Good Eating Monday: Slow Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes!

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I've been trying new Pinterest recipes fairly often to build-up a good inventory for posts, so I tried this one a couple weeks ago:
Slow-Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes!
It's a tasty side dish. The potatoes were very tender & cheesy. The recipe only calls for 1 Tablespoon of Ranch Seasoning. It said "or to taste," but without having ever made it, who would know? So, I tell you
1 Tablespoon IS NOT enough. 2 or 3 Tablespoons PLUS at least 1 glove of minced garlic would greatly improve this dish, so for this recipe, I'll be adding that to the ingredient list! I'm also suggesting Hormel Real Bacon Bits for a quick way to have bacon without the mess of cooking it!
This recipe originally comes from this blog.

Slow Cooker Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Hormel Real Bacon Bits (or 6 slices, cooked, cooled & crumbled.)
3 lbs red potatoes, chopped into 1 inch size chunks
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I used Kraft 2% milk cheese for lower calories) 3 Tablespoons Ranch Seasoning & Salad
dressing Mix--up to 1/2 a packet
1 clove garlic, minced2 Tablespoons chopped chives or green onions for garnish
(The recipe would also benefit from some sauteed onion, if you'd like to add it.)

Directions:
Line a slow-cooker with foil leaving enough to hang over the top to fold over the potatoes later. Spray foil with cooking oil spray. 

First, place a layer of potatoes evenly into slow cooker, then sprinkle with a 1/3 of bacon bits, 1/2 cup of cheese, 1 Tablespoon of Ranch seasoning & 1/2 of minced garlic.
Repeat this layer again, then repeat one last time with bacon, 1/2 cup cheese & Ranch seasoning.
Reserve the last 1/2 cup cheese & chives or onions for later.

Now fold foil gently over top and place lid on slow cooker. Cook either for 7 to 8 hours on Low or 3-4 hours on High.

At end of cooking time, open foil and top potatoes with last 1/2 cup cheese. Cover again another few minutes until cheese is melted.
Turn dial to warm, garnish potatoes with chives or green onions and serve immediately.
Serves about 8 generously.
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I guess I'll have to make it again, since I still have half that Ranch Seasoning packet leftover.
Eat up, me hearties, yo-ho!

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