I knew these really were The Best Skillet Potatoes with Cheese and Bacon when before the dinner table was even cleared my fourteen-year-old was asking when I planned to make them again. Hilarious! He is usually much more into dinners that have rice as a side or dinners that have rice as the main ingredient, like this Million Dollar Zucchini Skillet. I’m taking his inquiry as a huge endorsement of this recipe.
Anything “potato” ranks pretty high on my favorite list. I blame it on my mom being from Idaho. Loving potatoes is just in my blood. Next to french fries, hash browns are probably my second favorite way to eat a potato. This recipe is like hash browns on steroids. My fellow potato people, you are going to love these!
More “Must-Make” Potato Recipes
- Potato Salad with Old Bay and Bacon
- Thick and Creamy Potato and Ham Soup
- Baked Carrot and Potato Fries
- Green Curry with Chicken and Potatoes
- Yummy Funeral Potatoes
- Roasted Golden Butter Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Hobo Dinner
These Skillet Potatoes with Cheese and Bacon are extra awesome because not only do they make a great side dish for chicken and pork chops, but they can also be made for breakfast. Throw a fried egg on top of a scoop of these and, yum, yum, yum! Another great selling point for this recipe is that they are gluten-free. I’m always looking for great gluten-free recipes to pull out when I need to feed my sister’s family or gluten-free friends.
How to Make The Best Skillet Potatoes with Cheese and Bacon
Frequently asked questions about making The Best Skillet Potatoes with Cheese and Bacon
What kind of Skillet should I use? NOn-stick? Cast Iron?
A nonstick skillet or a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet will be best for this recipe. If you use a stainless steel skillet the potatoes will most likely stick and you will need to use at least twice as much butter.
can I use frozen HASH BROWNS instead of fresh potatoes?
Yes, frozen hash browns would be a great shortcut, just make sure that you get the cube shape instead of the shredded kind.
Can I leave the onion out of this recipe?
You can, but I don’t recommend it. The onion adds some incredible flavor to the dish. If you are really against adding the onion, at least add half a tsp or so of onion powder.
What type of cheese is best for the top?
I suggest milk cheddar, Colby jack or sharp cheddar for the cheese on top.
Can I use sausage or ham instead of bacon?
Yes, you can definitely use sausage or ham instead of bacon. If you use ham you will need to add in some extra butter since you won’t have the bacon grease. Depending on how greasy your sausage is you may also need to add a little extra butter if you use sausage. You need to have enough fat in the recipe for the potatoes to crisp up and not stick to the bottom of the skillet.
Does it matter what type of potatoes I use?
No, not really. I have used red, white and golden. We can’t get russet potatoes here in Germany 🙁 but I am sure russet potatoes would also work really well in this recipe. I prefer the red or the golden for flavor. Golden have a buttery undertone that is delicious.
Serve with:
- 3-4 lbs of potatoes (I prefer golden or red)
- 6-8 ounces of bacon, finely chopped
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup butter
- 1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- Place chopped/sliced bacon in a hot nonstick or cast-iron skillet. Have onions and potatoes prepared and nearby to grab easily when you are ready for them,
- Saute the bacon until it is beginning to look slightly crispy on the edges. Add in diced onion and continue to saute until onions are tender and clear.
- Once onions are tender and clear add in the chopped potatoes. Salt and pepper generously. Continue cooking. Every minute or two stir the potatoes. You don't want to stir them too often because you want to give them time to get a little brown and crispy.
- Continue cooking and stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender and some of them have nice browning on them.
- At this point, sprinkle cheese on the top of the potatoes and remove them from the heat. If you have a lid that fits your skillet you can put it on to help speed up the cheese melting process. If your pan doesn't have a lid that fits you can use a plate, piece of foil, or anything that can help trap the heat in to melt the cheese.
- Sprinkle with dried parsley if desired and serve.
- Enjoy!
Breakfast for Dinner Ideas
#maygiveaway. I need to make these! Cooking the potatoes just right has always been hard. I either overcook or undercook so this recipe helps
These skillet potatoes look and sound delicious! I just saved them to add to our menu plan for sometime over the next couple of weeks! I went back and for the about buying russet or Yukon gold potatoes today and now I wish I would have gone with the gold (my fave). I’m sure they’ll turn out just as great with the russets! #JULYGIVEAWAY