Are you the kind of person who loves to drown everything you eat in ranch dressing? Salad and veggie sticks are one thing, but real ranch aficionados know this flawless condiment goes with all kinds of dishes: pizza, chicken fingers, burgers, fried pickles, french fries, grilled cheese and so much more. So it only makes sense that ranch would also be the ideal dressing for a potato salad, especially one that includes bacon and cheese. This recipe skips the mayonnaise that’s usually in a potato salad and relies instead on tangy ranch, giving ranch dressing lovers another reason to fall in love with their favorite condiment—as if they need one.
Ingredients for Ranch Potato Salad
- Potatoes: The base of this salad is made with two pounds of red potatoes. Red potatoes are considered one of the best potatoes to make potato salad, because of their waxy texture compared with russet or Idaho potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes also have a texture that works well for this bacon potato salad recipe.
- Ranch dressing: This recipe swaps out mayonnaise for a bottle of ranch salad dressing for a tangier taste. Keep in mind that some ranch dressings can be mayonnaise- or oil-based, so if you prefer a dairy base, look for a bottle that uses cream or buttermilk.
- Cheddar cheese: You can’t go wrong with the delectable combination of cheese, ranch, bacon and potatoes. A cup of shredded cheddar cheese makes this potato salad with ranch even more hearty and filling.
- Bacon: We use pre-cooked bacon in this recipe to keep things simple—a package of bacon bits will do. However, you can also cook the bacon yourself for this bacon ranch potato salad recipe; just let it cool completely before crumbling it and tossing it in the salad.
- Seasonings: Because this recipe is a potato salad with ranch dressing, the sauce already provides quite a bit of flavor for the dish. A dash of garlic powder and pepper are added to the recipe, but it doesn’t need much seasoning beyond that.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the potatoes
Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, then fill it up with water until the potatoes are completely submerged. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer until the potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. When the potatoes are thoroughly cooked, drain them and cut them into cubes.
Editor’s Tip: Add salt to the pot! Similar to the way you would boil pasta, adding salt to the water will give the potatoes even more flavor with each bite.
Step 2: Combine the ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the ranch dressing, cheese, bacon, pepper and garlic powder (expect the dressing to be thick). Add the potatoes to the dressing and gently toss to coat. Once everything is combined, cover the potato salad and refrigerate it for at least two hours, or until the salad is thoroughly chilled.
Ranch Potato Salad Variations
- Top with more bacon: Presentation is everything! Reserve some of the bacon to sprinkle on top of your potato salad before serving. You can do this with extra shredded cheese as well.
- Try different cheeses: Speaking of the cheese, while cheddar is an easy go-to pairing with ranch and bacon, feel free to mix in different shredded cheeses, based on your preference. Some of our favorites include pepper jack, Parmesan, Asiago and Monterey Jack.
- Garnish with chopped green onions: Green onions also pair well with the ingredients in this ranch potato salad, so why not also sprinkle some on top? Not only does this add an aesthetically pleasing pop of color, it also adds an extra aromatic to the dish that will boost the overall flavor.
Can you make ranch potato salad ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this ranch potato salad recipe in advance. It needs at least two hours in the refrigerator, making it the perfect easy side dish to prepare ahead. When properly stored in an air-tight container in the fridge, potato salad with ranch dressing can last up to four days.
Ranch Potato Salad Tips
What is the best way to cook potatoes for potato salad?
Boiling potatoes in a pot with salt is the best way to cook potatoes for your potato salad. The process is rather simple: Add potatoes to your pot, add water till they’re fully submerged, then sprinkle in some salt. Bring the potatoes to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer. You’ll know the potatoes are done when a fork easily pierces the flesh. The potatoes should be tender but still firm enough to keep their shape.
Should I leave the skin on the potatoes?
While it is not a requirement to leave the skin on your potatoes, it does add to the flavor of this ranch potato salad. That said, if you’re not a fan of potato skins, you can always peel potatoes the easy way before boiling them and continuing with the recipe.
Can I make the ranch dressing from scratch?
Yes! While a bottled ranch dressing makes it easy to throw together this potato salad recipe, you can elevate the dish by making your own homemade ranch dressing. This recipes calls for 1 cup (8 ounces), so be sure to measure out your dressing before mixing it in.
