Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

This recipe for Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes produces the creamiest potatoes that can even be made ahead of time! So easy to make and loaded with so much flavour, this side dish is sure to be a hit with the family!

Is there anything better than a big scoop of mashed potatoes to go along with your favourite dinner? For me, there is not.

But wait. What if I told you those mashed potatoes were super cheesy AND could be made in advance? Even better, right?

These Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes are one of my all-time favourite potato side dishes. They are perfect for family dinners but even better for gatherings and dinner parties. The fact that you can prepare this entire dish in advance makes it an absolute lifesaver.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or even a regular dinner party, keep this recipe on hand! Trust me, having one less thing to fuss over on the day of an event is going to make that day so much more enjoyable.

Cheesy baked mashed potatoes topped with melted cheddar in a square baking dish.

I’ve been going on about how convenient this dish is, but its benefits do not end there. It is downright delicious! I mean, fluffy mashed potatoes, loads of cheese and a sprinkle of herbs make this a side dish that may just end up being the star of your dinner menu.

This versatile side is great served with Turkey (be sure to check out my Roasted Turkey Drumsticks recipe), roast beef, ham, pork, and so much more.

Closeup of baked mashed potatoes topped with melted cheddar and chives.

Why you should make Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes:

  • This recipe for baked mashed potatoes is incredibly easy to make!

  • It requires 5 ingredients plus salt and pepper. How easy is that?

  • These mashed potatoes can be prepared in advance.

  • This side dish is downright delicious!
Closeup of melted cheese on top of a bed of mashed potatoes.

Ingredients in Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

  • Potatoes: Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are best for this recipe. Alternatively, you can choose another starchy potato, but avoid waxy potatoes as they tend to get gummy when mashed or whipped.

  • Butter: Unsalted or salted can be used.

  • Milk: I use 2% milk but you can use a different percentage or even cream for a richer potato dish.

  • Seasoning: salt and pepper

  • Cheddar cheese: shredded cheddar is used in this recipe. I like a medium cheddar but you can use mild or even sharp cheddar, depending on your taste preference.

  • Chives: You can substitute a different herb as well. Thyme and rosemary make good substitutions.

Ingredient quantities and full directions are in the recipe card at the end of this post.

The ingredients for cheesy baked mashed potatoes on a grey marble countertop.

Basic steps for making Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

The full instructions for this recipe for baked mashed potatoes is in the recipe card at the end of this post. Essentially, it comes down to these simple steps:

  1. Boil potatoes.

  2. Whip or mash them with butter, milk, salt and pepper.

  3. Stir in some cheese and chives.

  4. Transfer to a greased baking dish and top with more cheese.

  5. Bake and serve!
Photo collage showing the steps for making cheesy baked mashed potatoes.
Baked mashed potatoes with a topping of melted cheddar cheese and chives in a square baking dish.

Make ahead instructions

I’ve already expressed how much I love that this dish can be made in advance. But how do you do that?

To make this dish in advance, simply follow all of the instructions up until the point of baking it. You will place your mashed potatoes and additional cheese topping in the baking dish and then cover it with plastic food wrap. Pop it in the fridge overnight.

The next day, before baking it, allow it to sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour. Remove the plastic wrap and then pop it in a preheated oven and cook it according to the directions in the recipe.

Assembled cheesy baked mashed potatoes before they are baked.

Tips for making the best dish

  • Use a starchy potato like Russet potatoes vs waxy varieties. Waxy varieties are more prone to becoming gummy. You can also use a medium-starch potato like Yukon Gold, but just be careful not to over whip.

  • Don’t over whip your potatoes! While starchy potatoes can withhold whipping better than other varieties, that doesn’t mean you can go to town beating out every single lump. Whip them until fluffy and then let them be or else they too will become gummy and gluey.

  • Use medium or sharp cheddar for the cheesiest potatoes. The flavour of the cheese comes through with medium or sharp cheddars, making this dish feel extra cheesy and flavourful. Of course, if you do not like sharp cheeses, go ahead and use a mild cheddar instead.

What to serve with this recipe for Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

-Cathy

A scoop of cheesy baked mashed potatoes lifted out of the baking dish.
A scoop of cheesy baked mashed potatoes lifted out of the baking dish.

Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

Catherine
This recipe for Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes produces the creamiest potatoes that can even be made ahead of time! So easy to make and loaded with so much flavour, this side dish is sure to be a hit with the family!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 344 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 5 lbs Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes washed and peeled
  • 1/4 cup butter + more for greasing baking dish
  • 1- 1 1/2 cups milk
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese divided
  • 2 tablespoons chives chopped, + more for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350F and grease a baking dish with butter (a 9×13 inch dish or similar is recommended. I used an 11×11 inch dish.)
  • Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1/2 inch pieces.
  • Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold, salted water. There should be about an inch more water than needed to cover the potatoes.
  • Bring the potatoes to a boil and then lower the temperature to medium. Let the potatoes simmer until they are fork tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Drain the potatoes and place them back into the pot or in a large bowl. Add the butter and about half of the milk and begin to whip the potatoes with a hand-held mixer on low speed. Whip the potatoes until smooth, adding more milk as needed and seasoning them with salt and pepper. [Be careful not to over-whip the potatoes as they can become gummy. Whip only until smooth.]
  • Stir in 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and the chives.
  • Transfer the mashed potatoes to the greased baking dish and spread them evenly.
  • Top the mashed potatoes with a the remaining grated cheddar cheese and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Note: Metric ingredient measurements are provided as a courtesy using a third-party calculator and are rounded to the nearest unit. The recipes provided on this site have not been tested with metric measurements and their accuracy cannot be verified.

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 12gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 221mgPotassium: 1067mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 498IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 264mgIron: 2mg

The nutritional information provided is based on third-party calculations and is an estimate only. Accurate nutritional facts will vary based on the particular brands used, portion sizes, measurement accuracy and more.

Keyword christmas, mashed potatoes, potatoes, Thanksgiving
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