Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole is the perfect side dish for any occasion. If you’re looking for a change from classic mashed potatoes, try this irresistibly creamy, loaded mashed potatoes recipe with cheese and bacon.
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Hey, hey! Valentina with Valentina’s Corner sharing a recipe for Mashed Potato Casserole!
Mashed potatoes are always a great side to serve for Meatloaf or any meal, because are effortless to make and so filling. However, at big parties like a Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas party, you tend to want to dress up plain mashed potatoes. That’s where this potato casserole comes to life! Creamy mashed potatoes topped with cheese, crispy bacon and chives.
This dish is everything you could ask for in a side dish. The best part – the dish may be prepared in advance making it the perfect side for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Winner!
How to Make Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole:
- Cook, drain and mash the potatoes
- Mash in the hot milk/butter/sour cream mixture until well incorporated
- Spread mashed potatoes into a baking dish and top with cooked bacon and cheese
- Cover dish with foil and bake until cheese is melty.
TIP: If you are not baking the casserole immediately, allow the potatoes to cool before adding the cheese.
Toppings for Loaded Mashed Potatoes-
Top potato casserole with fresh chives, green onions, parsley or cilantro for added flavor and appeal.
Though the loaded cheese and bacon is enough for the baked mashed potatoes. Serving them with a side of sour cream really is wonderful. It feels like you’re enjoying a loaded baked potato.
What cheese should be used for Loaded Potato Casserole?
You really can’t go wrong with any cheese for this potato casserole. Use your favorite cheese:
- Mexican Four Cheese
- Colby Jack
- or a combination of Mild Cheddar and Mozzarella
TIP: Cheese ALWAYS performs better when freshly shredded as it contains fewer preservatives. Purchase a block of cheese and grate it yourself.
Other SIDE dishes to try for the Holidays:
- Fried Zucchini– The mayo garlic spread is irresistible.
- Cranberry Sauce- Perfect side to go along with your Turkey.
- Creamy Green Bean Casserole– Classic dish for the Holidays.
- Egg Salad– the easiest side salad
Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
- 1 tsp salt , or to taste
- 3/4 cup milk, (whole or 2% milk)
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 8 oz Colby Jack cheese, freshly shredded
- 8 oz bacon, chopped
- 2 Tbsp green onion or chives , to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚F. Place potatoes in a pot, cover with enough water to submerge potatoes. Bring to a boil over medium/high heat then reduce heat to medium and season potatoes will 1 tsp salt. Cook until potatoes are easily pierced with a knife then drain well.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, add the butter and milk and cook until butter is melted. Turn the heat off, keep saucepan on the stovetop to keep the milk hot. Add the sour cream and whisk until combined.
- Mash or beat potatoes with a mixer until creamy. Add the milk mixture and continue mixing until well incorporated. Transfer potatoes to a baking dish.
- On a medium skillet, saute chopped bacon until golden brown. Sprinkle bacon over potatoes and top with shredded cheese.
- Cover baking dish with foil and bake at 375˚F for 25 minutes. Remove foil and cook an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese melts and potatoes are hot.
Nutrition Per Serving
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I hope your whole family will love this easy and delicious Loaded Mashed Potatoes Recipe!
Hi Natasha,
I’m excited to make this for my family. I only have Idaho potatoes, will that work?
Hi Collette, I imagine that may work, we found russett work best.
Do I have to use russet potatoes? I just got a veggie box with a 5 lb bag of all purpose potatoes.
I like using russet potatoes, I haven’t tried using all purpose potatoes to advice but feel free to experiment.
I will let you know. I can’t wait to try these. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I made this tonight to take to a couple with a new baby. I served it as a side with pork loin, green beans, and rolls. I doubled the recipe for my family to have it for dinner as well, and we devoured it! Next time I plan to prep it in advance by making it ahead of time, storing in the fridge, and baking right before dinner. It was super easy and a great “comfort food”. Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Catherine! I’m so glad it was enjoyed.
What size baking dish is recommended to be used with this? 8 ounces of bacon is how many slices? Thanks for any help because I’d love to make this for Thanksgiving.
Hi Diane, My pan was 9×9 but an 8×8 will also work if you have that on hand. 8 ounces is a weight measurement, I recommend using a kitchen scale to get the exact measurement. Since you’re topping the casserole with this you can also use more or less bacon based on your preference.
It looks mighty tasty to me!! I love bacon, I love cheese, and oh, how I love potatoes!!
This is delish! I hope you get to try the recipe!
Hi Natasha!
I love your recipes and often make them for Holidays and my family is always full of praise.
I doubled this recipe and put it in a 9×13. Its going into the fridge overnight. I plan to leave the topping off to start with so I can stir it as I heat it in the oven and then add the remaining ingredients about half way through. However, I’m wondering if I should cover it to avoid it drying out until I add the cheese and bacon. Also how long do you think it will take? I planning maybe an hour all together, bit not sure.
Hi Regina! I have not tested that to give specific instructions. If you are starting out with refrigerated potatoes, they will likely need some extra time.
In a quick last minute recipe, could I use store bought (refrigerated) mashed potato’s ? Add sour cream – nuke the. Add cheese bacon and place in oven to furnish?
Hi Cyndie, I haven’t tried those substitutions, so I can’t speak to that. Substitutions may hinder the recipe outcome.
I love this recipe! I made a few additions… I sautéed the white tops of the scallions and half of a Vidalia onion (chopped) in the leftover bacon grease, then added this and some of the bacon and cheese into the potatoes before spreading mixture into pan. Still topped with remaining cheese and bacon, but I enjoyed having a little extra in the potatoes!
Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Shayna! Thank you for the review and for sharing your experience. I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe.
Natasha
I love your recipes and try most of them .
Do you do any cook books please
Beast wishes for you and your family for 2022
Hi Norma, I don’t have a cookbook out yet, but it’s on my list of life goals.
Loved this recipe. I added finely chopped green onions and sprinkled fresh chopped parsley on top right before serving.
Good to know that you enjoyed this recipe, Kathie!
I would love to make this for Christmas dinner, but all I have is Red potatoes; lots of them. Would these kind of potatoes work well for this recipe? Thanks so much.
Hello Diane, I think that will work fine since red potatoes have more moisture. If you give that a try, please share with us how it goes.
Can I freeze this recipe?
Hi Anna, I haven’t tested that but I imagine it would work.
Love this recipe it is sooooo good! The first time I made them I went immediately to the oven, the second time I made them the day before and then put them in the oven the second day (same temp, but baked them for 50 minutes and 10 minutes uncovered). Both were equally yummy!
That’s so great, Randy! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
My family loves these potatoes! What would be your advice to keeping them warm in a crock pot without drying out? Thanks!
Hi Mary, depending on how long they’re in there I would keep it on a warm or low heat setting.
hi, what if i dont have a electric mixer?? also what size baking dish did you use for this recipe?
Hi Brianna, you can mix it manually but it’s not going to be as smooth as when using an electric mixer. Mine was 9×9 but an 8×8 will also work.
It’s in the oven
Sounds good, I hope you love it!