Name: Cheesy Ranch Potatoes and Smoked Sausage
Ingredients: It’s a ONE PAN meal. That’s right. One. Single. Pan. to wash afterward.; It takes about 30 minutes start to finish. Maybe 35 if you’re moving at sloth speed like me on a Monday.; Kids demolish it. Even the picky ones who think potatoes are “weird.”; The crispy potato bits at the bottom of the pan are basically currency in our house.; It reheats like a dream (if there are ever leftovers, which is rare).; You probably have these ingredients on hand already.; It’s endlessly customizable with whatever veggies you need to use up.; The smell will make your whole house seem like a cozy diner in the best possible way.; 2 tablespoons butter (the real deal, not that fake stuff); 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin if you’re feeling fancy); 2 pounds potatoes (russets or Yukon golds work best), diced into ½-inch cubes (leave the skin on, that’s where the nutrients hide!); 1 pound smoked sausage (kielbasa, andouille, or whatever you like), sliced into coins; 1 medium onion, diced (yellow, white, whatever’s rolling around in your pantry); 1 bell pepper, diced (any color, I’m not picky); 3-4 garlic cloves, minced (or more if you’re keeping vampires away); 1 packet ranch seasoning (or 3 tablespoons homemade ranch seasoning if you’re that kind of overachiever); Salt and pepper to taste (be generous with the black pepper, trust me); 1-2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Colby jack, pepper jack if you like heat, or a mix of whatever’s in your cheese drawer); Optional but awesome: sliced green onions or fresh parsley to sprinkle on top and pretend you’re fancy

Description

This is my go-to “I need dinner on the table in 30 minutes and I’m fresh out of ideas” meal. It’s basically a skillet full of crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside potatoes, smoky sausage, and a ridiculous amount of cheese, all tied together with ranch seasoning. I stumbled on this combo one night when my kids were hangry, I was exhausted, and the fridge was looking pretty sad. Turns out, random desperation sometimes leads to the best recipes! This one-pan wonder has been requested at least weekly ever since.

Ingredients

Scale

Let me count the ways:

It’s a ONE PAN meal. That’s right. One. Single. Pan. to wash afterward.
It takes about 30 minutes start to finish. Maybe 35 if you’re moving at sloth speed like me on a Monday.
Kids demolish it. Even the picky ones who think potatoes are “weird.”
The crispy potato bits at the bottom of the pan are basically currency in our house.
It reheats like a dream (if there are ever leftovers, which is rare).
You probably have these ingredients on hand already.
It’s endlessly customizable with whatever veggies you need to use up.
The smell will make your whole house seem like a cozy diner in the best possible way.

The Good Stuff You’ll Need

2 tablespoons butter (the real deal, not that fake stuff)
2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin if you’re feeling fancy)
2 pounds potatoes (russets or Yukon golds work best), diced into ½-inch cubes (leave the skin on, that’s where the nutrients hide!)
1 pound smoked sausage (kielbasa, andouille, or whatever you like), sliced into coins
1 medium onion, diced (yellow, white, whatever’s rolling around in your pantry)
1 bell pepper, diced (any color, I’m not picky)
3–4 garlic cloves, minced (or more if you’re keeping vampires away)
1 packet ranch seasoning (or 3 tablespoons homemade ranch seasoning if you’re that kind of overachiever)
Salt and pepper to taste (be generous with the black pepper, trust me)
1–2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Colby jack, pepper jack if you like heat, or a mix of whatever’s in your cheese drawer)
Optional but awesome: sliced green onions or fresh parsley to sprinkle on top and pretend you’re fancy