Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole: A Family Favorite

For Super Bowl Sunday we decided to forgo all of the calorie laden snacks and appetizers that I typically make on game day. We decided to make a "gourmet" but "manly" dinner instead. Hey, it's the Superbowl, so we had to make it a "manly" hearty one.  So for dinner we made ribeye steaks, sautéed mushrooms in the cast iron skillet, an arugula and spinach salad, and drum roll please...the most amazing loaded mashed potatoes recipe ever, like ever! And, it's also one of our family favorites.

If you like potato skins, loaded baked potatoes or twice baked potatoes, you will LOVE this mashed potato recipe. Whether it's mashed cauliflower (see recipe) or mashed potatoes, I'm always looking for new and creative ways to dress up my spuds but bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream and scallions is how our family likes to dress them best…yum, were they snazzy! Honestly, this recipe is insanely delicious because of the combination of flavors that are all melded into one. The potatoes were creamy and fluffy and the bacon, cheese and scallions gave it a rich savoy taste. The boys love to help me make mashed potatoes because it's fun to mash but it's also fun to taste test. They kept eating the mashed potatoes right out of the pan; oh who am I kidding, so did I. They are that irresistibly delicious! It's no wonder this family recipe continues to be a favorite.

The best part of this recipe is the topping. After you scoop the mashed potatoes into a casserole dish you top them with extra cheese, bacon and scallions and heat it in the microwave or oven until the cheese is all melted. It has a potato skin taste and a twice baked potato texture. This recipe is also an excellent make ahead dish. Prepare a day ahead, refrigerate, and reheat in the oven before serving. It also reheats well in the microwave. When the boys came home from school they asked to have the loaded mashed potatoes for their snack, so they just scooped a massive spoonful in a bowl and microwaved it. They said it was just as good as it was on Super Bowl Sunday!

So my original idea of making a gourmet but manly dinner on game day, as opposed to appetizers, was to cut down on the calories. That clearly did not happen! Please note this loaded mashed potato recipe is not for the calorie conscience! I don't even want to think about how many calories it consists of. I honestly don't even give a hoot because they were that darn good.

Calorie laden or not, I will continue to dress my spuds in bacon, cheddar cheese, scallions and sour cream all day long! Salute to one of our family's favorite recipes and salute to the best Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole, like ever!

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole - a family favorite!

Cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream and scallions!

Tyler mashing the potatoes fluffy and creamy. The boys love helping me make mashed potatoes.

All of the ingredients melding into one

Our gourmet manly Superbowl Dinner!

Irresistibly delicious!

A crowd pleaser recipe

Loaded Mashed Potatoes (Click to print recipe)

Preparation and cook time: 45 minutes

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 stick salted butter
• salt n pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup chopped scallions or chives
• Reseve extra cheese, bacon and scallions for topping 

Boil potatoes in a large pot of salted water for 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Drain water and return potatoes to pot. Mash potatoes until roughly crushed. Add butter, milk and sour cream and continue to mash until creamy and smooth. Add salt n pepper to taste and add bacon, cheddar cheese and scallions/chives until blended. Add mashed potato mixture to a casserole dish and top with extra cheese, bacon and scallions/chives. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Food Impressions:

Nate: "These mashed potatoes melt in your mouth. Who ever invented bacon in mashed potatoes is brilliant."

Tyler: "I am the master of mashing potatoes. These are so yummy. The cheese and bacon are amazing."

Zachary: "These are a perfect Super Bowl mashed potatoes!"

Dave: "Rich, creamy, layers upon layers of flavor."

Andrea: Love this recipe. It is way better than plain mashed potatoes. This is a crowd pleaser recipe that everyone will love. If you make this for a dinner gathering be prepared to have the recipe handy for everyone!