This slow cooker Creamy Ranch Potatoes recipe is one of those wonderfully unfussy, weeknight-friendly dishes that tastes like you spent far more time on it than you actually did. Ranch-flavored potatoes are a very American comfort food—ranch seasoning itself has roots in mid-20th-century California, but it’s been thoroughly adopted across the Midwest, where it shows up on everything from chips to veggie trays.
🥔 Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Potatoes
🛒 Ingredients
- 3 pounds small Yukon Gold or red potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
- 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste (optional, depending on saltiness of ranch mix and broth)
👩🍳 Directions
- Prepare the potatoes: Scrub the potatoes well and pat them dry. Cut them into evenly sized quarters (or sixths if they’re larger) so they cook at the same rate. Place the raw quartered potatoes directly into the slow cooker crock and spread them into an even layer.
- Make the ranch mixture: In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese cubes, butter pieces, chicken broth, dry ranch seasoning mix, chopped chives, and black pepper. Whisk or stir until the mixture is mostly smooth. A few small bits of cream cheese are fine; they’ll melt as the potatoes cook.
- Pour over the potatoes: Holding the bowl over the slow cooker, carefully pour the single ranch-cream cheese mixture evenly over the raw quartered potatoes, making sure as many potatoes as possible are coated or at least touched by the sauce. Use a spatula to scrape out any remaining mixture from the bowl into the slow cooker.
- Cook the potatoes: Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or on HIGH for 2–3 hours, or until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork. Avoid lifting the lid too often, as that releases heat and can lengthen the cooking time.
- Gently toss and season: Once the potatoes are tender, use a large spoon or spatula to gently toss them in the creamy ranch sauce, coating each piece without breaking them up too much. Taste and add salt if needed, keeping in mind that ranch seasoning and broth can be salty on their own.
- Serve: Transfer the potatoes to a serving dish or serve directly from the slow cooker on the WARMsetting. Sprinkle with additional fresh chives for color and freshness. Serve hot.