Description
Slow Cooker Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Ranch is a comforting, hearty side dish featuring creamy mashed russet potatoes cooked slowly with garlic and ghee or butter, then loaded with crisp bacon, cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and a tangy homemade or store-bought ranch dressing. Perfect for cozy family meals or holiday gatherings, this recipe brings classic flavors together with minimal hands-on time using a slow cooker.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes and Cooking Base
- 4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 cup chicken broth (or water)
- ¼ cup ghee or butter (use ghee for Whole30-friendly)
- 4 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp. sea salt
Toppings and Mix-ins
- 4 strips crisp cooked bacon, chopped
- ½ cup homemade ranch or store-purchased ranch dressing
- 6 oz. shredded cheddar cheese + additional for topping (1-1 ½ cups) (Omit for Whole30-friendly option or substitute ¼ cup nutritional yeast)
- ¼ cup chopped chives
Instructions
- Prepare Potatoes: Halve or quarter russet potatoes into 1- to 1 ½-inch chunks to ensure even cooking. Place all potato pieces into the slow cooker bowl.
- Add Cooking Ingredients: Add the ghee or butter, chicken broth or water, roughly chopped garlic cloves, and sea salt to the slow cooker with the potatoes. These ingredients will infuse flavor and keep the potatoes moist during cooking.
- Slow Cook Potatoes: Place the lid on the slow cooker and set the heat to HIGH. Cook the potatoes for about 4 hours, or until they become tender and easily mashable when pierced with a fork.
- Mash Potatoes: Use a potato masher or an immersion blender to mash the potatoes directly in the slow cooker. Add additional broth or water as needed to reach your preferred creamy consistency.
- Mix in Toppings: Stir in chopped crisp bacon, ranch dressing, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped chives until everything is well combined and melted together. For an extra touch, top with more shredded cheese, a drizzle of ranch, bacon bits, and chives.
- Serve or Keep Warm: Serve the loaded mashed potatoes immediately, or keep them warm in the slow cooker set to the ‘Warm’ function until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- These fluffy mashed potatoes are loaded with bacon, cheddar, and fresh chives, perfectly complemented by creamy ranch dressing for a classic comfort food.
- For a Whole30-friendly variation, substitute ghee for butter and omit cheddar cheese or replace it with nutritional yeast.
- You can make ranch dressing homemade for a fresher taste or store-bought for convenience.
- If you prefer, use water instead of chicken broth for a lighter version.
- Holding the dish on ‘Warm’ in the slow cooker helps maintain texture and flavor without overcooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of recipe
- Calories: 296
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 271mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
