Loaded Mashed Potatoes

These decadent loaded mashed potatoes are a heavenly side dish! Ultra creamy and cheesy mashed potatoes loaded with cheddar cheese, bacon and chives. This is the recipe to use when you want to fancy up plain mashed potatoes.

Looking for more side dish recipes? Try my baked mashed potatoes, cloverleaf dinner rolls, four cheese mac and cheese or herb stuffing.

These are the absolute best loaded mashed potatoes!

Mashed potatoes are the ultimate side dish. During the holiday's what's better than a plate full of fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes.

If you want to jazz up the classic mashed potatoes then you have try these loaded mashed potatoes. They are unbelievable, I mean they are so delicious!

The mashed potatoes are made with half and half, sour cream and cheddar cheese to make them extra rich and creamy. Then on top of the mashed potatoes are chopped bacon, chives and more cheese.

Ingredients

• Potatoes: Russet potatoes are perfect potato choice for mashed potatoes because they get really fluffy and aren't gummy. They are considered a starchy potato.
• Butter: Salted butter will give the potatoes more flavor than an unsalted butter.
• Half and Half: Used to thin the potatoes after mashing them.
• Sour Cream: Makes the mashed potatoes creamy.
• Cheddar Cheese: Gives the loaded mashed potatoes the cheese flavor. Make sure to use a block of cheddar cheese and grate it instead of pre-grated from a bag.
• Bacon: A few pieces of chopped bacon.
• Chives: Chopped chives adds flavor and color.

How To Make Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 350.

Cook the bacon.

Peel the potatoes, rinse them and add to a pot. Fill the pot with water, just covering the potatoes. Heat the pot on the stove, bring the water to a low boil and cook until a fork can pierce through a potato.

Drain out the water from the pot but leave the potatoes in it. Return the pot to the stove and heat for 1-2 minutes, this releases any excess moisture.

Add the potatoes to a stand mixer (or large bowl and use a hand mixer, or potato masher) and beat them so they break apart. Add the warm melted butter and continue beating until they look fairly smooth with most of the lumps out. Beat in the half and half and sour cream.

Stir in only 3 ounces of the grated cheese.

Spread the mashed potatoes into a greased baking dish. Top with the remaining 2 ounces of cheddar cheese and the chopped bacon.

Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered. 

Remove the potatoes from the oven and sprinkle with chives.