipes that simplify meal preparation and bring big flavors to your table. Here are some of our top picks that our readers consistently rave about:
- The Easiest Instant Pot Beef and Noodles
- Big Batch Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
- Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup
- Instant Pot BBQ Swiss Steak
- Instant Pot Beef Stew with Red Wine
- Instant Pot Asparagus Risotto
Ingredients for Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this delightful side. You’ll be surprised how few items you need to achieve such big flavors!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Let’s dive deeper into each essential component and explore some tips and substitutions:
- Potatoes: For this recipe, red or yellow (Yukon Gold) potatoes are my absolute go-to choices. Their waxy texture means they hold their shape beautifully under pressure, resulting in creamy yet intact chunks. There’s no need to peel them; just give them a good scrub and chop them into uniform 1-inch chunks to ensure even cooking. Other varieties, like Russets, tend to break down and become too mushy in the Instant Pot, so stick with the recommended types for the best outcome.
- Bacon: Nothing beats freshly cooked, crispy bacon for flavor and texture. I prefer to dice my bacon first, then fry it until golden and crisp. Remove it from the pot and set it aside to add back right before serving, ensuring maximum crunch. If you’re short on time or prefer a less hands-on approach, bacon bits are a fantastic time-saver. Just stir them in at the very end with the cream cheese and parsley.
- Ranch Dressing Packet: A 1-ounce packet of dry ranch seasoning mix is the secret to that classic, tangy ranch flavor. If you have dietary restrictions, allergies, or simply prefer to control your ingredients, you can easily use a homemade ranch dressing seasoning. For homemade, you’ll need to substitute with approximately 2 tablespoons to achieve a similar flavor intensity.
- Chicken Broth: This recipe calls for 1 cup of chicken broth, which provides the necessary liquid for pressure cooking and infuses the potatoes with an extra layer of savory flavor. Feel free to substitute with a cup of water and a chicken bouillon cube for convenience, or even vegetable broth for a vegetarian option (if omitting bacon).
- Cream Cheese: The magic ingredient for ultimate creaminess! The cream cheese is stirred in at the end of cooking, melting into the hot potatoes to create a rich, velvety texture. For the best results, make sure your cream cheese is softened or cut into small cubes to help it melt smoothly. As an alternative, sour cream can be used to add a similar creamy texture with a slightly tangier flavor.
- Seasoned Salt: The seasoned salt in this recipe is optional but highly recommended for an extra punch of flavor. However, ranch seasoning and chicken broth already contain salt. If you are sensitive to salt or monitoring your intake, feel free to omit it and adjust to taste at the end. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
- Parsley: Whether you choose fresh or dried parsley, it adds a lovely fresh note and a pop of color to the finished dish. Fresh chopped parsley offers a brighter flavor and more vibrant appearance.
Step-by-Step Directions to Perfect Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes
Creating these creamy ranch potatoes in your Instant Pot is incredibly straightforward. Just follow these simple steps for a delicious and hassle-free side dish.
Step by step directions
Step 1: Crisp the Bacon. Set your Instant Pot to the “Saute” mode. Add the diced bacon and cook until it’s beautifully crisp. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, hit the “Cancel” button. If you prefer crunchy bacon pieces in your final dish, remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. If you enjoy softer, more integrated bacon, you can leave it in the pot. Leave about 1-2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pot for added flavor, carefully draining any excess.
Step 2: Pressure Cook the Potatoes. After removing the bacon (if desired), add the cubed potatoes, chicken broth, ranch dressing packet, and seasoned salt to the Instant Pot. Stir gently to combine all the ingredients, ensuring the potatoes are coated and the seasoning is well distributed. Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, making sure the sealing ring is properly in place and the vent is set to “Sealing.” Cook on “Manual” (or “Pressure Cook”) for 7 minutes at high pressure. The Instant Pot will take a few minutes to come to pressure before the cooking time begins.
Step 3: Finish and Serve. Once the cooking time is complete, perform a Quick Release (QR) by carefully opening the vent. Stand back and allow all the steam to escape completely. Once the float valve drops, you can safely open the lid. Add the 2 ounces of cubed cream cheese, the reserved crispy bacon (if you set it aside), and the fresh chopped parsley to the Instant Pot. Gently stir everything together until the cream cheese has fully melted and is smoothly combined with the potatoes. The residual heat from the pot will help melt the cream cheese quickly. Serve your creamy Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes immediately and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes
- Don’t Overcook: 7 minutes is usually perfect for 1-inch potato cubes. Overcooking can lead to mushy potatoes, especially with waxy varieties.
- Uniform Potato Chunks: This ensures all potatoes cook evenly. Aim for consistent 1-inch cubes.
- Scrub, Don’t Peel: Red and yellow potato skins are thin and nutritious. A good scrub is all they need, saving you time.
- Soften Cream Cheese: Room temperature cream cheese melts much more smoothly into the hot potatoes, preventing lumps.
- Deglaze After Bacon: If you cook bacon directly in the Instant Pot, make sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot after removing the bacon. This prevents the “Burn” error and adds flavor.
Serving Suggestions
These creamy ranch potatoes are incredibly versatile and make a fantastic side dish for almost any meal. Here are some ideas:
- Grilled Meats: They pair wonderfully with grilled chicken breasts, pork chops, or a juicy steak.
- Roast Dinners: A comforting addition to a Sunday roast chicken or pot roast.
- Burgers and Sandwiches: Serve them alongside your favorite burgers or BBQ pulled pork sandwiches for a complete meal.
- Holiday Spreads: Easy enough for a weeknight but flavorful enough for a holiday gathering.
- As a Main: For a lighter meal, these potatoes can even be the star, perhaps with a simple green salad on the side.
Recipe Variations to Explore
Feel free to get creative with your Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes! Here are a few ideas to customize them to your liking:
- Cheesy Ranch Potatoes: Stir in ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or a cheese blend along with the cream cheese for extra cheesy goodness.
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce along with the ranch seasoning for a subtle heat.
- Loaded Potatoes: Top with extra fresh chives, shredded cheddar, or even a dollop of sour cream right before serving.
- Garlic Lover’s: Add 1-2 minced garlic cloves to the Instant Pot with the potatoes for an extra aromatic boost.
- Herbaceous Twist: Experiment with other fresh herbs like dill, chives, or a sprinkle of dried Italian seasoning.
- Vegetarian Option: Omit the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a delicious vegetarian side.
Storage and Reheating
If you happen to have any leftovers of these delicious ranch potatoes, they store and reheat beautifully!
- Storage: Store any leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: For best results, reheat in the microwave in short bursts, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You can also reheat them gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth if they seem too dry. If using an oven, place them in an oven-safe dish covered with foil at 300°F (150°C) until heated through.
Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes
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Ingredients
- 3 lbs red potatoes (cut into 1 inch cubes)
- 3 slices bacon (diced*)
- 1 1 ounce packet of dry ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ tsp seasoned salt
- 2 ounces cream cheese (cut into cubes*)
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
Instructions
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Set the instant pot to saute mode. Add the bacon and cook until crisp. Remove the bacon from Instant pot with a slotted spoon if you prefer crunchy bacon pieces or leave it in for softer bacon.
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Hit cancel and add the cubed potatoes, ranch dressing packet, seasoned salt and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
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Place the lid on the instant pot and cook on manual for 7 minutes.
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After the cook time is over carefully open the vent to release the steam. Add 2 ounces cubed cream cheese, the bacon, if you reserved it, and fresh chopped parsley. Gently stir until the cream cheese has melted and everything is well combined.
Notes
*Cream cheese: 1/4 cup sour cream may be used in place of the cream cheese.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use other types of potatoes?
While red and yellow (Yukon Gold) potatoes are recommended for their ability to hold shape and creamy texture, you can experiment. Russet potatoes tend to become very soft or even mushy under pressure, which might not be ideal for this dish. If you do use them, consider reducing the cook time slightly.
What if I don’t have chicken broth?
You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian option, or simply use water with a chicken bouillon cube for similar flavor. Plain water will work in a pinch, but the broth adds a depth of flavor that is highly recommended.
My potatoes were too watery after cooking. What happened?
This can happen if your potatoes weren’t cut uniformly, or if you had too much liquid. Make sure your potatoes are cut into even 1-inch cubes. If the dish still seems too liquidy after adding the cream cheese and stirring, you can always switch the Instant Pot back to ‘Saute’ mode for a minute or two (without the lid) and stir continuously until some of the excess liquid evaporates and the sauce thickens slightly.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Yes! You can use a dairy-free cream cheese alternative and ensure your ranch seasoning packet is dairy-free (or use a homemade dairy-free version). Always check ingredient labels carefully for hidden dairy.
Can I prepare this in advance?
These potatoes are best served fresh, right after the cream cheese has melted, for optimal creaminess and texture. However, leftovers are still very tasty. For best results, prepare just before serving or reheat thoroughly.
Final Thoughts on Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes
These Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes are more than just a side dish; they’re a testament to how quick, easy, and incredibly delicious home cooking can be with the right tools and a fantastic recipe. The blend of tender potatoes, savory bacon, and tangy ranch, all made creamy with cream cheese, creates an irresistible flavor that will have everyone asking for seconds. Whether you’re a seasoned Instant Pot user or just starting out, this recipe is a must-try for its simplicity and crowd-pleasing appeal. Enjoy making this new family favorite!