Description
Creamy ranch potato casserole delivers comfort straight from midwest kitchens, blending hearty potatoes with zesty seasoning. Crispy cheese-topped layers promise a satisfying meal that brings families together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 bag (30 ounces / 850 grams) frozen diced hash brown potatoes, thawed
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup sour cream
Seasoning and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 packet (1 ounce / 28 grams) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) condensed cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup melted butter
Optional Toppings:
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- ½ cup crushed cornflakes or breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Peel and dice potatoes into uniform, bite-sized cubes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture.
- Submerge potato chunks in generously salted boiling water, allowing them to simmer until fork-tender and easily pierced, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Drain potatoes thoroughly in a colander, gently shaking to remove excess moisture and prevent a watery casserole.
- Whisk ranch dressing, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and fully integrated.
- Carefully fold warm potatoes into the creamy ranch mixture, ensuring each potato chunk is evenly coated with the flavorful sauce.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese throughout the potato mixture, creating pockets of melty goodness.
- Transfer the seasoned potato blend into a well-greased baking dish, spreading the mixture uniformly for consistent cooking.
- Lavishly top the casserole with remaining cheese, creating a complete coverage that will transform into a golden, crispy layer.
- Optionally, scatter bacon bits across the surface for an additional layer of smoky, savory complexity.
- Slide the casserole into a preheated oven set at 375F (190C), allowing it to bake until the cheese melts completely and develops a tempting golden-brown crust.
- Remove from oven and garnish with finely chopped green onions, adding a fresh, vibrant element to the rich dish.
- Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and make cutting easier.
Notes
- Potato Selection Matters: Choose starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for the creamiest and most tender casserole texture.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular ranch for low-fat or Greek yogurt-based ranch to reduce calories and increase protein content.
- Enhance Flavor Profiles: Add dried herbs like dill or chives to the ranch mixture for a more complex and aromatic taste experience.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the casserole up to a day in advance and refrigerate, allowing flavors to meld and making mealtime preparation easier.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg