AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the track a highlight from Wish You Were Here, while Matthew Greenwald of the same organization said of the song, "this piece is also one of the group's recorded masterpieces.
Like a cross between Abbey Road and some of the Who's finer efforts of the period, the song(s) rocks uncompromisingly hard while maintaining fabulous melodic core.
"[2][3] Classic Rock critic Rob Hughes rated it Badfinger's 5th best song, saying that "This tough-rocking boogie spliced together Ham’s 'Meanwhile Back At The Ranch' with Joey Molland’s 'Should I Smoke?'
"[4] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it as Badfinger's 10th best song, calling it "one of their strongest album tracks.
"[6] According to music critic Richie Unterberger, Badfinger member Joey Molland said "'Meanwhile Back in the Ranch' was really, really on top form.