If you’ve never made a mashed potato casserole, then you’re missing out as this is such a deliciously warm comfort food, especially for Thanksgiving! Switch things up this Thanksgiving holiday and instead of bringing your mashed potatoes, bring a mashed potato casserole! You still have the creamy taste of potatoes, sour cream, milk, and spices, along with a delicious buttery panko crunch that will have all your guests begging for your recipe! If you like this, then you'll love my Macaroni and Cheese Casserole, Broccoli Cheese Casserole, Potato Taquitos, Broccoli Cheese Cups, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas, and Easy Mac N' Cheese Cups!
My family can’t ever get enough of this and I’m on their side as it’s so creamy and luscious, making all of my family members’ mouths water! Fall screams comfort food and this heavenly potato casserole is high on my list of favorite casseroles! If you like casseroles, you’ll love my Broccoli Cheese Casserole, Chicken Fajita Casserole, and Chicken Alfredo Casserole! They all make swoonworthy Thanksgiving Day dishes too.
Delicious Mashed Potato Casserole contains potatoes, butter, sour cream, milk, salt, pepper, cayenne, cheddar cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and chives or green onions, and is done in about 55 minutes.
Can this be made gluten free?
For a gluten free mashed potato casserole recipe, use gluten free panko breadcrumbs in lieu of regular panko breadcrumbs.
Ingredients in Mashed Potato Casserole
Potatoes. You can use Russet or Yukon gold potatoes for the best flavor in this mashed potato casserole.
Butter. Salted or unsalted butter works in this recipe.
Sour cream. If you don’t have sour cream, substitute with plain Greek yogurt. The higher the fat content, the creamier the dish.
Milk. Any kind of milk will work. Whole milk has the highest fat and will make the creamiest mashed potato casserole although lower fat milks will work too.
Salt. Add salt to the potatoes while they boil and add it to the mashed potato mixture for a more savory taste.
Pepper. Freshly cracked black pepper is the tastiest although regular black pepper will suffice.
Cayenne. Just a pinch of cayenne adds some heat to this dish.
Cheddar cheese. Use freshly grated cheddar cheese and avoid buying the pre-shredded cheese as it lacks flavor. Pre-shredded cheese contains additives including potato starch and powdered cellulose, which prevent the cheese from clumping. Freshly grated cheese does not contain added preservatives and chemicals. According to Times of India’s article, pre-shredded cheese can expose you to health problems and can pose risks to your intestines.
Panko breadcrumbs. Panko breadcrumbs, cooked in butter, gives this dish a mouthwatering crunch.
Chives. Freshly chopped chives give the dish some green and delicious flavor.
How to Make the Best Mashed Potato Casserole
STEP 1: Wash the potatoes and add them to a large pot. Cover the potatoes with water and sprinkle about ½ teaspoon salt in the pot. Heat over high heat until it boils. Once it boils, start a timer for 20-25 minutes, depending on how tender you want your potatoes. For more tender potatoes, cook longer. When they’re done cooking, put them in a strainer and rinse them with warm water.
STEP 2: Preheat your oven to 350° F.
STEP 3: Add the potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes. Stir in the melted butter, sour cream or Greek yogurt, milk, salt, pepper, and cayenne.
STEP 4: Stir in the 2 cups grated cheddar to the potato mixture.
STEP 5: Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Pour the potato mixture into the prepared dish, using a rubber spatula to smooth the top.
STEP 6: In a small pan, add the 1 tablespoon butter and panko, cooking over low-medium heat until the panko is golden and crispy, about 2 minutes. Evenly spread the panko mixture over the potatoes. Sprinkle the ½ cup cheddar cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
STEP 7: Top with the chopped green onions and serve warm.
STEP 5: If you make this mashed potato casserole recipe, don't forget to leave a rating and comment!
More recipes you'll love!
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this Mashed Potato Casserole, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this recipe and always try my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this mashed potato casserole recipe, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your recipe photos!
Mashed Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes about 10-12 medium Russet potatoes
- salt
- 7 tbsp melted butter
- ¾ c sour cream or plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- ¼ c milk
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper freshly cracked
- dash cayenne
- 2 c cheddar cheese freshly grated
- 5 green onions chopped
Topping
- ¼ c panko breadcrumbs for a gluten free recipe, use gluten free panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3-4 green onions chopped
- ½ c cheddar cheese freshly grated
Instructions
- Wash the potatoes and add them to a large pot. Cover the potatoes with water and sprinkle about ½ teaspoon salt in the pot. Heat over high heat until it boils. Once it boils, start a timer for 20-25 minutes, depending on how tender you want your potatoes. For more tender potatoes, cook longer. When they’re done cooking, put them in a strainer and rinse them with warm water.
- Preheat your oven to 350° F.
- Add the potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes. Stir in the melted butter, sour cream or Greek yogurt, milk, salt, pepper, and cayenne.
- Stir the grated cheddar into the potato mixture.
- Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Pour the potato mixture into the prepared dish, using a rubber spatula to smooth the top.
- To make the topping, in a small pan, add the 1 tablespoon butter and panko, cooking over low-medium heat until the panko is golden and crispy, about 2 minutes. Evenly spread the panko mixture over the potatoes. Sprinkle the ½ cup cheddar cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Top with the green onions; serve warm.
- If you make this, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Notes
Nutrition (per serving)
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