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easy loaded mashed potato casserole

sokygal avatar
Recipe by
Teresa G.
@sokygal
Here, KY

I've been trying to come up with new ways to use up some of the older pantry items that we stocked up on at the beginning of the pandemic. This yummy casserole started with a recipe on the side of a box of instant mashed potatoes. I tweaked the recipe just a bit, and now even my "instant potato hating" husband likes it!

yield 8 -10
prep time 35 Min
cook time 35 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For easy loaded mashed potato casserole

  • 1 3/4 c
    water
  • 3 Tbsp
    butter
  • 3/4 tsp
    salt
  • 1 c
    milk
  • 2 c
    instant potato flakes, dry
  • 1 c
    sour cream
  • a pinch
    freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 c
    shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1/3 c
    real smoked bacon bits (or 6 strips crisp bacon, crumbled)
  • 2
    green onions, thin sliced
  • 1/2 Tbsp
    minced chives (optional)

How To Make easy loaded mashed potato casserole

  • Ingredients for easy loaded mashed potato casserole.
    1
    Gather and prep ingredients. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • 2
    Lightly grease a medium baking dish with butter or cooking oil spray. (I use an 8"x12".)
  • 3
    In a saucepan, heat water, butter and salt to just boiling.
  • 4
    Remove from heat and stir in milk and potato flakes (if too thick, add a little more milk; if too thin, stir in a few more potato flakes.)
  • 5
    Add sour cream to potatoes, mixing well.
  • Adding bacon bits to mashed potatoes in pan.
    6
    Fold in 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese and one tablespoon of the bacon bits, reserving remainder of cheese and bacon bits for the topping.
  • Potato mixture smoothed in dish.
    7
    Empty potato mixture into prepared baking dish, smoothing to level.
  • Mashed potato casserole.
    8
    Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and top with remaining cheese, bacon bits and green onions.
  • Mashed potato casserole.
    9
    Return dish to oven and bake for additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chives (optional.) Serve.
  • 10
    Cover and refrigerate leftovers.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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