This easy and delicious Pioneer Woman Mashed Potato Casserole is the perfect side dish for any occasion. It’s creamy, cheesy, and topped with crispy fried onions and bacon, making it a crowd favorite. You can easily customize it with common ingredients for a quick, comforting meal everyone will love!
Ingredients Needed
For the casserole:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted, plus more for greasing the dish
- 1 (16 oz) container sour cream
- 1 (1 oz) envelope onion soup mix
- 4 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
- 1 cup heavy cream, warmed
- 1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 8 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup crispy fried onions, lightly crushed
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- Black pepper, to taste
For the topping:
- 1 cup crispy fried onions, lightly crushed
- 1 cup kettle-cooked potato chips with sea salt, lightly crushed
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 oz)
- Chopped chives or green onions, for serving
How To Make Mashed Potato Casserole Recipe
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and generously butter a 13×9-inch baking dish.
- Prepare the onion dip: In a small bowl, mix together the sour cream and onion soup mix. Refrigerate while you cook the potatoes.
- Cook the potatoes: Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water by about 1 inch. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Mash the potatoes: Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Place the pot back on the burner (with heat turned off) and mash until smooth with no lumps.
- Combine the casserole ingredients: Add the prepared onion dip, melted butter, heavy cream, bacon, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, crispy fried onions, and salt to the mashed potatoes. Stir well and season with black pepper to taste. Transfer to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix together the fried onions, crushed potato chips, and grated Parmesan. Sprinkle evenly over the mashed potatoes.
- Bake the casserole: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling and the topping is golden and crispy.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with chopped chives or green onions just before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Use russet potatoes: They mash well and give the casserole a creamy texture. Avoid waxy potatoes like red potatoes, as they can turn the dish too thick or gluey.
- Warm the heavy cream: Before adding it to the mashed potatoes, warm the cream to help it mix better, making the potatoes smoother and creamier.
- Crisp bacon properly: Cook the bacon until it’s crispy so it adds a nice crunch and flavor to the casserole. Don’t use soft bacon as it won’t hold up in the casserole.
- Don’t overmix the potatoes: Mash the potatoes gently to avoid making them too sticky. Overmixing can make the texture too dense.
- Customize the topping: Add your favorite crunchy ingredients, like crumbled crackers or cheese, for a personalized touch. Make sure to bake it until the topping is golden brown for the best flavor.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Cover leftovers mashed potato casserole and store it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Freeze: Wrap leftovers mashed potato casserole tightly in plastic wrap and foil. It can be frozen for 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat at 350°F until fully heated.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers mashed potato casserole in the oven for 15 minutes at 350°F, or until heated through. You can cover the dish with foil to keep it moist, removing the foil during the last 5 minutes to brown the top.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 serving (out of 6)
- Calories: 357.9 kcal
- Total Fat: 5.7g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Cholesterol: 17.7mg
- Sodium: 118.7mg
- Potassium: 1614.3mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 67.9g
- Dietary Fiber: 8.2g
- Sugars: 4.3g
- Protein: 10.3g
More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
Pioneer Woman Mashed Potato Casserole Recipe
Description
This easy and delicious Pioneer Woman Mashed Potato Casserole is the perfect side dish for any occasion. It’s creamy, cheesy, and topped with crispy fried onions and bacon, making it a crowd favorite. You can easily customize it with common ingredients for a quick, comforting meal everyone will love!
Ingredients
For the casserole:
For the topping:
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and generously butter a 13×9-inch baking dish.
- Prepare the onion dip: In a small bowl, mix together the sour cream and onion soup mix. Refrigerate while you cook the potatoes.
- Cook the potatoes: Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water by about 1 inch. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Mash the potatoes: Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Place the pot back on the burner (with heat turned off) and mash until smooth with no lumps.
- Combine the casserole ingredients: Add the prepared onion dip, melted butter, heavy cream, bacon, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, crispy fried onions, and salt to the mashed potatoes. Stir well and season with black pepper to taste. Transfer to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix together the fried onions, crushed potato chips, and grated Parmesan. Sprinkle evenly over the mashed potatoes.
- Bake the casserole: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling and the topping is golden and crispy.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with chopped chives or green onions just before serving.
Notes
- Use russet potatoes: They mash well and give the casserole a creamy texture. Avoid waxy potatoes like red potatoes, as they can turn the dish too thick or gluey.
- Warm the heavy cream: Before adding it to the mashed potatoes, warm the cream to help it mix better, making the potatoes smoother and creamier.
- Crisp bacon properly: Cook the bacon until it’s crispy so it adds a nice crunch and flavor to the casserole. Don’t use soft bacon as it won’t hold up in the casserole.
- Don’t overmix the potatoes: Mash the potatoes gently to avoid making them too sticky. Overmixing can make the texture too dense.
- Customize the topping: Add your favorite crunchy ingredients, like crumbled crackers or cheese, for a personalized touch. Make sure to bake it until the topping is golden brown for the best flavor.
Pioneer Woman Mashed Potato Casserole Recipe