EASY Loaded Mashed Potatoes Recipe — Be Greedy Eats | Where Food Meets Comfort (2024)

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The Perfect Mash

With all of this cold weather coming my way, I needed some food that would stick to my ribs! Since potatoes are one of my weaknesses, I keep them in a weekly food rotation at my house. They are really easy and quick to make. Plus, you can never go wrong with a potato side dish for any type of meal!

My EASY Loaded Mashed Potatoes are the perfect side dish for your next occasion or weeknight dinner. Creamy potatoes loaded with cheese, bacon, and green onions make this side dish irresistible! You might even eat these potatoes by themselves and call it dinner! Trust me, I did!

Tips for Making the Best LOADED MASHED POTATOES

Potatoes are one of the easiest starches to make. But, over or under-cooking can really affect the end result. Here are some easy tips to make this recipe even better!

• Determine if your potatoes are MEALY or WAXY. Mealy potatoes (i.e. russets) are high in starch, but they’re low in moisture and sugar. Waxy potatoes (red, golden, etc.) are low in starch, but high in both moisture and sugar. The red potatoes in this recipe are waxy so they will hold their shape while boiling.

• Drain the Potatoes COMPLETELY. Any excess moisture in the potatoes will cause them to be mushy rather than crumbly. You do not want runny mashed potatoes at all.

• Make sure your potatoes are HOT while mashing. As soon as the potatoes are finished being drained, begin mashing them. Potatoes lose heat very fast so make sure to do this immediately after.

• Taste as you GO! After adding a new component to the potatoes, taste and season the potatoes. Layering flavors is essential for mashed potatoes. A pinch of salt can be the difference between the best potatoes and the worst potatoes.

• Check your Potatoes! Cutting the potatoes into smaller pieces means that the potatoes will cook faster. However, that also means that you have to watch them more closely so that they will not overcook. Use a pairing knife or toothpick to check the doneness of the potatoes.

Easy Loaded Mashed Potato Ingredients

The ingredients are pretty simple in this recipe; but, let’s still walk through them to understand them.You probably have a few of these ingredients lying around your pantry somewhere.

For this recipe you will need the following simple ingredients:

• Red Potatoes: I love using red potatoes for mashed potatoes. I cut them into small chunks so that they cooked faster. They are waxy potatoes and hold their shape very well after being boiled. You can peel the potatoes if you like, but the skin adds some added texture to the mash which is delicious!

• Butter & Cream: If your mashed potatoes do not have both of these two ingredients in them, they are not real mashed potatoes in my opinion. I used a stick of butter and 1 cup of cream. Half & Half will also work for this recipe.

• Garlic: I really wanted these potatoes to have some great garlic powder. I decided to use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder. You only need about 2 teaspoons.

• Onion Powder: To go with the garlic flavor, I added 2 teaspoons of onion powder. Fresh onions will work as well. I just suggest caramelizing them before adding them to the mash.

• Sour Cream: A loaded mash wouldn’t be complete without sour cream! I used about 1 cup to make the mash even creamier. Trust me, you’ll want to add this!

• Bacon: The crumbled bacon in these potatoes are one of the highlights of the mash. Make sure that it is crispy to make crumbling easier. I used 12 slices of bacon in total. You can always add more though!

• Cheese: Choice of cheese is essential for these potatoes. I used a simple sharp cheddar and gouda mix for creaminess and stretch. Plus the contrasting colors on the mash were beautiful!

• Green Onions: To add some more color and extra onion flavor, I added some chopped green onions to the mix and on top. Make sure to buy bright green onions that aren’t wilted or turning brown.

• Fresh Chives: The chives are totally optional in this recipe. But, they add some additional color and garnish for the mash. Buy them fresh and chop them relatively fine.

• Kosher salt & Ground Black Pepper: All you really need seasoning-wise is kosher salt and ground black pepper. Season the mash to taste with these two. Mashed potatoes can get salty very fast, so be mindful of how much seasoning you add.

How to Make Easy Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Now that we have gotten the ingredients out of the way, we can get into actually making this delicious loaded mash! I love that this recipe could actually turn into a whole meal by itself.

The full written recipe is below, but here’s an overview.

• STEP 1: Preheat the Oven & Boil Potatoes. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Chop the potatoes, with the skin-on, into small chunks. Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover with water. Place the pot on the stove on medium-high heat and bring the water to a boil. Allow the potatoes to boil until tender (about 10 - 15 minutes).

• STEP 2: Heat Butter & Cream. While the potatoes are boiling, add the butter, heavy cream, minced garlic, and onion powder to a small pot. Allow the mixture to heat on low heat until the butter is melted and the cream is warm.

• STEP 3: Mash the Potatoes. When tender, drain the potatoes of all water. Add the cooked potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Mash the potatoes until they are crumbly. Add the butter & cream mixture and sour cream. Mix until fluffy. Season to taste with kosher and ground black pepper.

• STEP 4: Add the Toppings & Mix. Add 2 cups of sharp cheddar, 1 cup of gouda, ½ of the chopped bacon, ½ of the chopped green onions, and ½ of the chives. Mix until combined.

• STEP 5: Transfer to a Baking Dish. Transfer the potatoes to a lightly greased baking dish or aluminum pan. Top with remaining gouda and crumbled bacon.

• STEP 5: Bake & Serve Hot. Bake for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are fully heated. Remove from the oven and top with remaining green onions and chives. Serve hot and enjoy!

CAN I MAKE THESE POTATOES AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes! You most definitely can make these potatoes ahead of time! I suggest make the mixed mash fully and placing it into your desired baking dish. Cover the dish and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake it. Refrigerate the mash for only up to 3 days.

Leave the remaining cheese, bacon, green onions, and chives in separate sealable containers until you are ready to bake and garnish the mash.

WHAT TO PAIR WITH EASY LOADED MASHED POTATOES:

This is an all-purpose recipe that can be served with so many different meals and dishes. But, here are a few that will be especially delicious:

• Sirloin with Madeira Wine Sauce

• Orange-Glazed Spatchco*ck Chicken

• Braised Beef Short Ribs

• Traditional Pot Roast

• Smothered Pork Chops

• Lemon & Herb Roasted Chicken

I’d love to hear your feedback about these EASY Loaded Mashed Potatoes! Leave me a message in the comments section below. Remember to share and enjoy! Follow Be Greedy Eats on Pinterest and Instagram as well!