I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the crack potatoes Recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparation of crack potatoes. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
Crack Potatoes
Crack potatoes are a tasty side dish prepared from seasoned tender potatoes, baked until crispy and topped with bacon and melted cheese. It results in a tasty dish with irresistible rich flavours. The name ‘crack potatoes’ suggests how engaging they’ll be once you start consuming them.
Crack potatoes are the ultimate comforting meal that is loved by many. With the crispy outside and creamy inside they’re nice at family dinners, families and weeknight meals.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Irresistibly Delicious: Crack potatoes are so tasty that they won’t let you resist. Their crunchy texture and creamy cheese inside will make you want more.
- Easy to prepare: This recipe is suitable for both experienced and beginner cooks. It uses simple ingredients and easy steps, so it can be made quickly.
- Customizable: The crack potatoes are versatile. You can try different cheese, toppings or seasonings to make your own. You can also add fresh herbs, bacon bits or chilli flakes for customization. Crowd Pleasure: Whether you are organizing a party or a family they’ll surely be a hit. They are a perfect side dish that goes well with a lot of dishes.
- Crowd Pleasure: Whether you are organizing a party or a family they’ll surely be a hit. They are a perfect side dish that goes well with a lot of dishes.
Tips
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Frozen hash browns are easy to use, but you can also go for fresh shredded or cubed potatoes. If you are using fresh potatoes, rinse and dry them to prevent any extra starch which may change the texture.
- Add extra crunch with panko: For a crunchy top, ensure to add panko breadcrumbs and mix with melted butter over the potatoes before baking. It provides a nice crunch to each bite.
- Adjust the ranch flavour: For a mild ranch flavour, you can use half a packet of ranch flavour mix. For a stronger taste, you can add more as per your liking.
- Experiment with cheese: Although cheddar is a great choice, you can go for other cheese such as pepper jack, Monterey jack or a mix of your choice.
- Customize with Add-ins: You can prepare the recipe of your choice by adding ingredients such as chopped jalapenos, and bell peppers for a spicy twist or cooked sausage for a hearty meal.
Variations
- Cheesy Crack Potatoes: After baking the potatoes, add the shredded cheese on top and then put it back in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. You can garnish it with chopped green onions.
- Bacon Crack Potatoes: You can include crumbled, cooked bacon in the seasoning mix or top it on the potatoes before baking. It provides a savoury and smoky flavour to the dish.
- Garlic Parmesan Crack Potatoes: Mix the potatoes with grated parmesan cheese and minced garlic before baking. For more flavour, you can add dried Italian herbs and a little garlic powder.
- Spicy Crack Potatoes: You can mix in spices such as paprika, chilli powder, or cayenne pepper for more spiciness. You can also include a drizzle of hot sauce after baking.
- Herb-Infused Crack Potatoes: You can add fresh or dried herbs such as dill, thyme or rosemary. They provide a refreshing contrast to the meal.
What to Serve
- Grilled or Roasted Meats: You can try chicken steaks, thighs, or grilled or grilled sausages with the crack potatoes. The savoury flavour of the meat goes well with the crack potatoes.
- Fresh Salad: For a refreshing and crunchy twist you can try fresh salad with crack potatoes. Go for Caesar salad, a mixed green salad with tangy dressing or a Greek salad with olives, tomatoes and cucumbers.
- Coleslaw: The zesty and creamy coleslaw provides a crunchy texture and acidity which helps to balance the richness of the crack potatoes.
- Baked Beans: For a hearty and comforting side, you can try baked beans that work well with the crack potatoes.
- Roasted or Grilled Chicken Wings: For a casual meal, you can try grilled chicken wings with your preferred sauce as a delicious choice.
Storing and Freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let the crack potatoes cool at room temperature.
- Put the cooled cracked potatoes in a resealable plastic bag or in an air-tight container. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Freezing
Before freezing, let the cracked potatoes cool at room temperature to avoid the ice crystals from forming.
- For freezing in portions, you can divide the cracked potatoes into meal-sized portions and put them in separate air-tight containers.
- For more protection, you can warp the portioned wrapped potatoes in aluminium foil before putting them in the freezer bag.
- Label the container or the bag with the date and content to keep track of the freshness.
- You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Conclusion
If you want to prepare a dish which is both irresistible and indulgent, try the crack potatoes recipe. This delicious side provides flavour to every meal whether it’s a holiday gathering, family dinner or a BBQ. With its crunchy texture and creamy inside they are sure to impress everyone.
Don’t forget to try the experiment with your preferred toppings. Share your crack potato cooking experience in the comment below. Do follow the blog for kitchen recipes.
Read More:- Vegan Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Crack Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs about 6 cups frozen hash brown potatoes (shredded or cubed)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 can 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 packet 1 oz ranch dressing mix
- 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup green onions chopped (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Set the temperature of the oven to 350 F (175 C). Grease a 9 X 13 inches baking sheet or a casserole dish of similar size.
- In a big bowl, mix sour cream, chicken soup cream, shredded cheddar cheese and ranch dressing mix. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Mix the frozen hash brown potatoes in the mixture until they’re evenly coated. Then, mix in the crumbled bacon and half of the chopped green onions.
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper according to your taste.
- Now, transfer the mixture into the prepared baking sheet and spread it out evenly. Bake in the oven for around 45-50 minutes until the potatoes are bubbly, hot and the top turned golden brown.
- Once baked, remove it from the oven and add the remaining green onion on top. Ensure to cool it slightly before serving.
I could definitely have it for the main course. Adorable recipe! 😍👍❤️