Blackstone Chicken Bacon Ranch

This Blackstone Chicken Bacon Ranch Skillet has become my go-to weeknight dinner when I need something hearty and satisfying with minimal cleanup. The combination of crispy potatoes, juicy chicken, and bacon all coated in ranch seasoning creates a flavor explosion that even my pickiest eaters devour.

I first created this recipe when our family got a Blackstone grill last summer. What started as an experiment quickly turned into our most requested outdoor cooking meal. There's something magical about how the flavors meld together on that flat top surface.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts: The lean protein source that soaks up all the amazing flavors. Look for plump, uniform breasts that will cook evenly when cubed.
• Bacon: Adds smokiness and rich flavor to the entire dish. Choose thick-cut for best results.
• Yukon gold potatoes: These have the perfect creamy interior and crispy exterior when cooked on high heat. Their buttery flavor works wonderfully here.
• Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the dish.
• Paprika: Adds a subtle smoky sweetness and beautiful color.
• Garlic powder: Provides aromatic flavor without burning like fresh garlic might.
• Onion powder: Adds depth of flavor without the moisture of fresh onions.
• Ranch seasoning: The star ingredient that ties everything together with its herbaceous, tangy profile.
• Cheddar cheese: Creates a gooey, melty layer that brings everything together. Use freshly shredded for best melting.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Blackstone:

Heat your Blackstone to medium heat, making sure to coat the cooking surface with a thin layer of oil. This prevents sticking and helps create a beautiful crust on the potatoes and chicken.

Start the potatoes:

Place the diced potatoes on one side of the grill. They need about 15 minutes before flipping because Yukon golds are dense. Be patient here as proper browning creates incredible flavor.

Cook the bacon:

While potatoes begin cooking, add the bacon to the other half of the grill. Cook each side for approximately 5 minutes until you reach your desired crispness. Remove and set aside. The bacon fat left behind will become flavor gold for your chicken.

Flip potatoes and add chicken:

After removing the bacon, turn the potato cubes for even browning. Add a bit more oil if they look dry. Now add chicken to the bacon grease area, seasoning both the potatoes and chicken with all seasonings. The chicken needs about 6-8 minutes per side, cooking in the rendered bacon fat for maximum flavor.

Combine and finish:

Once everything is cooked, bring all components together on the grill. Add the shredded cheese on top followed by the crumbled bacon. Let everything melt together into a gooey, delicious skillet meal before serving.

The ranch seasoning is absolutely my favorite component of this dish. I discovered how versatile it could be beyond salad dressing when my daughter accidentally spilled some into our dinner prep one night. That happy accident led to this recipe becoming our family tradition every Friday night during grilling season.

Vegetable Additions

This skillet welcomes additional vegetables for extra nutrition and color. Bell peppers, broccoli, or zucchini work wonderfully when added during the last 5-7 minutes of cooking. The vegetables will absorb all the amazing flavors already on the grill while maintaining some texture. My family particularly loves the addition of mushrooms, which become incredibly savory when cooked in the bacon fat.

Make Ahead Tips

While this recipe comes together quickly as written, you can prep components ahead of time to make dinner even faster. Cube the chicken and potatoes up to two days in advance and store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. You can even cook the bacon ahead of time, though it won't be quite as crispy when reheated. Having these components ready makes this meal doable even on the busiest weeknights.

Serving Suggestions

This hearty skillet stands perfectly on its own, but we occasionally serve it with a simple green salad dressed with olive oil and lemon juice for freshness. For a fun presentation, set out warm flour tortillas and let everyone make their own chicken bacon ranch wraps. My teenagers particularly love this interactive approach, and it stretches the meal even further when feeding a crowd.

Indoor Cooking Method

Don't have a Blackstone? No problem! This recipe adapts beautifully to indoor cooking using a large cast iron skillet or two. Start the potatoes first in one skillet, cook the bacon in another, and then follow the same process of cooking the chicken in the bacon fat. Combine everything in your largest skillet at the end. The flavor won't be quite identical to the Blackstone version, but it will still be delicious.

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Recipe FAQs

→ Can I make this without a Blackstone griddle?

Yes! While a Blackstone griddle gives excellent results, you can make this in a large cast iron skillet or on an electric griddle. You may need to cook in batches depending on your cooking surface size. The key is having enough surface area to cook the ingredients properly.

→ What can I substitute for ranch seasoning?

If you don't have ranch seasoning, make your own by combining dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, pepper, and a touch of buttermilk powder. Alternatively, Italian seasoning with extra garlic powder can provide a different but complementary flavor profile.

→ How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

The chicken cubes should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Since they're cut into small pieces, this typically takes 6-8 minutes per side on medium heat. The chicken will appear opaque and white throughout with no pink remaining.

→ Can I meal prep this dish?

Absolutely! This skillet meal stores well in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For best results when reheating, use a skillet over medium heat to maintain the crispy texture of the potatoes. You can also pre-chop all ingredients and store them separately until ready to cook.

→ What can I serve with this skillet meal?

This is a complete meal on its own, but you can serve it with a simple green salad, steamed vegetables, or garlic bread. For a lighter meal, consider serving smaller portions over mixed greens or with roasted vegetables on the side.

→ Can I use different potatoes?

Yes, while Yukon golds offer a buttery texture and hold their shape well, russet potatoes or red potatoes will work too. Russets may become slightly more crispy but can break apart more easily. Red potatoes will hold their shape nicely. Just ensure any potato is cut into even-sized cubes for consistent cooking.