Au Gratin Ranch Potatoes
Hash brown casseroles like these Au Gratin Ranch Potatoes are potluck classics here in the South. This recipe features Southern style hash brown potatoes smothered with a creamy Ranch dressing sauce and loads of cheese. To take it over the top, it’s finished with crushed Ranch flavored potato chips. This potato casserole is easy to make and even easier to eat.
Easy Au Gratin Ranch Potatoes Recipe
Casseroles side dishes are always a hit and you can count on several different varieties showing up at just about any church, family or office potluck gathering. The potato casserole I recall seeing most often at the church potlucks I attended as a little girl was made with hash brown potatoes. Sometimes they were shredded, sometimes cubed as in this recipe. How do you may Au Gratin Ranch Potatoes? In a large mixing bowl use a large spoon to mix together the hash browns, green onions, shredded cheese, Ranch salad dressing mix, sour cream, cream of onion soup, black pepper and melted butter. Spread evenly into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish, then top with reserved white cheddar cheese and crushed potato chips. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 25 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender the the top is golden. Let stand for a few minutes then enjoy.
How to Make the Best Au Gratin Ranch Potatoes Recipe
The prep time needed for these au gratin potatoes is about as minimal as it gets. The topping is what sets my casserole apart from other corn flake topped potato casseroles. This dish is the epitome of go big or go home.
- Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Au Gratin Ranch Potatoes: Frozen Southern style hash browns (i.e. Oneida cubed hash browns), sour cream, condensed cream of onion soup, dry Ranch salad dressing mix, black pepper, melted butter, green onions, shredded white cheddar cheese and crush Ranch flavored potato chips.
- Kitchen tools you’ll need: A large bowl, large rubber spatula or spoon for stirring, measuring cups and spoons, cheese grater, sharp knife and cutting board.
- The hash browns don’t have to be thawed for this recipe. Simply mix together and bake.
- You can fully assemble these potatoes one day in advance, cover and chill in the refrigerator. When doing so, wait to top with the potato chips just before baking.
- When I refer to Southern style hash browns, I mean cubed, not shredded hash browns. You can use Oneida or a similar private label brand that you already enjoy in the same amount.
- I used sharp white cheddar cheese for this potato casserole. You can, of course, use classic yellow cheddar, colby jack, colby, Gruyere or any variety of cheese that you enjoy.
- When baking, check the topping for the ranch potatoes around 50-60 minutes to make sure they aren’t over browning. If needed, lay a piece of foil on top.
- You can keep Au Gratin Ranch Potatoes chilled in the refrigerator for up tp 4 days. Reheat in single servings in the microwave.
- You can also reheat leftovers in a preheated 350°F oven just until heated through.
More Easy Potato Recipes to Make
There’s nothing like a rich and decadent potato casserole to complement steak, chicken pork and beyond. More potato recipes you may also like to try:
- My Slow Cooked Sweet Potato Casserole is ideal for holiday gatherings.
- This Ham and Hash Brown Casserole is a brunch favorite.
- Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole is a real family pleaser and there’s never a spoonful leftover.
- Green Chile Queso Potatoes is perfection for your next South of the border inspired meal.
- Loaded Scalloped Potatoes for the bacon lovers in your life.
- Twice Baked Smashed Potatoes is a make ahead dish that works especially well for entertaining.
- Cheddar and Ham Au Gratin Potatoes is a spectacular way to use up leftover ham.
- Roasted Purple Potatoes from Yellow Bliss Road
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Au Gratin Ranch Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 32 oz bag frozen hash brown potatoes {still frozen}
- 1 16 oz container sour cream
- 1 10 3/4 oz can cream of onion soup
- 1 0.4 oz dry buttermilk dressing mix
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 medium green onions chopped
- 6 Tbsp butter melted and divided
- 2 cups grated white cheddar cheese divided
- 1 1/2 cups crushed ranch flavored potato chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together hash browns, onion soup, sour cream, dressing mix, pepper and chopped green onions.
- Stir everything until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Add 4 tablespoons (about 2/3) melted butter and 1 1/2 cups of shredded white cheddar cheese. Mix well.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
- Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese on top then spread the crushed ranch flavored potato chips evenly over it all.
- Bake for 1 hour and 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let stand 5 minutes, then serve.
Nutrition
This would be great with Maui Sweet Onion Potato Chips as well.
Sure would!
Hi Melissa! I have been enjoying perusing your website. Soo much to choose from, and E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N- looks absolutely scrumpdilicious!
Question – the “melted 6 Tbl of Butter” -is this melting 6 Tbl of Butter, OR melting enough butter, that afterwards it should equal 6 Tbl?
I know it should be the same, but I have encountered, several times, where the priorly melted butter doesn’t equal the same amount, as opposed to melting afterwards.
Thanks so much for sharing your recipes! GOD bless ~
Melt 6 Tbsp of butter. Part goes into the potatoes and the rest is drizzled on top. If it’s simpler, you can melt 4 Tbsp together and then 2 Tbsp separately for the top.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you use RANCH potato chips…but I guess I’ll just have to force myself to eat the remaining chips in the bag! LOL
Hi Joan, I’m right there with you ha! Thank you, these potatoes are SO good.
I’ve made this with Celery root “hashbrowns” and it was delicious!!!! Thank you for the ideas!
Wow, nice!
Never seen cream of onion soup? There is cream of everything but onion.
What brand do you use of that?
Campbell’s
Walmart and Food Lion carry it.
Instead of using frozen hash browns would this turn out okay if I just diced some potatoes? And if so, how long do you think i would need to cook it? Thank you.
You can make potato casseroles with fresh potatoes, of course. This particular one is designed to use frozen. If you use fresh cut potatoes in similar size pieces to the hash browns, I would check it at 1 hour, then add additional time as needed baking until they’re fork tender. I make this recipe just as written, though. Feel free to browse the archives for other potato dishes.
can this be made in the morning and baked in the afternoon?
Yes
Your first ingredient lists, “1 32 oz bag frozen hash brown potatoes, unthawed”. What exactly do you mean by “unthawed”? Do you mean “thawed” or “frozen”?
Thank you – the recipe looks delicious.
Yes another way of saying that is still frozen. There’s no need to thaw.
Can Cream of Chicken be used instead of Cream of Onion?
Oh sure, if you prefer it.
I don’t see ranch flavored potato chips at the supermarket. Could you use sour cream and onion potato chips or ranch Doritoes?
Sour cream and onion would be a great substitute.
I can only find buttermilk Ranch… Is that the buttermilk dressing you’ve listed?
Yes, buttermilk Ranch.
shredded or diced hash browns?
Pictured are diced.
Hi Faye! I’m so happy to meet you, and I sure appreciate your visits. That cake is so rich and for all chocolate lovers. It’s delightful to know you’re finding something here for your family to enjoy. Visit anytime, and say “Hello,” once in a while, too. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Melissa,
I pop over here almost daily–you have the best recipes. I made your Slow cooked German Chocolate for Thanksgiving and my son adored it. I think I am going to try this potato recipe for Christmas dinner. Thanks so much for sharing all of your wonderful recipes with us. I have printed many of them with plans on trying them. I pop over here so much, I thought that it was time to introduce myself.
Have a very merry Christmas.
Faye
Hi Ezzie! Thanks so much for visiting from Australia. I have a recipe here on my blog for a homestyle version. I think you could improvise using the homemade version with no problem. Here’s the link: https://www.melissassouthernstylekitchen.com/2011/08/garlic-herb-buttermilk-dressing.html
In Australia, what can you use instead of dry buttermilk dressing, as I have never seen it in our shops,
I just pinned it to my “Yummy Sides” board 🙂
🙁 cdan
t Pin it and can’t find it under your Pinterest 🙁
Hello,
I am unable to find cream of onion soup at any local stores. What can you suggest in place of it?
Use cream of celery instead or cream of chicken.