This is the best loaded mashed potato casserole recipe you will ever try. Made with creamy seasoned mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. This easy side dish will become a family favorite at all of your holiday dinners.
I’m telling you this is the Best Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole, and is a must have at all of your holiday dinners. It’s creamy, very flavorful, delicious, and is perfect for the potato lovers in your life.
Mashed potatoes are always a staple around the table on holiday gatherings, and this loaded mashed potato casserole takes your classic mashed potatoes to the next level. They are fluffy, creamy, and seriously the best loaded mashed potatoes you will ever try.
This potato side dish is everything you could ever ask for, and the best part is it can be made in advance making it the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Ingredients needed for loaded mashed potato casserole
- Potatoes
- Milk
- Unsalted Butter
- Sour Cream
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Cheese
- Bacon Crumbles
- Green Onions or Chives for garnish
How to make the best loaded mashed potatoes
- Cook bacon in a large skillet, or in the oven. Chop cooked bacon, and set aside.
- Peel and cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes. Place potatoes in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook potatoes until they can easily be pierced with a fork.
- While the potatoes are cooking, add butter and milk to a medium size saucepan. Cook until the butter is melted and then remove from heat. Whisk in sour cream until combined.
- *Preheat oven to 400F.
- Drain potatoes well, and then mash or beat with a hand mixer until potatoes become creamy.
- Add the milk mixture, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and continue beating until potatoes are smooth and creamy.
- Transfer potatoes to a 9×13 baking dish, cover with foil and place in a preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheese and bacon crumbles over potatoes.
- Continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and potatoes are warm throughout.
- Top with sliced green onions or chives, and serve immediatly. Enjoy!
What cheese can I use for loaded mashed potato casserole?
I don’t think you can go wrong with any flavor of cheese, I chose to use cheddar because that is what I had on hand. Feel free to use sharp cheddar, Mexican four cheese, or even pepper jack.
Pro tip: cheese melts better when it is freshly shredded and without all the preservatives.
Other favorite toppings
While this mashed potato casserole tastes delicious with just bacon crumbles and cheese, you can add more toppings to this loaded mashed potato recipe.
- Green Onions
- Fresh Chives
- Parsley
- Sour Cream
How to bake bacon in the oven
Line a large baking sheet with tin foil, place bacon on baking sheet and place in a preheated 400F oven and bake for 10-11 minutes or until bacon is crispy. Watch bacon closely towards the end, it can burn quickly.
Can this be made ahead of time?
The one thing I love about this recipe, is that it can be made ahead of time for those busy holiday mornings. Simply place mashed potatoes in casserole dish, cover and place in the fridge. When you are ready to bake, cover with foil and place in a preheated 400F oven for 20-25 minutes. Top with shredded cheese and bacon crumbles, and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until warm throughout.
Recipe FAQ’s and tips
Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat: Let potatoes sit on the counter for 30 minutes, bake at 400F for 20 minutes or until warm throughout. Warm in the microwave for individual servings.
Garnish: Loaded mashed potato casserole is great topped with sliced green onions, cheese, and bacon crumbles. If your not a fan of bacon, you can always top it with cubed ham.
Serving small groups: If your serving this as a side dish for your weeknight dinner, half the recipe and place in a 9X9 baking dish.
More potato recipes you will love
- Easy Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes
- The Best Funeral Potatoes
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
- Baked Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Garlic Roasted Potatoes With Bacon
- Sweet Potato Souffle
The Best Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 12 oz. shredded cheese
- 1 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled
- sliced green onions or chives for garnish
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a large skillet, or in the oven. Chop cooked bacon, and set aside.
- Peel and cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes. Place potatoes in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook potatoes until they can easily be pierced with a fork.
- While the potatoes are cooking, add butter and milk to a medium size saucepan. Cook until the butter is melted and then remove from heat. Whisk in sour cream until combined.
- *Preheat oven to 400F.
- Drain potatoes well, and then mash or beat with a hand mixer until potatoes become creamy.
- Add the milk mixture, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and continue beating until potatoes are smooth and creamy.
- Transfer potatoes to a 9×13 baking dish, cover with foil and place in a preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheese and bacon crumbles over potatoes.
- Continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and potatoes are warm throughout.
- Top with sliced green onions or chives, and serve immediatly. Enjoy!
Notes
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