Loaded Mashed Potato Bake

Mashed potatoes are wonderful. Well actually they're more than that. They're creamy, rich, buttery and versatile. Part of that versatility is the ability to transform into other dishes. This loaded mashed potato bake shows this off perfectly, and adds a little someting extra to your side dishes. It's basically a loaded baked potato in casserole form, why wouldn’t you want this on your holiday dinner table?

The cheese:
After boiling and mashing the potatoes (we like starchy russets, the kind you’d use for a baked potato), stir in plenty of shredded cheddar. The cheese will melt in the oven, adding richness to every bite. You’ll also add a layer of cheese on top of the casserole for a chewy, slightly crispy topping. Want to to make it a little spicy? Sub in a bit of pepper jack. It's super melty but also will add a bit of heat.

The bacon:
You’d never eat a baked potato without bacon bits, right? The same applies here. Crisp chopped bacon in a skillet and stir it into the mashed potatoes along with the cheese. Of course, if you’re not a bacon fan you can use cooked crumbled sausage here. Turkey (or even tofu!) bacon will taste great too.

Make it spicy:
That is a great idea—simply add in a couple (or a bunch) of dashes of your favorite hot sauce and maybe some finely chopped pickled jalapeños.

Storage:
Leftovers can be transferred to an air-tonight container and kept in the fridge for up to 5 days and frozen and reheated for up to 4 months!

Made this killer recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!