Thanksgiving dinner is all about those classic, comforting side dishes, and nothing says comfort quite like a creamy, dreamy mashed potato casserole.
This recipe takes everyone’s favorite mashed potatoes and elevates them into a bake-ahead, crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for your holiday table. It’s rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying.
Forget the last-minute scramble of making mashed potatoes from scratch on Thanksgiving Day. This casserole allows you to prepare much of the work in advance, freeing up precious oven space and your time for enjoying the festivities. It’s a simple yet elegant way to serve a beloved side dish that will have everyone asking for the recipe.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Creamy Mashed Potato Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
Description
This creamy mashed potato casserole is a comforting and flavorful side dish, perfect for holiday meals like Thanksgiving. It features fluffy baked Russet potatoes mashed with butter, sour cream, milk, and seasonings, then topped with cheddar cheese and baked until golden and bubbly. Designed as a make-ahead option, it saves time on busy cooking days while delivering a rich and satisfying dish that feeds a crowd.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 400 F (200 C). Wash the Russet potatoes thoroughly and pat them dry. Pierce each potato several times with a fork. Place them directly on the oven rack and bake for about 45-60 minutes, or until they are very tender when squeezed. A good visual cue is when the skin looks slightly wrinkled and they yield easily to pressure.
2. Once baked, carefully remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool for about 10-15 minutes until they are cool enough to handle. Slice each potato in half lengthwise and scoop out the fluffy interior into a large mixing bowl, leaving the skins behind.
3. Add the 1/2 cup melted butter, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the scooped potatoes. Using a potato masher or an electric mixer on low speed, mash the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the potatoes gummy.
4. Gently fold in 3/4 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese into the mashed potato mixture until just combined. The residual heat from the potatoes will start to melt the cheese, making it wonderfully gooey.
5. Transfer the creamy mashed potato mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole. Drizzle the extra 2 tablespoons of melted butter over the cheese for a golden, crispy topping.
6. Place the casserole in the preheated 400 F (200 C) oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top is lightly golden brown. If you desire a deeper golden crust, you can briefly place it under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching it very carefully to prevent burning.
7. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped chives or green onions, if using, for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of casserole
Keywords: mashed potatoes, casserole, thanksgiving, holiday, comfort food, make-ahead, cheesy, potato bake, side dish, easy
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This creamy mashed potato casserole is a true holiday hero because it’s designed for convenience without sacrificing flavor. It’s perfect for busy home cooks who want to serve a delicious, homemade side dish but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. The beauty of using baked potatoes as the base is that they lend a wonderfully fluffy texture and a deeper, more robust potato flavor compared to boiled potatoes. This recipe works beautifully as a make-ahead option, meaning you can assemble it the day before and simply pop it in the oven when you’re ready to serve. It’s ideal for large family gatherings, potlucks, or any occasion where you need a comforting and substantial side dish that can feed a crowd with minimal fuss.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients ahead of time makes the cooking process smooth and enjoyable. This recipe uses simple, accessible ingredients you likely already have on hand or can easily find at any grocery store. The key to its creamy texture and rich flavor lies in the combination of dairy and seasonings that complement the natural goodness of baked potatoes.
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 large Russet potatoes, about 2.5-3 pounds total
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk or half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives or green onions, for garnish (optional)
For simple substitutions, you can easily swap Russet potatoes for Yukon Golds if you prefer a slightly waxier texture, though Russets are ideal for that classic fluffy mash. If you don’t have sour cream, plain Greek yogurt can be used as a tangier alternative, or you can increase the milk and add a touch more butter for richness. Feel free to use any type of shredded cheese you enjoy – Monterey Jack or a Colby-Jack blend would also be delicious. For a slightly lighter version, you can use low-fat milk and sour cream, but keep in mind that the creaminess will be slightly reduced.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed to be efficient, especially considering the baking time for the potatoes. Here’s a realistic breakdown:
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (includes washing potatoes, mashing, and mixing)
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (includes baking potatoes and then baking the casserole)
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
While the total time might seem a bit longer due to the initial potato baking, much of that is hands-off time. The actual active preparation for the casserole itself is quite quick, making it a manageable addition to your holiday cooking schedule.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this creamy mashed potato casserole is straightforward. Follow these steps for a perfect result every time:
- Prepare and Bake the Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Wash the Russet potatoes thoroughly and pat them dry. Pierce each potato several times with a fork. Place them directly on the oven rack and bake for about 45-60 minutes, or until they are very tender when squeezed. A good visual cue is when the skin looks slightly wrinkled and they yield easily to pressure.
- Cool and Scoop the Potatoes: Once baked, carefully remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool for about 10-15 minutes until they are cool enough to handle. Slice each potato in half lengthwise and scoop out the fluffy interior into a large mixing bowl, leaving the skins behind.
- Mash the Potato Base: Add the 1/2 cup melted butter, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the scooped potatoes. Using a potato masher or an electric mixer on low speed, mash the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the potatoes gummy.
- Incorporate the Cheese: Gently fold in 3/4 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese into the mashed potato mixture until just combined. The residual heat from the potatoes will start to melt the cheese, making it wonderfully gooey.
- Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the creamy mashed potato mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole. Drizzle the extra 2 tablespoons of melted butter over the cheese for a golden, crispy topping.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the casserole in the preheated 400°F (200°C) oven (you can reduce the temperature if you’re baking other items at a lower temp, just extend the time slightly) and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top is lightly golden brown. If you desire a deeper golden crust, you can briefly place it under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching it very carefully to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped chives or green onions, if using, for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This creamy mashed potato casserole is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can mix in some cooked and crumbled bacon bits or a little extra mild cheddar cheese directly into the mash. If you want to add a touch of green, finely chopped steamed broccoli or spinach can be folded in, offering a hidden veggie boost.
For party or buffet serving, consider preparing this casserole in individual ramekins for a more elegant presentation. You can also make a “loaded” version by stirring in cooked bacon, more green onions, and extra cheese before baking. Serve this casserole alongside your Thanksgiving turkey, roasted chicken, ham, or even as a comforting side to a weeknight steak. It pairs wonderfully with any main dish that benefits from a rich, creamy accompaniment. A dollop of extra sour cream or a sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley or dill can also brighten up each serving.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Here’s how to ensure your mashed potato casserole turns out perfectly every time:
- Overmixing the Potatoes: This is the most common mistake when making mashed potatoes. Overmixing can break down the starches, resulting in a gummy, gluey texture instead of light and fluffy. Mash just until smooth, with perhaps a few small lumps remaining.
- Using Cold Dairy: Adding cold butter, milk, or sour cream directly to hot potatoes can cool them down too quickly, making them harder to mash smoothly and affecting the final texture. Ensure your dairy ingredients are at room temperature, or gently warm the milk/half-and-half before adding.
- Not Salting Enough: Potatoes absorb a lot of salt. Undersalted potatoes will taste bland, no matter how much butter and cheese you add. Taste and adjust the seasoning as you go. Remember, you can always add more salt, but you can’t take it away.
- Underbaking the Potatoes: If your initial baked potatoes aren’t fully tender, your mash will be lumpy and dense. Bake them until they are very soft and easily pierced with a fork.
- Forgetting to Pierce the Potatoes: Piercing the potatoes before baking allows steam to escape, preventing them from exploding in the oven and helping them cook more evenly.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This creamy mashed potato casserole is an excellent make-ahead dish, which is a huge plus for holiday meals.
To Make Ahead: Prepare the casserole completely, up to the point of baking (step 5). Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, remove it from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking to allow it to come closer to room temperature. You may need to add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time to ensure it heats through evenly.
Storage: Leftover casserole should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: For best results, reheat individual portions
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
