Loaded Baked Potato Casserole with Fried Onions
Creamy mashed potatoes with cheddar, bacon, and a crunchy French fried onion topping make a hearty side for family dinners and holiday meals.
Servings: 10 servings
Equipment
- large saucepan
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1 stick 8 tablespoons butter
- ¼ to ½ cup whole milk warmed
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled, divided
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for the cooking water
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups French fried onions
- ⅓ cup sliced green onions
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish. Peel the potatoes, or leave some skin on if preferred, and cut into even 1-inch pieces. Place in a large pot, cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes.
- Drain well and return the potatoes to the warm pot over low heat for about a minute, stirring gently to let excess moisture evaporate. Remove from the heat. Add the butter, ¼ cup warm milk, sour cream, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mash until mostly creamy, leaving a few small lumps. Add the remaining milk a tablespoon at a time only if needed.
- Fold in 1½ cups cheddar and about two-thirds of the bacon. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Spread the potatoes in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup cheddar.
- Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until hot in the center and the cheese is melted. Sprinkle the French fried onions over the top and bake for another 5–8 minutes, watching so the onions don’t get too dark. Sprinkle with the reserved bacon and the green onions or chives just before serving.
Notes
- Weigh the potatoes if possible; the number varies with their size.
- These baking times are for a freshly assembled, warm casserole. A refrigerated casserole needs longer to heat through before the fried onions are added.
- When making ahead, reserve the topping bacon separately in the refrigerator and reheat it before adding.