Easy Loaded Cheesy Bacon Potatoes with Sour Cream
The perfect side dish for summertime barbecues or football parties, these savory cheesy bacon potatoes are a welcome change from the traditional baked beans or macaroni salad. Plus, they’re simple to make with just a few ingredients and minimal prep time.
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If you are looking for an easy potato recipe, then this is the best! You can never go wrong with thinly sliced potatoes, cheese, and bacon. It’s a cheesy side dish that the entire family will enjoy.
Want more delicious cheese and bacon recipes to try out? If you want to keep going with the delicious combination of bacon and cheese, try these Savory Bacon Cheddar Scones. Or, for another side dish option, try these Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms.
If you loved this recipe, why not make some Mashed Potato Bites with Bacon in the Air Fryer? Or make some Crispy Greek-Style Lemon & Dill Potatoes With Feta that will work as a meal on their own or with a favorite chicken dish.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe…
- Full of cheesy flavor – The best part of these potatoes is the cheese. It’s creamy and salty and goes perfectly with the bacon.
- Quick and easy – This recipe only takes a few minutes to prep, and then it bakes in the oven until you have soft and cheesy potatoes.
- Perfect for parties – These potatoes are perfect for summertime barbecues or football parties for a lot of people. They’re hearty enough to serve as a side dish but delicious enough to eat as a meal.
- Bacon makes everything better – The addition of crispy bacon only makes these potatoes more delicious.
What Are The Best Potatoes For Baking?
For this recipe, russet potatoes are the star of the show. When baked, their high starch content and fluffiness make them the ideal choice for achieving that perfectly creamy interior and crisp exterior. These potatoes also hold up well to the rich, melty cheese and crisp bacon, ensuring every bite is as satisfying as the last.
If you’re looking for a bit of variety, you might consider using Yukon Gold potatoes. These are known for their buttery, rich flavor and slightly waxy texture, making them another great option for baking. They blend beautifully with the creamy cheese and crispy bacon, offering a slightly different but equally delicious experience.
Red potatoes can also be a good choice for those who prefer a bit of color in their dishes. Their firmer texture and ability to maintain their shape after baking make them suitable for this dish, especially if you’re aiming for a presentation with a touch of elegance.
What’s In This Cheesy Bacon Potatoes Recipe
- Russet potatoes: Chosen for their high starch content, these potatoes bake up fluffy and soft, making them the perfect base for our cheesy dish. Slice them thin to ensure every bite is infused with cheese and bacon flavors.
- Butter: Melted butter coats each slice of potato, adding richness and ensuring they crisp up beautifully in the oven. It’s a simple ingredient that elevates the dish to comfort food status.
- Salt & Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the natural flavors of the potatoes and bacon, providing a balance to the dish’s richness.
- Cheddar Cheese: Adds a creamy, tangy layer that perfectly complements the salty bacon and soft potatoes. Its melt-factor brings everything together into a gooey, delicious mix.
- Sour Cream: Offers a cool, tangy counterpoint to the dish’s richness, adding a layer of complexity and a smooth texture that pairs wonderfully with the crispy bacon and tender potatoes.
- Bacon: The star that makes everything better, bacon adds a crispy, smoky flavor that’s irresistible, making these potatoes truly memorable.
- Green Onions: Provide a pop of color and a fresh, sharp contrast to the rich, savory flavors, rounding out the dish beautifully.
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations
- If you don’t have bacon on hand, feel free to leave it out of this recipe or substitute it with another type of meat. Ham, sausage, or crumbled-up turkey bacon would all be great substitutes.
- Sliced Jalapenos can give this cheese and bacon potato bake a spicy kick.
- If you’re looking for a vegetarian version of this great recipe, you can omit the bacon and cheese and just top the potatoes with a sprinkle of olive oil and spices like rosemary and parsley.
- Add ranch seasoning mix to your potato slices for a ranch potato bake.
How To Make Cheesy Baked Potatoes With Bacon Step by Step
- Preheat your oven to the required temperature and ready your baking sheet by lightly spraying it with nonstick spray.
- Thinly slice potatoes and lay them out in a single layer on the baking sheet. (Photos 1 & 2)
- Brush each potato slice generously with melted butter, ensuring they’re well-coated for that perfect crispy exterior. (Photo 3)
- Season your buttered slices with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences. (Photo 4)
- Bake the potato slices in preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes or until tender and lightly golden.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese and crispy bacon pieces over the baked potato slices, then return to the oven for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is perfectly melted. (Photo 5)
- Finish by garnishing with dollops of sour cream and a sprinkle of green onions for a burst of flavor and a pop of color. (Photo 6)
Recipe Tips
- For the best results, be sure to slice your potatoes as evenly as possible so that they all cook at the same time.
- You can use a mandolin slicer for even slices or a sharp knife if you’re careful.
- When layering the potatoes in your baking dish, try to get them in a single layer or as close to a single layer as possible.
Alternative Cooking Methods
To prepare the cheesy bacon potatoes in an Instant Pot, you’ll first need to adjust the layering technique due to the different cooking styles. Instead of baking, you’ll layer the potatoes, cheese, and bacon directly in the pot. Use the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set the timer for about 8 minutes for the potatoes to become tender.
Quick-release the pressure, then carefully open the lid and sprinkle additional cheese. Use the “Sauté” function to melt the cheese, creating a deliciously cheesy top layer similar to the oven-baked version.
This method is especially handy for those looking for a quicker, more hands-off approach without sacrificing the original recipe’s crispy texture and rich flavors.
Storing Tips
Store leftover sliced potatoes with cheese and bacon in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container.
I don’t recommend freezing this dish as the potatoes can change their texture in the freezer.
Serving Suggestions
These cheesy bacon potatoes are a versatile side dish that pairs wonderfully with a variety of main courses. Consider serving them with a grilled ribeye steak or a tasty chicken dish such as Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders for a hearty meal.
During the colder months, these potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of chunky minestrone soup or hearty beef stew, making any dinner feel cozy and complete.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make these potatoes ahead of time. Just follow the instructions all the way up until you’re ready to bake them. Then, cover the dish with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to a couple of hours before you bake it.
Parmesan cheese, diced peppers, salsa, pico de Gallo, or even chili would be a great topping for these cheesy potatoes.
Absolutely! Sweet potatoes can easily replace russet potatoes in this recipe for a sweeter twist on the dish. Keep in mind that the cooking time may vary slightly as sweet potatoes can cook faster than russets. Simply adjust the baking time as needed until the sweet potato slices are tender and lightly caramelized.
Yes, if you’re a fan of heat, there are several ways to add a spicy kick to these cheesy bacon potatoes. Consider mixing in some red pepper flakes with the salt and pepper seasoning or adding a layer of sliced jalapeños on top of the potatoes before you add the cheese and bacon. Another option is to serve the dish with a side of hot sauce, allowing everyone to customize their level of spice.
More Potato Recipes You’ll Love
- Loaded Instant Pot Potato Salad
- Tuscan Sausage Potato Soup
- Cheesy Crash Hot Potatoes
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Air Fryer Mashed Potato Bites
- See all our delicious side dish recipes!
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Easy Loaded Cheesy Bacon Potatoes with Sour Cream
Ingredients
- 4-5 russet potatoes sliced thin
- ½ stick butter melted
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 cups (226 g) Cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup (57 ½ g) sour cream
- ¼ cup (59 ⅐ g) bacon cooked and chopped
- green onions sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400℉ and ready your baking sheet by lightly spraying it with nonstick spray.
- Thinly slice potatoes and lay them out in a single layer on the baking sheet.4-5 russet potatoes
- Brush each potato slice generously with melted butter, ensuring they're well-coated for that perfect crispy exterior.½ stick butter
- Season your buttered slices with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.Salt & pepper to taste
- Bake the potato slices in preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes or until they’re tender and lightly golden.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese and crispy bacon pieces over the baked potato slices, then return to the oven for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is perfectly melted.2 cups Cheddar cheese,¼ cup bacon
- Finish by garnishing with dollops of sour cream and a sprinkle of green onions for a burst of flavor and a pop of color.¼ cup sour cream,green onions
Notes
- For the best results, be sure to slice your potatoes as evenly as possible so that they all cook at the same time.
- You can use a mandolin slicer for even slices or a sharp knife if you’re careful.
- When layering the potatoes in your baking dish, try to get them in a single layer or as close to a single layer as possible.
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