This make ahead loaded mashed potato casserole is full of bacon, cheese, sour cream and chives – it’s the perfect no-fuss side dish for a holiday meal.
These mashed potatoes have all the flavors of a fully loaded baked potato in the form of an easy to make casserole. I serve this dish every year for Thanksgiving and it always gets rave reviews!
In my family I am always put on mashed potato duty. I’ve made them so many times that I have it down to an exact science. But sometimes I want something a little more interesting than your standard mashed potatoes. This loaded mashed potato casserole jazzes up plain potatoes by adding everyone’s favorite baked potato toppings to the mix. Best of all, you can make the entire casserole a day in advance and just pop it in the oven to bake before it’s time to eat.
How do you make mashed potato casserole?
The first step is to cook your potatoes. I boil my potatoes until they’re tender, then mash them up with plenty of butter, cheese, sour cream and seasonings. Afterwards, the mashed potatoes get spread into a casserole dish and then are topped with bacon and cheese and baked to perfection.
The base of this casserole is sour cream mashed potatoes. Everyone seems to have preferences in terms of how they mash their spuds – some people like it chunky, others like it smooth. I prefer a smoother potato and I use a ricer to make sure there are no lumps left behind. If you don’t have a ricer, not a problem – this recipe also works with a traditional potato masher or you can even use your mixer (but never the food processor)!
What I love about this mashed potato casserole is that it’s SO easy to make in advance! Simply mash your potatoes, put them in your casserole dish, and cover until you’re ready to bake. Right before the potatoes go into the oven, add the cheddar cheese. If you’re starting from a cold casserole, you’ll want to add about 10-15 minutes to the bake time.
I add a sprinkling of bacon towards the end of the cook time, simply because I don’t want the bacon to burn before the potatoes are heated through. I top my loaded mashed potatoes with a sprinkling of chives and parsley for a fresh note.
There are so many different ways to customize this mashed potato casserole to your liking. Here are some other great flavor additions
- Jalapenos
- Tomatoes
- French fried onions
- Minced garlic
- Cream cheese
These mashed potatoes are on our table for every holiday, and there are never any leftovers. You definitely can’t argue with that kind of success!
More potato recipes you’ll love
Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 pounds of russet potatoes , peeled and cut into 1 and 1/2 inch pieces
- 3/4 cup of milk (I used 1%)
- 4 tablespoons of butter , melted
- 1 cup of sour cream
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 1 2/3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese , divided use
- 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon
- 1/4 cup finely chopped chives
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 2 tablespoons of salt. Place the potatoes in the pot and boil for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Drain the potatoes. Run the potatoes through the ricer and transfer them back to the pot. Alternatively you can skip the ricing step and simply mash the potatoes with a potato masher or mixer. Stir in the milk, butter, sour cream and then add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the potatoes into a 9 inch pan coated with cooking spray. Top with remaining 2/3 cup of cheddar cheese. Cover the pan with foil and place into the oven. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and add the bacon; bake, uncovered for an additional 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and potatoes are heated through. Sprinkle the chives and parsley over the top and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Make Ahead: Place the prepared mashed potatoes in the baking pan and top with cheese. Cover and place in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Proceed with the rest of the recipe instructions when you're ready to bake it.
This post was originally published on November 24, 2015 and was updated on August 12, 2018 with new content.
Jess @ What Jessica Baked Next says
This potato casserole looks delicious! Super comforting! Love the cheddar and bacon! Yum – cannot wait to try the recipe. 🙂
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
I would be totally putting you on mashed potato duty at my house if you brought this–YUM!!
Carina says
Lovely and filling, great for little ones in this cold weather!
Marye says
This looks like mashed potato heaven, so yummy!
Chrisy @ Homemade Hooplah says
I am so in love with this. When I was planning our Thanksgiving dinner, my mother looked at me and said, “What, no potatoes?” I have a feeling she’s going to want to make this recipe when she sees it 😀
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
There is nothing better than Potatoes and Bacon together!! I love this! I might make this just because I want to eat a big bowl of it! Pinned for later! 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny says
Holy deliciousness! LOVE this!
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says
I love cheese and bacon on mashed potatoes! Thanks for the recipe!
@NinjaPrincess1997 says
Bacon, cheese, and mashed potatoes a match made in heaven
Hannah says
Would this freeze well? Looking for some hearty sides I can make ahead and freeze to survive this cold Canadian winter!
Sara says
I have never tried freezing it, I think you could though!
Vickie says
I would try freezing a small amount of the leftovers first before freeing the whole thing as a “make ahead” dish. I’m afraid freezing the milk and sour cream will affect the texture–and not in a good way! It might not, but better safe than sorry. And throwing out something this good would just be too sad. Let us know.
Grace says
It is safe to hold non meat items for 5 days before needing to freeze for safety reasons. It would be a great make ahead dish for a holiday meal.
Supriya Kuttty says
This potato casserole looks sooo delicious & the match of these things made in heaven. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe with all of us. Looking forward to more recipes like this. Best wishes for your future recipes. Regards.
Merrideth says
I’m really not a fan of potatoes, but I recently made Slow Cooker Hash brown Casserole. I was amazed! Soooo, I’ve decided to try some other potato recipes! Especially since I have a 5 lb bag I don’t know what to do with. This is definitely a great recipe for me: there’s so much cheese!!! Thanks for sharing.
Stacie says
Woo! Everything about this is amazing! It’s a loaded baked potato in casserole form, and ANY TIME you can make something a casserole, you should.
Amber Myers says
I would enjoy this. I am all about potatoes. I’d eat them daily if I could. I’m going to try this casserole soon!
1stopmom says
This recipe looks delicious! And I am not just saying that because the bacon is perfectly crisp on top of the mashed potatoes!
Marysa says
Wow does this look good! I would have never thought to make casserole with mashed potatoes, and I love it! Sounds delicious and you could really mix up your toppings to suit everyone.
Shannon Gurnee says
My family loves mashed potatoes and I bet they would love this recipe! I definitely want to try this one out at home!
Ruth I says
I had no idea mashed potatoes can look this good! We have here a boring version and often times ignored. I like potatoes and this will surely be a hit! Yum!
Kita Bryant says
If this isn’t the ultimate comfort dish, I don’t know what is. This is seriously making me drool right now. Can’t wait to make it for dinner tomorrow.
Stephanie Pass says
This looks mouthwatering amazing! My family loves loaded baked potatoes Turning it into a casserole would be heaven!
Melanie says
This is going to be an instant hit with the whole family! I mean, who doesn’t have a deep lover affair with mashed potatoes?
Catalina says
Mashed potatoes are so perfect for any dish and occasion. Having them with a favorite topping is so awesome!
Debbie says
We love mashed potatoes and this recipe looks perfect for my family!