Loaded Baked Potato Casserole Recipe
Get ready for the most perfect side dish ever – loaded baked potato casserole recipe, full of crumbled bacon and cheesy goodness. It’s going to be a new family favorite in your home, and it is easy enough to make any night of the week! Potatoes are one of our favorite foods, and there are so many ways to make them shine, just like this recipe.
Ingredients for Loaded Potato Casserole
Sometimes called a twice-baked potato casserole, this great side dish gives you the flavors of a fully loaded baked potato and twice-baked potatoes all in one. It’s simple, hearty, and absolutely one of the most delicious recipes you’ll ever have! Grab your 9×13 casserole dish and get ready to swoon!
- Russet potatoes (peeled and diced)
- Mayonnaise
- Bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Green onions
Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions are listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
How to Make This Loaded Baked Potato Casserole Recipe
You’ll start this easy cheesy potato casserole by getting your oven ready and setting it to 350 degrees. While that warms up, prep your potatoes. If you don’t have Russet potatoes, just about any type of potato would work, like Yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes.
Wash, peel, and dice your potatoes and put them into a large pot with just enough water to keep them covered. You’ll add just a pinch of salt into the water and put it on the stovetop over high heat.
Let the potatoes come to a boil and become tender, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It’s easy to tell when they’re ready by piercing them with a fork. If they start breaking into small pieces, they’re ready for the next step!
Drain your potatoes well, and then pour them back into the now-empty pot. Mix in the mayonnaise, some of the bacon, and cheese, then stir it until it’s all well combined.
Pour this mixture into a 9 x 13-inch greased baking dish, then top it with the rest of the bacon and cheese. The hardest part is patience, as you’ll need to bake this for 30 minutes or until you see the cheese is all melty on top. It should also be completely warmed throughout.
When it’s ready, pull the casserole out of the oven and toss some green onions on top as a garnish before serving. You may also want to add your favorite potato toppings, like sour cream. You can also sprinkle a little bit more crispy bacon on top.
Drizzle on some zesty ranch dip for added flavor.
Should Bacon Bits, Precooked Bacon, or Regular Bacon Be Used?
Using bacon bits or precooked bacon that you can heat up in the microwave will save you a lot of time, but if you prefer to cook the bacon beforehand, that will also work. Fresh, crispy bacon will taste the best.
Can Store-Bought Shredded Cheese Be Used?
Yes, it can, but it is better to shred your own if possible. The freshly shredded cheese melts better.
What Type of Other Foods Can This Recipe Be Served With?
These loaded cheese potatoes pair well with a main dish such as ham, turkey, steak, or chicken. Green beans or sweet peas also work well as an additional side and dinner rolls for bread. This recipe works well as a side dish for large gatherings or as a holiday meal like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
How To Store The Dish
Any leftover potatoes should be stored in the casserole dish with some plastic wrap on top or in a smaller, airtight container. You will need to refrigerate the leftovers, which are good for up to five days.
Can The Recipe Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze this potato recipe before baking. Simply remove from the freezer the night before to thaw and heat according to the directions. It will last in the freezer for up to three months.
Optional Ingredients
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Minced onion
- Pinch of rosemary
There is so much flavor in this easy cheesy potato casserole. That’s why it’s the perfect choice for any meal, whether it’s Thanksgiving dinner or Sunday dinner, or really, any night in between. This delicious side dish will truly steal the show. If you love potatoes, bacon, and cheese, you will be smitten! It’s one of our favorite recipes, and I know it will be one of yours, too! Print the recipe card below.
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 8-10 medium size Russet Potatoes peeled and diced
- 1/3 cup of mayonnaise
- 10-12 pieces of bacon cooked and crushed, about 1 ½ cups
- 3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese divided
- A pinch of salt
- Garnish: green onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Place potatoes (after they have been washed, peeled and diced) into a large pot. Fill pot with just enough water to cover the potatoes. Add a pinch of salt to the water.
- Bring water to a boil and allow to cook until tender (you should be able to pierce the potatoes with a fork and they will start to fall to pieces) about 15-20 min.
- Drain your potatoes and place them back into the empty pot.
- Add mayonnaise, 1 cup of bacon and 2 cups of shredded cheese to the potatoes and stir until well combined.
- Pour the potatoes into the baking dish. Top with the remaining ½ cup of bacon and 1 cup of cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted on top and the dish is warm throughout.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with green onions if desired and serve.
