Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Oct. 31, 2024
These Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes is the perfect side dish for any meal. It’s intensely delicious and simple, making it both weeknight-friendly and holiday-worthy!
In This Article
- Video: watch us make this Recipe
- Why This Recipe Stands Out
- Key Recipe Ingredients
- Substitutions And Variations
- Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- How To Prep Ahead
- What To Serve With Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes
- Commonly Asked Questions
- Did you make this?
- Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- More to Cook And Eat
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Video: watch us make this Recipe
Why This Recipe Stands Out
This Creamy Baked Mashed Potato takes this classic side dish to a whole new level. Here’s why this recipe is a must-try:
- Make-Ahead: I don’t have to fret and stress about having guests over with these mashed potatoes, because it’s make-ahead friendly. It can be prepped the night before and baked the next day!
- Perfectly Creamy: We add softened cream cheese to these mashed potatoes for the most delicious creamy, luscious texture. It reminds us of our Cheesy Creamy Baked Ziti.
- Easy to Customize: The recipe uses classic flavors, but it’s easy to customize it with your favorite cheese, herbs, and toppings.
- The Ultimate Comfort Food: Creamy mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food, just like our Biscuits and Gravy Casserole.
- Great for Gatherings: This recipe makes a large batch, so it’s perfect for family gatherings and holiday dinners.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes – The star of our dish, these starchy potatoes, when peeled and cubbed, provide a fluffy and creamy texture that’s perfect for mashed potatoes.
- Cream Cheese – Adding cream cheese to our mashed potatoes not only makes them extra creamy, but also adds a subtle tangy flavor that sets this dish apart.
- Garlic – We use minced garlic for a robust, aromatic flavor that takes these mashed potatoes to the next level.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese – This cheese, when shredded, adds a bold, cheesy flavor and a beautiful golden-brown crust on top of the mashed potatoes.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite variations and substitution ideas:
- Cheese: Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese. Gouda, gruyere, or some parmesan would all work beautifully.
- Garlic and Onions: If you love the flavor of caramelized onions, try adding them as a topping. We also recommend trying this Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe.
- Herbs and Spices: This recipe is quite versatile when it comes to spices. You can add your favorites like paprika, rosemary, or thyme to the potato mixture before baking.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Boil potatoes until tender. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash potatoes with melted butter and milk.
- Beat in cream cheese, garlic, onion, and egg. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a baking dish.
- Top with bacon, cheese, and green onions. Bake at 350F for 60 minutes.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Here are our top prep-ahead tips and strategies for this recipe:
- Pre-Cut Potatoes: Potatoes can be pre-cut and immersed in cold water in the fridge for up to 2 days prior to using. Drain well.
- Prep Mashed Potatoes: Prep the mashed potatoes ahead of time by following the recipe and storing them in an airtight container after they have cooled. Continue with the recipe and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes if needed.
- Make it a Day Ahead: You can assemble the entire casserole a day in advance and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, just take it out of the fridge while the oven preheats, then bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes if needed.
What To Serve With Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes
Meat Roasts
- Have these mashed potatoes with some Tender Roast Turkey. It’s a super delicious combo for any and all holidays.
- We also love it with some Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Gravy or Beef Tenderloin with Garlic Wine Sauce, which is my favorite dish to serve when friends come over for dinner
Sides
- If it’s the holiday season, you simply cannot go wrong with Homemade Stuffing with Apples and Sausage along with these creamy baked mashed potatoes.
- Our family loves how this Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing tastes almost like candy and works great as a complementary side to mashed potatoes.
Commonly Asked Questions
What type of potatoes should I use for this recipe?
We recommend using russet potatoes for this creamy baked mashed potatoes recipe. They have a high starch content, which makes them perfect for achieving that smooth and creamy texture.
How do I know when the potatoes are cooked?
The potatoes are cooked when they are tender and fluffy. You can test their doneness by piercing them with a fork. If the fork easily slides in and out, they are ready to be drained.
How long can I keep the leftovers?
Creamy baked mashed potatoes can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to store them in an airtight container.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes are the perfect side dish for any meal. It’s both weeknight-friendly and holiday-worthy. It can be prepared a day ahead and baked the next day.
Ingredients
For Mashed Potatoes
- 5 lbs russet potatoes, peeled/cubed
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 8 oz regular cream cheese, removed from package and warmed to soften
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 TB dried minced onion
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
For Toppings
- 5 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Bring a large heavy pot of salted water to boil. Add potatoes and cook 15 minutes or just until tender but not mushy. Drain well and set aside.
- In a large bowl, use a potato masher to mash potatoes with melted butter and milk.
- Beat in softened cream cheese, garlic, onion, and egg. Beat until combined. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Transfer potatoes to a baking dish. At this point, you can bake it now or cover and chill to bake tomorrow.
- Heat oven to 350F with rack on lower middle position. Bake uncovered for 60 minutes or until puffy and golden on top.
- Sprinkle top with bacon, cheese, and green onions. Bake another 5 minutes until cheese is melty. Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can switch up the toppings as you’d like, or leave your mashed potatoes ungarnished.
- Make it vegetarian by omitting the bacon.
- For delicious serving ideas and variations, see original article.
- Soften your cream cheese well before mixing it with the potatoes. I like to gently microwave it in 20-second increments. It will blend in more easily and leave your mashed potatoes extra creamy.
- This recipe is part of our Potato Recipes Collection.
- Serve these creamy baked mashed potatoes alongside a classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Gravy or Juicy Perfectly Cooked Steak for a comforting and satisfying meal.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 234mg | Potassium: 701mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 496IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 1mg
More to Cook And Eat
- Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes – This slow cooker garlic mashed potatoes recipe can be made ahead and kept warm in the slow cooker. It frees up oven space, is creamy, and is full of savory flavor!
- Onion Parmesan Roasted Potatoes – These Parmesan Roasted Potatoes are golden brown, fork-tender, and bur
- Smashed Red Potatoes – sting with great flavor. The combination of parmesan, onion, and garlic shines through, making them a great side to any meal. These Smashed Potatoes use only a handful of simple ingredients for the best potato side dish.
- Garlic Butter Herb Red Potatoes – These garlic butter herb red potatoes are soft on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside. Full of garlicky, buttery goodness topped off with parmesan