Cheesy loaded mashed potato casserole is full of creamy potatoes packed full of savory bacon and gooey cheese. This dish is always a hit for a party, potluck or holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter!
Ingredients
3poundspotatoeswe used yukon gold, peeled
1 ½teaspoonssalt
6tablespoonsbutter
¾cupmilk
½cupsour cream
¼teaspoonblack pepper
3/4cupbacon crumbleswe used thick cut, cooked and chopped (about 16 oz. package or 12 slices)
2cupscheddar cheeseshredded
2mediumgreen onionssliced, to garnish (optional)
Instructions
Peel potatoes and dice potatoes into two-inch pieces. Place diced potatoes in a large pot. Fill the pot with water until the potatoes are covered, and add salt.
Bring water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-high heat. Cook potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x13 pan with oil.
Drain potatoes in a colander and set to the side. Place pot back on the stove and melt butter in the pot over medium heat then turn the stovetop off. Add potatoes back to the pot.
Use a potato masher to mash up the potatoes. Add milk, sour cream, and black pepper to the potatoes. Continue to mash and blend the potatoes until smooth with a potato masher. Chop the cooked bacon and stir in half into the potatoes.
Stir half of the chopped bacon into the potatoes, then scoop the potatoes into the baking dish. Top the potatoes with cheese and the remaining bacon.
Bake potatoes at 350 for 25-30 minutes. The cheese will be melted and the potatoes will be hot. Garnish with green onions, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
If you are starting with raw bacon, you can bake it on a foiled lined pan. When baked at 400 degrees thin cut bacon will take 12-14 minutes, where thick cut bacon will need to bake for 14-20 minutes.