Make-Forward Mashed Potato Casserole with Bacon

November 19, 2024

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Creamy, buttery, tacky, bacon-y mashed potato, topped with caramelized onions plus MORE golden, effervescent, melted cheese and crispy bacon bits. It truly is mashed potato heaven.
Even higher – you may make this forward (as much as two days forward) and simply reheat as an opulent aspect dish. An incredible make-ahead dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner!

A tall, overhead shot of Mashed Potato Casserole in a clear, rectangular dish. To the top right corner of the dish there is a small white dish filled with chopped spting onions. To the left of the dish, there is a dark blue napkin tucked beside it. In the bottom left of the image, there is a hand holding a metal spoon which is scooping some of the Casserole out of the dish. This is all set on a dark blue background.

Simply whenever you thought mash couldn’t get any higher, including cheese, onions, and crispy, salty morsels of bacon brings it to a complete different stage!

That is alleged to be a aspect dish you could make forward to convey to household dinner however I nearly can’t resist consuming this proper out of the oven by the spoonful. 😆 That is sure to be a household favorite on the dinner desk (my youngest will completely lick the dish clear if I let him).

📋 Substances

A wide, overhead shot of the ingredients for Make-Ahead Mashed Potato Casserole with Bacon. The ingredients are laid out on a wooden cutting board, which is on top of a white marble surface. The ingredients are as follows: potatoes, butter, double cream, milk, salt, pepper, shredded cheese, oil, bacon, and onions.

Potatoes (floury quite than waxy potatoes) – Floury potato varieties embody Maris Piper, King Edwards, Rooster, Russets, Yukon golds or Desirée.

Cheese – I used a mixture of Cheddar and Crimson Leicester however you should use your favorite sort of cheese.

How one can make it:

***Full recipe with detailed steps within the recipe card on the finish of this publish***

Peel and boil the potatoes till tender. Whereas the potatoes are boiling, fry up the bacon and chop into bits.
Mash the potatoes – I like utilizing my potato ricer (<–affiliate hyperlink) for additional easy mash. Stir within the butter, milk cream, salt and pepper, then the cheese and a lot of the bacon and spoon all of it into a big baking dish.
Fry the onions within the pan you cooked the bacon (bacon fats + onions = ❤️️) till gentle and golden.
Spoon the cooked onions on prime of the mash and sprinkle over extra cheese. Prepare dinner for 20 minutes coated with foil, then take away the foil sprinkle on the remaining bacon and prepare dinner for a last 10 minutes.
High with chopped spring onions (scallions) and serve.

Professional Tip

When you don’t need to make the mash from scratch, you should use frozen mash pellets. See the notes part for more information.

In the case of including bacon, measure along with your coronary heart!

A tall image of Mashed Potato Casserole in a rectangular glass dish. On the right side of the background, there is a light grey dish filled with chopped spring onions. There is a silver spoon coming from the left side of the image, which is being held above the dish, scooping out some casserole from the dish. This is all set on a dark blue surface with a dark blue background.

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🍽️ What to serve it with

This can be a sensible aspect dish to convey alongside to your Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner:

A tall, overhead shot of Mashed Potato Casserole in a clear, rectangular dish. Parallel to the right side of the dish, there is a silver spoon. Above that, there is a small white dish filled with chopped spring onions. To the left of the dish, there is a dark blue napkin tucked beside it. This is all set on a dark blue background.

🍲 Extra improbable aspect dishes

? Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Can I make this forward?

Sure! See the underside of the recipe card within the part entitled ‘If Making Forward’ for particular directions.

Ingredient Swaps:

When you don’t need to peel, boil and mash the potatoes, frozen mashed potato items/pellets are an ideal various.
*Nevertheless* you’ll be able to solely use this technique in the event you’re cooking and serving instantly. Frozen mashed potato pellets are already cooked, so it’s not a good suggestion (from a meals security standpoint) to warmth them up, make them into the mashed potato casserole, cool, chill after which reheat a 3rd time.
If you wish to use the frozen mashed potato pellets, I’d use 1.8kg (4lbs) of frozen mashed potato. Warmth the mashed potato as per the pack directions within the microwave, then add the butter, cream, milk and seasoning and proceed with the remainder of the recipe. (see the notes part for more information)

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Onion, bacon and cheese toppings:

Boil the Potatoes:

Place the potatoes in a pan and canopy with chilly water.

1.5 kg (3.3lb) floury potatoes (see notes)
Convey to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Test after quarter-hour by pushing a knife into one of many potatoes – the potato must be tender and the knife ought to slide by. Prepare dinner for a couple of minutes extra if wanted to get to the this stage, however do not allow them to overcook (not more than 20 minutes) or the mashed potatoes might be watery.

Bacon:

Whereas the potatoes are boiling, we will prepare dinner the bacon. Warmth the oil in a big frying pan over a medium-high warmth.
Add the bacon in a single layer, to the pan (it’s possible you’ll must work in two batches in case your pan is not giant sufficient). Fry for 6-7 minutes, turning as soon as, till crisp.
Take away the bacon from the pan with a set of tongs and place on a board. Chop the bacon into small items and put to 1 aspect. Do not wash the pan – we would like that flavourful bacon grease!

Make the tacky mashed potatoes:

By now the potatoes must be prepared. Drain the potatoes in a colander and allow them to sit for 1 minute, till the moisture evaporates.
Place the potatoes – about 2 at a time – in a potato ricer, letting the riced potatoes fall right into a clear bowl. Proceed till all of the potatoes are riced.
Add the butter and provides it just a little stir so the warmth of the potato melts the butter.

80 g (1/3 cup) unsalted butter
Add the cream, milk, salt, and pepper and stir collectively utilizing a picket spoon till easy and creamy.

80 ml (1/3 cup) double (heavy) cream, 1/2 tsp desk salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper
Stir within the cheese and three-quarters of the chopped bacon, then spoon the mashed potato combination into a big baking dish (mine is approx 30cm(11.8″)x22cm(8.66″)and 5cm(2″) deep. Word: When you’re planning on making this dish forward and reheating later, be sure that your dish isn’t any deeper than 5cm (2 inches). The mashed potato will take FOREVER to reheat in the event you’re utilizing a deeper dish.

3 tbsp finely sliced spring onions (scallions)

Fry the onions:

Add the butter to the frying pan with the bacon fats in. Warmth over a medium warmth till the butter melts.
Add the onion to the pan and fry for 8-10 minutes, stirring usually, till softened and barely browned. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 180C/375F (fan). See under in the event you’re making this forward and never serving this instantly.

Meeting and Baking:

Spoon the onions on prime of the mashed potatoes. Sprinkle the cheese on prime and canopy with foil.
Place within the oven for 20 minutes.
Take away the foil and sprinkle the remaining bacon on prime. Place again within the oven (uncovered) for 5-10 additional minutes – till the mash is scorching, the cheese is golden and the bacon has warmed by.
Serve topped with spring onions (scallions).

If Making Forward:

As soon as you have added the onions and cheese on prime of the mashed potatoes, go away the dish to chill, then cowl with foil and place within the fridge (for as much as two days). Put the remaining cooked bacon in an hermetic container within the fridge too.
Take the mashed potato out of the fridge about 2 hours earlier than you need to prepare dinner it – this may permit it to return nearer to room temperature, so the centre is not chilly.
Preheat the oven to 180C/375F (fan).
Place within the oven for 45 minutes – coated with foil.
After 45 minutes, take away the foil and sprinkle the cooked bacon on prime. Place again within the oven (uncovered) for 5-10 additional minutes – till the mash is scorching, the cheese is golden and the bacon has warmed by.
Serve topped with spring onions (scallions).

Potato Selection

Potato varieties for floury potatoes embody Maris Piper, King Edwards, Rooster, Russets, Yukon golds or Desirée.

Chopping the potatoes

You need medium-sized chunks – concerning the dimension of half a kiwi fruit . The secret’s to make sure they’re lower into related sizes, so that they’ll prepare dinner evenly.

Frozen mashed potato pellets possibility

When you don’t need to peel, boil and mash the potatoes, frozen mashed potato items/pellets are an ideal various.
*Nevertheless* you’ll be able to solely use this technique in the event you’re cooking and serving instantly. Frozen mashed potato pellets are already cooked, so it’s not a good suggestion (from a meals security standpoint) to warmth them up, make them into the mashed potato casserole, cool, chill after which reheat a 3rd time.
If you wish to use the frozen mashed potato pellets, I’d use 1.8kg (4lbs) of frozen mashed potato. Warmth the mashed potato as per the pack directions within the microwave, then add the butter, cream, milk and seasoning and proceed with the remainder of the recipe.

Extra information on frozen mashed potato items or pellets

They’re accessible in baggage from the frozen aisle of the grocery store. I’ve purchased it from Sainsburys and Ocado, however have additionally seen it in Tesco, Waitrose and Iceland.
It’s been a recreation changer for me when making mashed potato recipes and I completely advocate it.
I’ve discovered when wanting on the substances, they often comprise potato and just a bit milk and butter – no bizarre substances. It’s price checking this too before you purchase.
Dietary data is approximate, per serving, based mostly on this recipe serving 8.

Diet data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

A number of the hyperlinks on this publish could also be affiliate hyperlinks – which implies in the event you purchase the product I get a small fee (at no additional value to you). When you do purchase, then thanks! That’s what helps us to maintain Kitchen Sanctuary operating. The dietary data supplied is approximate and may fluctuate relying on a number of components. For extra data please see our Phrases & Situations.

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