Crack Potatoes are an easy, cheesy, creamy way to enjoy a flavor-packed potato side quickly made into a casserole. This recipe is a simple combination of pantry staples mixed with frozen hash brown, bacon, and ranch that are quickly stirred together and baked until hot and bubbly.

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Can’t Stop Eating These Creamy Crack Potatoes

This highly addictive Crack Potatoes recipe rightfully has a claim to the slang word in its name–when food is referred to as “crack,” it means that it tastes so good you can’t stop eating it. And that’s just what this delicious dish is, full of amazing flavors that make me want to make this side my entire meal.

It is so quick and easy to prepare this simple potato dish because once you’ve gathered your ingredients, all you have to do is mix them together and bake them into an elevated comfort food casserole.

The dry ranch dressing is the key to creating the most flavorful seasoning that mixes with creamy soup and sour cream to create a sauce that coats these hash browns. Stir in some cheese and crumbled bacon and then sprinkle on some more, and you have the perfect potato casserole to serve your crowd–so good you may skip the main meal!

Why We Love This Crack Potatoes Recipe

  • Quick and easy to prepare using simple ingredients.
  • Creamy, cheesy, and utterly addictive!
  • Short-cut method uses frozen potatoes smothered in a ranch sauce with bacon and cheese.
  • Great to bring to potluck gatherings, parties, and holiday meals.
  • Perfect side dish for Christmas morning, or an anytime breakfast, brunch or dinner.

More "Crack" Dishes

eating crack potatoes with wooden spoon

Ingredients

  • Can cream of chicken soup
  • Sour cream: Feel free to substitute unflavored greek yogurt for the sour cream.
  • Package dry ranch dressing mix
  • Onion powder
  • Fresh cracked black pepper
  • Kosher salt 
  • Bag frozen hash browns
  • Bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • Chopped parsley (optional garnish)

Substitutions and Additions

  • Choose Your Cheese: Feel free to substitute Colby Jack cheese for the shredded cheddar. You can also use any cheese you have on hand. Havarti, Gouda, and Monterrey are very good options.
  • Tasty Toppings: You can top this dish with french fried onions, buttered bread crumbs, or even prepared stuffing mix just before baking for an extra bit of crunch.
  • More Meat: This dish can be prepared with chopped ham, turkey, cooked chicken, or you can even make it meatless!
  • Green Garnishes: Green garnishes, such as green onion, scallion, or chopped parsley can add extra flavor and color to your casserole.
crack potatoes on a plate
  • 9×13 baking dish
  • Mixing bowl
  • Measuring tools
  • Whisk
  • Large wooden spoon
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How to Make the Crack Potatoes

It is so easy to make this addictively delicious Crack Potatoes recipe. A simple combination of frozen hash browns, bacon, and ranch-flavored sauce bake into a creamy, cheesy casserole that you won’t be able to stop consuming!

  1. Mix together cream of chicken soup, sour cream, dry ranch dressing mix, onion powder, cracked black pepper and kosher salt until smooth.
    Pro-Tip: Don’t use ranch dressing in the bottle! This recipe is made with dry ranch dressing mix.
  2. Stir in hash browns, bacon, and cheese and mix until completely combined.
    Pro-Tip: If you don’t have time to cook your own bacon, you can use store-bought, pre-cooked bacon bits.
  3. Pour mixture into a 9X13 baking dish.
  4. Sprinkle cheese and bacon on top.
  5. Bake at 400 degrees Farenheight for 50 minutes.
  6. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve while hot. Enjoy!

Storage Tips

  • To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
  • To Freeze: You can freeze the unbaked crack potatoes for up to 2 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Allow the crack potatoes to completely thaw before baking according to my directions.
eating crack potatoes with a fork

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this dish called Crack Potatoes?

Rumor has it that Crack Potatoes are addicting. People find the combination of ingredients addictively delicious (bacon, ranch, cheese), thus it was dubbed “crack” potatoes. Try it and you’ll see why it’s so irresistible!

Should I thaw my frozen hash browns before cooking?

No, you do not need to thaw your frozen hash browns before cooking. That’s what makes this recipe so easy–you can pull your bag from the freezer and mix them right in with the other ingredients before baking.

Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns?

If you have fresh potatoes, feel free to chop them up and use them in this Crack Potatoes recipe! Make sure to dice them evenly into small pieces so they all cook together.

Can I make this dish in advance?

Yes, you can make this recipe the night before or up to two days and keep it tightly covered in the fridge. When you are ready to serve it, simply place it in the oven to bake according to the directions.

crack potatoes in casserole dish

Other Easy Potato Recipes

5 from 3 votes
crack potatoes featured image

Crack Potatoes

Serves — 10
Crack Potatoes are an easy, cheesy, creamy side quickly made into a comforting casserole. This recipe is a simple combination of hash browns, bacon, and ranch-flavored sauce that bakes until hot and bubbly.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

  • 26 ounce can cream of chicken soup undiluted
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 2 ounce (2 – 1 ounce package) dry ranch dressing mix
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 30 ounce bag frozen hash browns
  • cups cooked, crumbled bacon (divided 1 cup and ½ cup)
  • 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (divided 3 cups and 1 cup)
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400*. Generously spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Set it aside.
  • Using a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, dry ranch dressing mix, onion powder, cracked black pepper and kosher salt, until smooth.
  • Using a large wooden spoon, stir in the hashbrowns, 1 cup crumbled bacon and 3 cups of shredded cheese. Stir well until completely combined.
  • Pour into the prepared baking dish.
  • Evenly sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese and ½ cup crumbled bacon.
  • Bake for 50 minutes. Evenly sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Serve while hot.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:
  • To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
  • To Freeze: You can freeze the unbaked crack potatoes for up to 2 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Allow the crack potatoes to completely thaw before baking according to my directions.
Tips:
  • Don’t use ranch dressing in the bottle! This recipe is made with dry ranch dressing mix.
  • If you don’t have time to cook your own bacon, you can use store-bought, pre-cooked bacon bits.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 743kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 64g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1565mg | Potassium: 397mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 908IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 398mg | Iron: 2mg

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