The Best Creamy & Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

Are you looking for the ultimate, crowd-pleasing, and completely make-ahead potato side dish for your next holiday feast? The kind of dish that is impossibly creamy, ridiculously rich, loaded with cheese, and baked with a crispy, golden-brown topping? This incredible Baked Mashed Potato Casserole, loaded with mozzarella and Parmesan, is the show-stopping side dish you’ve been searching for.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your secret weapon for a stress-free holiday. Forget the last-minute stress of mashing hot potatoes while everything else needs your attention. This casserole takes all the comforting goodness of classic, creamy mashed potatoes and transforms it into an elegant, make-ahead dish that is guaranteed to be a massive hit. It’s the perfect harmony of a creamy, fluffy interior and a savory, crunchy topping.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Make-Ahead Holiday Side

What makes this Baked Mashed Potato Casserole the absolute “best” for a holiday meal is its brilliant combination of decadent flavor and foolproof, make-ahead convenience. The filling is an ultra-rich and creamy mash, made with a delicious duo of gooey, melty mozzarella and salty, nutty Parmesan cheese. The entire casserole can be assembled in advance and then simply baked until hot, bubbly, and beautifully golden brown on top. It’s the perfect, stress-free way to serve perfect potatoes to a crowd.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	1 hour
Active Prep Time	20 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	10-12

The Essential Ingredients for the Creamiest Potatoes

This recipe uses a handful of classic, comforting ingredients to create a truly spectacular, decadent result.

• The Potatoes (Russets are a great choice!): The foundation of our dish.
  • Best Potatoes to Use: The recipe calls for Russet potatoes, which are a fantastic choice. Their high starch content makes them break down into a wonderfully light and fluffy mash that is perfect for absorbing all the rich dairy. Yukon Gold potatoes are another excellent option that will result in a slightly denser, creamier, and more naturally buttery mash.
• The Cheesy & Creamy Base: This is the secret to the recipe’s incredible richness.
  • Mozzarella & Parmesan: We use a delicious two-cheese blend. Low-moisture mozzarella provides that wonderful, gooey, melty “cheese-pull” factor inside the casserole. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a sharp, salty, and nutty flavor to both the filling and the crispy topping.
  • Whole Milk & Butter: These classic ingredients are essential for a rich, creamy, and flavorful mash.
• The Crispy Topping: The simple but essential crunchy finish. A simple mixture of plain dry breadcrumbs and more Parmesan cheese creates a savory, cheesy, and irresistibly crispy crust when baked.

Step-by-Step to the Best Baked Mashed Potatoes

Follow these simple, detailed steps for a perfect, creamy, and crowd-pleasing result every time.

Step 1: Cook and Mash the Potatoes

First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Generously coat a 13×9-inch baking dish with the 1 tablespoon of butter and set it aside.

Peel your 4 pounds of potatoes and cut them into uniform, 1-inch pieces. Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover them with cold, generously salted water.

Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes until they are very fork-tender, about 15 minutes.

Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a colander. Then, return the drained potatoes to the hot, empty pot.

Pro Tip (The Secret to Fluffy Potatoes!): With the burner on low heat, begin to mash the potatoes with a potato masher. Mashing them in the hot, dry pot for a minute or two allows any excess steam and moisture to escape, which is the key to a fluffy, flavorful, and non-watery mash. Once the steam subsides, turn off the burner.

Step 2: Create the Cheesy Potato Base

To the pot with the hot, mashed potatoes, add the 1/2 cup of melted butter and the 1 cup of whole milk. Continue to mash or mix until everything is well combined.

Now, add the 1 1/2 cups of grated mozzarella and 3/4 cup of the grated Parmesan cheese.

Pro Tip: For the absolute smoothest, most perfectly melted cheese, always use a block of cheese that you shred yourself. Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in anti-caking agents that can prevent them from melting smoothly.

Season the mixture to taste with a generous amount of salt and pepper. Stir everything together until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Assemble the Casserole and Bake

Transfer the cheesy mashed potatoes to your prepared baking dish and spread them into an even layer.

In a small bowl, stir together the 2 tablespoons of plain dry breadcrumbs and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.

Sprinkle this breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the mashed potatoes in the casserole dish.

Pro Tip: For an even richer and more golden-brown topping, you can toss the breadcrumb and Parmesan mixture with 1-2 tablespoons of melted butter before sprinkling it on top.

Bake the casserole, uncovered, until the topping is a beautiful golden brown and the edges are hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

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The Ultimate Make-Ahead Holiday Side Dish

This Baked Mashed Potato Casserole is an absolute lifesaver for a busy holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Here’s how to make it ahead:

1. Prep Ahead (Up to 2 Days!): You can prepare the entire casserole right up to the point of baking. Simply assemble the mashed potatoes in the casserole dish and sprinkle on the topping. Let it cool completely, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
2. On the Day: When you are ready to bake, remove the casserole from the refrigerator for about 30-60 minutes to let it take the chill off.
3. Bake: Bake as directed in the recipe. Because you are starting from cold, you will likely need to add an extra 10-20 minutes to the baking time to ensure the casserole is heated all the way through to the center.

Storage and Reheating

• Storage: Store any leftover casserole, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Reheating: The best way to reheat the casserole is in a 350°F oven, covered with foil, for about 20-30 minutes, until it is hot and bubbly. You can remove the foil for the last few minutes to re-crisp the topping.

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Creative Recipe Variations

This incredibly rich and creamy mashed potato casserole is a perfect base for your favorite flavors.

1. Ultimate Loaded Baked Potato Casserole: For a true crowd-pleaser, you can gently fold in 1 cup of crispy, crumbled bacon and 1/2 cup of chopped green onions or chives into the mashed potato mixture before you transfer it to the casserole dish.
2. Garlic & Herb Cream Cheese Version: For a deep, savory, and tangy flavor, you can substitute 8 ounces of the mozzarella with an equal amount of a high-quality garlic and herb cream cheese spread (like Boursin cheese) or regular cream cheese mixed with 2-3 cloves of roasted garlic.
3. French Onion Mashed Potatoes: Slowly caramelize two large, thinly sliced yellow onions in a separate skillet until they are deep brown and jammy. Fold these delicious caramelized onions into the mashed potato mixture before baking for an incredible, sweet and savory flavor.

Enjoy The King of Holiday Side Dishes!

You’ve just created a truly special side dish that is the very definition of decadent comfort food. These Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes, with their rich, cheesy flavor and their beautiful golden-brown topping, are guaranteed to be one of the most requested and beloved dishes on your holiday table. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new family tradition.

We hope you and your loved ones enjoy every last, perfect, creamy, and buttery bite!

If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who is on the quest for the perfect mashed potatoes!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)