Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
When I was a kid and visited my grandma Andrews’s house, she always had two things on the table. One was her famous “spaghetti and cheese,” and the other was her potato casserole. Her version of this dish was unique to me because it was covered with Lay’s potato chips and baked! I don’t know why I’ve never thought of layering a casserole with that salty, crunchy bite, but it’s a game-changer! Since I’m older now and love to cook, I’ve added a few “extra” ingredients to her classic version and gave it a new name. Let me show you how to make my Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole!
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This casserole is great for many reasons, but one thing that makes it perfect for the holidays is that it’s easily made from leftover potatoes. We often have a ton of leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner, and we can only eat the same food so many times before we are tired of it. This is a great way to use those leftover mashed potatoes and give them new life! With the addition of bacon, cheese, and green onions, they are revived into a completely different side dish for a post-holiday meal the next day.
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If you are hesitant to make this dish because casseroles aren’t your “thing,” I understand completely. But cheesy potatoes layered in a baking dish with other delicious flavors will probably become your new favorite leftover mashed potato recipe. Sometimes, casseroles can become “muddy” in flavor, but not in this delicious casserole. Every single flavor stands out and compliments each other so well. You get that nice crunch from the bacon and chips on top and the creaminess from the cheese. And finally, a slight tanginess from the sour cream brings out the feeling of a loaded baked potato.
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I could talk about this casserole forever and how versatile and easy it is to make. But instead of rambling on and on, it’s much easier for me to give you a list and explain. (Not that you need convincing!)
- Easy to make – Mix the ingredients, place them into a casserole dish, and bake.
- Reduces food waste – I don’t particularly appreciate wasting food, but this is a delicious way to use extra baked potatoes or leftover mashed potatoes.
- Simple Ingredients that are affordable – I care about the price of a dish, and this dish is SUPER CHEAP to make and can feed a crowd!
- Great for entertaining—Although I prefer this casserole served hot from the oven, it’s still delicious at room temperature. This makes it great for large gatherings, a holiday meal, or a Sunday Supper. (Keeping everything piping hot while entertaining a crowd is challenging.)
- Versatile – I’m giving you my favorite way to make this casserole, but you can make this dish your own with a few ingredient swaps:
- Add seasoned ground beef at the bottom, and a cheesy potato casserole becomes Shepherd’s Pie for a complete meal instead of just a side dish.
- Use roasted red potatoes and leave them in chunks instead of mashed for a dish with more texture. It will more closely resemble a potato salad.
Tips for Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole:
- A potato masher is very helpful if you use leftover boiled potatoes that haven’t been mashed or leftover baked potatoes that need to be broken down.
- If you make my AMAZING Garlic Mashed Potato recipe, you only need to add the cheese, bacon, and crushed Lay’s to make this casserole!
Make this Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole with me on YouTube!
Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup whipped cream cheese
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (for the inside of the casserole)
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for the top of the casserole)
- 5 cups plain cooked mashed potatoes (Russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes work best)
- salt/pepper
- diced green onions (enough to sprinkle on top of the casserole before baking)
- 3/4 cup chopped bacon
- 2 cups Lays plain potato chips (crushed)
- black pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole Instructions:
- First, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Second, place your 5 cups of mashed potatoes into a large bowl.
- Third, mix the melted butter, whipped cream cheese, 1/2 of the chopped bacon, sour cream, heavy cream, and 1/2 cup shredded cheese into the mashed potatoes.
- Next, use your spatula to spread the mashed potato mixture evenly into the casserole dish.
- Then, you will add the crushed Lays potato chips.
- After the chips, sprinkle the 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese on top of the casserole to cover completely.
- Next, sprinkle the remaining chopped bacon and green onions on the finished casserole.
- Bake for 30 – 40 minutes until the potatoes are heated and the cheese has melted.
- Enjoy alongside your favorite main dish!
Storage for Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole:
- Store leftover potato casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- You can also cover the entire casserole with plastic wrap and leave it in the baking dish. This will ensure that the chip and cheese layer on top is not messed up.
What are the Macros for Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole?
Makes 6 servings (Nutritional information below is for 1 serving = 1 cup)
- Calories – 583
- Protein – 14.7 grams
- Carbs – 17.75 grams (net)
- Fat – 49.5 grams
Check out some of my other Holiday recipes!
Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Pie with a Rum Whipped Cream
Brussel Sprouts with Goat Cheese and Raspberry Vinaigrette
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Easy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
Equipment
- Baking Dish
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup whipped cream cheese
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese for the inside of the casserole
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese for the top of the casserole
- 5 cups plain cooked mashed potatoes Russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes work best
- salt/pepper
- diced green onions enough to sprinkle on top of the casserole before baking
- 3/4 cup chopped bacon
- 2 cups Lays plain potato chips crushed
- black pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- First, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Second, place your 5 cups of mashed potatoes into a large bowl.
- Third, mix the melted butter, whipped cream cheese, 1/2 of the chopped bacon, sour cream, heavy cream, and 1/2 cup shredded cheese into the mashed potatoes.
- Next, use your spatula to spread the mashed potato mixture evenly into the casserole dish.
- Then, you will add the crushed Lays potato chips.
- After the chips, sprinkle the 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese on top of the casserole to cover completely.
- Next, sprinkle the remaining chopped bacon and green onions on the finished casserole.
- Bake for 30 – 40 minutes until the potatoes are heated and the cheese has melted.
- Enjoy alongside your favorite main dish!
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