Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Published April 2, 2017. Updated April 15, 2019

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Every now and then, I love to splurge a little and have something deliciously satisfying and perfectly comforting, like this simple and hearty Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad!

This potato salad only takes 5 ingredients — red potatoes, cheddar cheese, salty crispy bacon, creamy ranch dressing and sliced green onions. What’s not to love there? Yeah, this is a side dish you’ll have on repeat especially during these warmer months ahead.

large bowl of cheddar bacon ranch potato salad with a spoon

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

What makes this potato salad with bacon easy to make and why it calls for so few ingredients is because instead of a homemade potato salad dressing, it’s made with a bottle of ranch dressing. I know, normally I’m all about making things from scratch but sometimes when I find a good product, I love a good shortcut.

I made this potato salad with the new Hidden Valley® Ranch Simply Ranch Dressing. I’m actually really excited about this product! It’s bottled ranch dressing made without any artificial flavors, preservatives or colors.

Instead it’s made with real ingredients like buttermilk, garlic, onion, herbs and spices and I like it better than the original! It has a delicious flavor and of course that same classic velvety smooth creamy texture.

Don’t miss out on trying the ranch with this loaded potato salad recipe, it’s the perfect spring and summer side dish! You can’t go wrong with that bacon cheddar ranch flavor combo.

bowl of cheddar bacon ranch potato salad on a green towel

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Ingredients

For this loaded potato salad, you’ll need:

  • Red potatoes
  • Bacon
  • Hidden Valley Simply Ranch Dressing
  • Green onions
  • Shredded cheddar cheese

How to Make Potato Salad with Bacon

  • Boil the potatoes until fully tender, then drain and let cool.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the cooled potatoes, ranch dressing, crumbled bacon, sliced green onions and shredded cheese.
  • Serve immediately or chill up to 24 hours before serving.

cheddar bacon ranch potato salad in a bowl with a spoon

How Long Should I Boil Potatoes for Potato Salad?

This is a red potato salad recipe, so you’ll need dice the potatoes into 1-inch chunks and then boil for around 10 minutes. Add the red potatoes to a pot of cold water, then bring to a boil. This will give you super tender potatoes for your potato salad.

Can I Use Another Type of Cheese?

Yes, feel free to use any shredded cheese you have on hand in this recipe. I personally like sharper cheeses, like cheddar, in this recipe, otherwise it gets overwhelmed by the other ingredients.

Tips for the Best Potato Salad

  • If you want the bacon to be crispy when you serve this loaded potato salad, serve it immediately after making. The bacon loses its crispiness the longer it sits in the dressing.
  • Feel free to reserve some of the crumbled bacon and sliced green onions for garnishing the potato salad.
  • Taste the potato salad after you’ve combined all the ingredients, and add salt and pepper if needed.

close up shot of cheddar bacon ranch potato salad

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5 from 4 votes

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Such an easy flavorful potato salad recipe! Just cook potatoes in boiling water, drain and toss with ranch, cheese and green onions. A new summertime staple!
Servings: 6
Prep15 minutes
Cook30 minutes
Ready in: 45 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook potatoes in boiling water: Add potatoes to a pot. Add enough water to cover potatoes by about 2-inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce heat to medium and allow to boil until potatoes are fully tender, about 10 minutes. 
  • Drain potatoes: Carefully pour potatoes into a colander to drain. Set aside to cool (to speed cool them run them under cold water until cool).
  • Toss potatoes with dressing, and mix-ins: Pour cooled potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Add in ranch, cheddar, bacon and green onions, toss to coat. 
  • Season as desired: season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve or cover and chill up to 1 day (if you like the bacon crispy wait to add it until ready to serve).

Notes

  1. You can set aside a few tablespoons of the bacon and green onions for garnish if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 373 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Cholesterol 38mg13%
Sodium 533mg23%
Potassium 767mg22%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 265IU5%
Vitamin C 14.9mg18%
Calcium 163mg16%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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39 Comments

  • Dave

    Thank you so much for posting this recipe. I’ve made this so many times, I have the recipe memorized. I know, not too hard with only 5 ingredients. My “go to” classic recipe has onions, eggs, celery… This is the easiest potato salad recipe ever. I believe that most people I’ve served both recipes, prefer this recipe. I know I do!

    Haha, I just noticed that four of the five ingredients are in the name!

    I’d love to see more spicy recipes.

  • Dave

    Thank you so much for posting this recipe. I’ve made this so many times, I have the recipe memorized. I know, not too hard with only 5 ingredients. My “go to” classic recipe has onions, eggs, celery… This is the easiest potato salad recipe ever. I believe that most people I’ve served both recipes, prefer this recipe. I know I do!

    I’d love to see more spicy recipes.

  • Roxann gardner

    Such a great salad I use cubed cheese instead of shredding and I like to use red purple and white potatoes and serve it warm so the cheese sort of melts