Mashed Potato Casserole

Sure, mashed potatoes are great, but a mashed potato casserole is, without a doubt, better. This recipe, in particular, is far more decadent than your standard mashed potatoes, thanks to two rich ingredients: sour cream and cream cheese. The step that makes it a casserole and not just a pan of mashed potatoes is that of drizzling it with butter, sprinkling it with paprika and baking it until the top crisps up slightly. The result is an indulgent, simple side dish that’s far from basic.

Ingredients for Mashed Potato Casserole

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• Potatoes: Not all potatoes are created equal, make sure to choose the best type of potato for the cooking method in your recipe. In the case of mashed potatoes, Russets are a great option because of their starchy texture, which makes them ideal for yielding fluffy mashed potatoes.
• Cream cheese and sour cream: Both of these ingredients add fat to make a rich tasting mash, and whereas just adding milk or cream can make your mixture runny, they’re lower in moisture so they’re not as likely to alter the texture of your potatoes. Bring both to room temperature before adding them to the potatoes for the best consistency.
• Milk: A splash of whole milk thins the mashed potato mixture slightly. To make this dish more decadent, swap out the whole milk for heavy whipping cream or half-and-half cream. If the mashed potato mixture is too dense, you can add a splash or two more milk to loosen the consistency.
• Onion: Adding a small onion, finely chopped, raw to the mashed potato mixture infuses it with onion flavor. If you only have large onions cut this quantity down to a half or even a quarter of an onion.
• Garlic salt: Seasoning the mashed potato casserole with garlic salt adds a subtle garlic flavor without having bits of garlic in the mixture. If you don’t have it you can make it yourself by combining salt and garlic powder at a three-to-one ratio of salt to garlic.
• Butter: A drizzle of butter on top of the casserole helps it brown and crisp in the oven. You can use salted or unsalted butter.
• Paprika: A sprinkle of paprika stains the top of this simple dish a light orange hue.

Directions

Step 1: Make the potato mixture

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Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat; cover and simmer until tender. Drain; place the potatoes in a large bowl. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, milk, onion, garlic salt and salt; mash until combined.

Step 2: Bake the casserole

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Transfer it to a greased 2-quart baking dish. Drizzle it with butter and sprinkle it with paprika. Cover and bake it at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through.

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Mashed Potato Casserole Variations

• Add cheese: During the final few minutes of baking, sprinkle the top of the casserole with a thin layer of the cheese of your choice—such as Parmesan cheese—and bake it uncovered for a gooey, cheesy topping.
• Make it a loaded mashed potato casserole: Once it’s done cooking, add a few additional toppings, such as shredded cheddar cheese, chives and crumbled bacon, to transform this dish into a loaded mashed potato casserole.
• Sprinkle with toasted breadcrumbs: For a crispier, crunchier topping, toast breadcrumbs in butter in a pan until golden brown and season them with a pinch of salt. Sprinkle them over the casserole before serving.

How to Store Mashed Potato Casserole

Once cooled, leftover mashed potato casserole should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze mashed potato casserole?

Absolutely! This mashed potato casserole can be stored in freezer-safe containers for up to three months. Prepare it as instructed and then freeze the entire casserole. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight before baking as instructed.

Mashed Potato Casserole Tips

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What makes mashed potatoes sticky instead of fluffy?

Overworking potatoes activates the starches, which can lead to a mash with a sticky, gummy consistency. To prevent this from occurring, mash the potato gently and consider using a food mill or a ricer to achieve the best texture. Check out our guide to making the best mashed potatoes ever for more tips.

Why add sour cream to mashed potatoes?

The lactic acid in sour cream enhances the texture, flavor, and richness of mashed potatoes. Its tangy notes work in tandem with salt to help enliven an otherwise plain spud.

Is cream cheese or sour cream better in mashed potatoes?

Due to their high fat content, adding cream cheese and sour cream to mashed potatoes helps achieve the richest flavor without adding liquid, which can make mashed potato gummy. We recommend using both at once as we do in this mashed potatoes casserole.