Description
Savory cheesy bacon ranch potato foil packets promise a mouthwatering journey through comfort food heaven. Crispy bacon, melted cheese, and zesty ranch seasoning create an irresistible campfire or grill-friendly side dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) small Yukon gold potatoes, halved
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 slices cooked bacon, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons ranch dip mix
- 1 jalapeno chile, seeded and finely chopped
- 4 teaspoons vegetable or olive oil
Cooking Supplies:
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Cooking spray
Garnish (Optional):
- Additional sliced jalapeno
- Chopped fresh parsley or chives
- Sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium temperature, approximately 375°F, ensuring consistent heat for even cooking.
- Create two 18×12-inch aluminum foil sheets, lightly coating each with cooking spray to prevent ingredient adhesion.
- Combine potato halves with oil, ranch seasoning, and chopped jalapeno in a mixing bowl, thoroughly coating each piece with the flavorful mixture.
- Distribute the seasoned potato mixture centrally on each foil sheet, ensuring even placement for uniform cooking.
- Sprinkle chopped bacon uniformly over the potato mixture, adding a savory layer of flavor.
- Carefully fold foil edges, creating a sealed packet with sufficient space for heat circulation and steam expansion.
- Position foil packets directly on the grill grates over medium heat, covering the grill to trap internal warmth.
- Cook for 12 minutes, then rotate packets a half turn to ensure comprehensive heating and prevent uneven cooking.
- Continue grilling for an additional 12-14 minutes until potatoes reach tender consistency when pierced with a fork.
- Remove packets from grill and carefully cut an X-shaped opening on top, allowing steam to escape safely.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the exposed potatoes, letting residual heat or brief additional grilling melt the cheese completely.
- Garnish with optional toppings like extra jalapeno slices, fresh herbs, or a dollop of sour cream before serving directly from the foil packets.
Notes
- Potato Perfection Choose waxy potatoes like red or Yukon gold for the best texture and even cooking in foil packets.
- Bacon Brilliance Pre-cook bacon slightly before adding to the packet to ensure crispy, fully rendered pieces that don’t become soggy.
- Heat Management Create small venting holes in the foil to prevent steam buildup and allow proper heat circulation for perfectly cooked potatoes.
- Dietary Flexibility Swap bacon for turkey bacon or plant-based bacon alternatives to accommodate different dietary preferences while maintaining the dish’s delicious flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 30mg