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Crispy roasted potatoes, topped with melting cheese and plenty of crisp bacon are a great side dish (or main dish!) for any meal. These really are the best ever Cheesy Potatoes! I’ve served them with eggs for breakfast and with herb roasted chicken for dinner.
However you serve these potatoes, there is never a bite leftover.
The secret to this potato recipe is an extra long roasting time and a good drizzling of bacon grease. The smoky bacon flavor is in every bite and the extra minutes in the oven leave the edges of each potato nice and crisp with a fluffy center.
The recipe is really quite simple, it just requires a little extra time in the oven. Luckily, there is very little actual work involved, making this my kind of recipe! I’ve served these potatoes on their own as a main dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Yes, we really do love these Cheesy Potatoes THAT much and make them often.
These potatoes are amazing as a side dish for Oven Baked Crispy Chicken. Start the potatoes first, then prep the chicken. Add the chicken to the oven on a separate rack.
Then just carry on with the potato recipe as the chicken cooks on its own. With a salad or some simple steamed vegetables on the side, it’s a feast.
Love this recipe? Check out The Weekday Lunches & Breakfasts Cookbook for more fantastic recipes to simplify your meal times! Available in stores and online now.
Looking for more recipes to satisfy your cravings for cheese and bacon?
These Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms would make an excellent addition to our Easter dinner with the Balsamic Dijon Glazed Ham and this made from scratch Green Bean Casserole. (I made that casserole three times last year because we loved it so much!)
Potato Recipes
I simply can’t have enough potato recipes. We’ve been making these Cheesy Potatoes for a while now, but we also make these Rosemary Roasted Potatoes and the Roasted Fingerling Potatoes regularly.
Side note: if you haven’t tried fingerling potatoes yet, put them on your grocery list now. Nothing beats that crisp skin and fluffy interior in a bite-size potato.
I have a weakness for Jojo Potatoes and I can hardly wait to make this Copykat recipe at home. These Asiago Potato Stacks by A Family Feast need to happen soon as well.
If you’re looking for a potato based main dish, these BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes are a hit every time we serve them. And these Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Green Beans are a family favorite.
Cheesy Potato Recipe
- COOK THE BACON: Spread the bacon strips out across a large rimmed baking sheet pan and place on the middle rack of a COLD oven. Set the temperature to 400 degrees. Set a timer for 16 minutes and check the bacon. Remove it from the oven when it is as crisp or crunchy as you like.
- COOK THE POTATOES: While the bacon is cooking, peel and chop the potatoes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. There should be 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease left on the sheet pan. (If there is more than that, drain off a bit.)
- Put the potatoes on the pan and toss with tongs to thoroughly coat them in the bacon grease. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread the potatoes out in a single layer and bake for 20 minutes, stir well with a spatula and bake an additional 20 minutes. Stir again, making sure that none of the potatoes are sticking to the tray. Bake another 15 minutes.
- Chop the bacon into small pieces. Remove the potatoes from the oven, stir again and sprinkle generously with shredded cheese and chopped bacon. Return the tray to the oven and bake an additional 2-3 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Top with sliced green onions just before serving.
Crispy Cheese and Bacon Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound bacon
- 3 extra large russet potatoes peeled and chopped into 1/2″-3/4″ pieces, about 6 cups worth
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend shredded cheeses
- 3 green onions sliced thin
Instructions
- COOK THE BACON: Spread the bacon strips out across a large rimmed baking sheet pan and place on the middle rack of a COLD oven. Set the temperature to 400 degrees. Set a timer for 16 minutes and check the bacon. Remove it from the oven when it is as crisp or crunchy as you like. I remove ours at 18 minutes and it’s a great balance of chewy crunch. If you like your bacon crispy enough to crumble, you will probably want to cook it another minute past that.
- COOK THE POTATOES: While the bacon is cooking, peel and chop the potatoes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain. There should be 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease left on the sheet pan. (If there is more than that, drain off a bit.) Put the potatoes on the pan and toss with tongs to thoroughly coat them in the bacon grease. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread the potatoes out in a single layer and bake for 20 minutes, stir well and bake an additional 20 minutes. Stir again, making sure that none of the potatoes are sticking to the tray. Bake another 15 minutes.
- Chop the bacon into small pieces. Remove the potatoes from the oven, stir again and sprinkle generously with shredded cheese and chopped bacon. Return the tray to the oven and bake an additional 2-3 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Top with sliced green onions just before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 11/3/14 – notes and photos updated 4/13/21}
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I keep a jar in the fridge as well 🙂
Would love to try this recipe for my family,their all chopping at the bits an’ can’t wait to try it problem is I can’t find a full length recipe that I can get at someone HELP ME
This can be prepared in a cast iron skillet on the stovetop in less than half the time. Still crispy and delicious
I’m going to make these, I’m just trying to figure out the serving size?
I would consider the amount of potatoes to determine the servings. I was thinking around 4 servings. I need to count carbs and would measure 1 cup of cooked potatoes to count for carbs. Hope this helps 😊
Must try
Just made this, delicious!
I added sautéed shallots, garlic, rosemary, and used havarti and mozzarella / cheddar blend. Before I added the bacon, I cracked eggs into the hasbrowns and made a skillet out of it. Delicious!
These potatoes are so good
I like making these kinds of meals.
Breakfast makes a great dinner plan.
Than you so much.
looks delicious going to try tonight
Great recipe! Look so delicious. Will try it this week!! Thank you Mary!
Should i boil potatoes before transferring ciating with bacon greas?
You do not need to boil the potatoes. They will roast in the oven.
Hopefully I am too cook them today!!! ZThank you, in advance!!!!!
This potato dish looks really good…anxious to try it.
OMG!!! Bacon potatoes 🙂 can’t get better than this, amazing recipe and so delicious. Thank you for sharing with us.
If kept warm in a crockpot, will the potatoes get mushy?
Oh my gosh this sounds fantastic. I have to try it for my granddaughter and two great grand children
This was amazing! We had it for dinner with scrambled eggs and biscuits. Sort of a breakfast for dinner.
I made these tonight with bacon bits, just used olive oil on the potatoes. They were a hit!!!