Crispy Baked Cheddar Bacon Sliced Potatoes: The Ultimate Comfort Food Side Dish
Prepare to elevate your side dish game with these utterly irresistible crispy baked cheddar and bacon sliced potatoes. This recipe transforms humble red potatoes into a truly extraordinary culinary experience, featuring delightful layers of sharp cheddar cheese and smoky, crumbled bacon. Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of fluffy potato interiors, savory onions, aromatic garlic, gooey melted cheese, and the satisfying crunch of bacon, all enhanced by a subtle hint of tangy BBQ sauce. It’s more than just a side; it’s a showstopper that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Why These Cheddar and Bacon Sliced Potatoes Will Become Your Go-To Recipe
These cheddar bacon sliced potatoes are not just easy; they’re a revelation of smoky, cheesy goodness that will quickly become a beloved staple in your home. Our family has always adored potato dishes, from creamy bacon mashed potatoes to flavorful roasted parmesan potatoes. So, it was only natural to combine the universally loved duo of bacon and cheese with our favorite root vegetable to craft what we consider the ultimate potato creation.
The magic of this dish lies in the slicing technique. By preparing the potatoes in thin, uniform slices before baking, they effectively steam as they cook, resulting in an incredibly fluffy and tender interior. As the baking continues, these sliced potatoes develop beautifully crispy edges, creating a fantastic textural contrast. The addition of rich cheddar cheese and savory bacon not only introduces an extra layer of irresistible flavor but also contributes to the dish’s delightful texture. The cheese melts into a gooey blanket, while the bacon offers a delightful crunch, making every forkful a symphony of tastes and sensations.
Beyond their incredible flavor, these sliced potatoes boast remarkable versatility. They are a magnificent accompaniment to nearly any meal. Imagine serving them alongside juicy grilled chicken, a hearty picnic spread, your favorite sandwiches, or succulent slow-cooked pulled pork or beef. But their utility doesn’t stop there! My husband often enjoys the leftovers, topped with a fried egg, for a truly satisfying breakfast. This flexibility makes them perfect for weeknight dinners, holiday feasts, or casual backyard barbecues.
Essential Ingredients for Your Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes
One of the many reasons this potato side dish is a consistent hit is its simplicity. You only need a handful of readily available ingredients to create a dish bursting with cheesy, smoky bacon flavor. Quality ingredients make a noticeable difference, so choose wisely!
- Red Potatoes: Approximately 2.5 pounds, thoroughly washed and sliced into thin, uniform rounds. Red potatoes are ideal for this recipe due to their waxy texture, which helps them hold their shape when sliced and allows them to become tender without getting mushy, while also developing those desirable crispy edges.
- Onion: One small onion, thinly sliced. The onion adds a subtle sweetness and aromatic depth that complements the richness of the potatoes, bacon, and cheese.
- Garlic: Three cloves, minced. Fresh garlic is key here, infusing the dish with its pungent, savory notes that are essential for a robust flavor profile.
- Bacon: Six strips of thick-cut bacon, cooked until crispy and then crumbled. Thick-cut bacon not only provides more substance and a satisfying chew but also renders enough fat to help crisp up the potatoes. Pre-cooking ensures consistent crispness and allows you to control the fat content.
- Cheddar Cheese: Two cups of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded. Sharp cheddar offers a bold, tangy flavor that stands up well to the other ingredients, creating that classic comforting taste. Shredding your own cheese from a block often melts better than pre-shredded varieties.
- BBQ Sauce: 3/4 to 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce. This ingredient is the secret weapon, adding a touch of smoky sweetness and tang that ties all the flavors together, giving the dish that “next-level” appeal. Adjust the amount to your taste.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste. Simple seasonings are all you need to enhance the natural flavors of the potatoes, bacon, and cheese.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Craft This Delicious Potato Side Dish
Making these cheddar and bacon sliced potatoes is incredibly straightforward, requiring just three main steps. Follow along for perfect results every time!
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Baking Dish
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While the oven heats, lightly grease the bottom and sides of a standard 9×13-inch baking pan. You can use cooking spray, butter, or a neutral oil for this. Greasing the pan ensures that the potatoes don’t stick and helps them achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust on the bottom.
Step 2: Layer Your Flavorful Ingredients
This is where the magic truly begins! Carefully arrange the sliced potatoes, sliced onion, minced garlic, and crumbled bacon in the prepared baking pan. To ensure every bite is packed with flavor and texture, I recommend doing this in two distinct layers. This technique allows for an even dispersion of all the ingredients, meaning no plain potato sections. After layering, generously top the entire dish with the shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring it covers all the potatoes. Finally, drizzle your chosen BBQ sauce evenly over the cheese and potatoes. Don’t be shy – the BBQ sauce adds a wonderful tang and moisture that prevents dryness and enhances the overall taste.
Step 3: Bake to Perfection
Place your layered potato dish into the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for approximately one hour. The goal is to achieve potatoes that are perfectly tender when pierced with a fork. Keep an eye on the dish towards the end of the baking time. If you notice the cheese or potatoes are beginning to brown too quickly or excessively, simply cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil. This will prevent over-browning while allowing the potatoes to continue cooking until tender. Once baked, remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving, allowing the cheese to set slightly.
Tips for Achieving the Best Baked Sliced Potatoes
While this recipe is simple, a few extra tips can elevate your dish from great to absolutely phenomenal:
- Uniform Slicing: Consistency is key for even cooking. Use a mandoline slicer if you have one to get perfectly thin and uniform potato slices. If slicing by hand, take your time to ensure all slices are roughly the same thickness. This guarantees that all potatoes become tender at the same rate.
- Don’t Skimp on Seasoning: While the recipe calls for salt and pepper to taste, don’t forget to season the potato layers as you build them. A little salt and pepper between each potato layer will ensure flavor throughout the dish, not just on top.
- Crispy Bacon First: Always cook your bacon until crispy before crumbling and adding it to the layers. This prevents soggy bacon and ensures that delightful crunch in the final dish.
- Freshly Shredded Cheese: Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can affect how smoothly they melt. Shredding cheese from a block yourself usually results in a creamier, more luxurious melt.
- Rest Before Serving: After removing the dish from the oven, let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to serve clean portions, and prevents the entire dish from falling apart.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sliced Potatoes
For this recipe, we recommend using red potatoes, which are generally smaller and easier to handle for slicing. If you’re using larger potatoes like russet or Yukon gold, exercise caution to avoid cutting yourself. For a more secure grip, place a clean dish towel on your cutting board, then place the potato on top. Hold the potato firmly with one hand and carefully cut crosswise into slices with the other. You can adjust the thickness to your preference; remember, thinner slices tend to result in crispier potatoes, while slightly thicker ones will offer a softer, more substantial texture. A mandoline slicer can also achieve consistent, thin slices with ease, just be sure to use the safety guard.
Absolutely! This dish can be wonderfully adapted for the grill, perfect for summer cookouts. To do so, simply assemble the ingredients in a sturdy foil pan (or create a pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil) and cover it tightly with foil. Cook the foil pan over medium heat on your grill until the potatoes are tender. Cooking times can vary significantly depending on your grill’s temperature and heat distribution, but it typically takes about 30 minutes. Check for tenderness by piercing a potato with a fork.
While these potatoes are undeniably at their peak when enjoyed fresh out of the oven, you can certainly store and savor the leftovers. I generally wouldn’t recommend making the entire dish ahead of time, as the texture of freshly baked potatoes is superior. However, any uneaten portions can be cooled completely, then transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated for up to three days. To reheat, a microwave works perfectly for a quick warm-up, or you can gently warm them in the oven for a crisper result.
Absolutely! The beauty of sliced baked potatoes is their incredible adaptability. You can get really creative with flavor combinations. For a zesty twist, consider our taco baked potato recipe and simply translate all those delicious taco toppings into layers for this dish. Think seasoned ground beef, salsa, sour cream, and a blend of Mexican cheeses! Another fantastic idea is to draw inspiration from our maple roasted sweet potatoes recipe to create a savory-sweet maple bacon potato side. For a heartier main course, you could incorporate protein, much like our buffalo chicken baked potato recipe; layer shredded buffalo chicken directly into the potato dish. Or, use our tender slow cooker BBQ chicken as a delicious layer or a topping, adding even more smoky BBQ flavor.
More Potato Recipes to Delight Your Palate
If you’re a fellow potato enthusiast, you’re in luck! We have a wide array of delicious potato recipes that are sure to become family favorites. From comforting classics to inventive twists, there’s a potato dish for every occasion. Explore some of our other popular recipes:
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes: Effortlessly creamy and perfect for feeding a crowd.
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole: All the best toppings baked into a comforting casserole.
- Twice Baked Breakfast Potatoes: A hearty and flavorful start to your day.
- Easy Roasted Potatoes: Simple, perfectly crispy, and versatile.
- Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes: Hands-off perfection for tender baked potatoes.
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Sliced Potatoes Baked with Cheddar and Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds red potatoes washed and sliced into thin slices
- 1 small onion sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 6 strips of thick cut bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3/4 – 1 cup bbq sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan.
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Layer the potatoes, onion, garlic and crumbled bacon in prepared baking pan. (I did this in 2 layers) Top with cheese and bbq sauce.
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Bake for 1 hour uncovered or until potatoes are tender. Watch towards the end if starting to brown too much cover with foil.
Notes
Storage: The potatoes are best enjoyed fresh so I wouldn’t recommend making them ahead of time, but you can certainly store leftovers and enjoy them over the next couple of days. Allow them to cool completely and then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave and enjoy!