Loaded Mashed Potatoes

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/15/22
Loaded Mashed Potatoes

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 70 mins
Total: 95 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 casserole
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
865 Calories
51g Fat
80g Carbs
24g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 865
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 51g 65%
Saturated Fat 28g 140%
Cholesterol 136mg 45%
Sodium 968mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 80g 29%
Dietary Fiber 8g 29%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 31mg 154%
Calcium 384mg 30%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 2058mg 44%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Loaded mashed potatoes are an epic recipe that is a must-have upgrade for your holiday dinner table. Creamy mashed potatoes are blended with roasted garlic and cream, the topped with a mountain of cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and chopped chives. Serve it with a little sour cream for extra decadence.

The best part of this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time, throw it in the refrigerator, then pop it in the oven 30 minutes before meal time. Cream, butter, and cream cheese keep the potatoes velvety even after they’ve been in the refrigerator, so the leftovers are also excellent. 

Ingredients

  • 2 heads garlic

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning

  • 6 pounds russet potatoes

  • 12 ounces cream cheese

  • 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) salted butter

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 1/2 cup half-and-half

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

  • 1 cup bacon, cooked, chopped

  • Sour cream, for garnish

  • Chopped chives, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. 

    Loaded Mashed Potatoes ingredients
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  2. Roast the garlic. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Cut the top off of the heads of garlic and place them each on their own sheet of aluminum foil. Top them with salt and olive oil. 

    roast garlic for Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  3. Wrap the tin foil around the bulb of garlic securely. Place in the preheated oven and roast for 30 minutes or until the bulbs are tender and slightly golden. 

    wrapped garlic for Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  4. While the garlic is roasting, prepare your potatoes. Peel and chop the potatoes and place them in a pot of salted water. Bring the water to a boil and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and place back into the pot immediately.

    Peel potatoes for Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  5. Mash the potatoes quickly while they are still hot. Add in the cream cheese, butter, heavy cream, and half and half. Continue to mash while incorporating the creamy ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Potatoes absorb a lot of salt so you will probably need to add more than expected. 

    Mash Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  6. Remove the roasted garlic from their skins and add it to the mashed potatoes. Add half the cheddar cheese. Mix until incorporated.

    Roasted garlic for Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  7. Pour the mashed potatoes into a greased casserole dish. 

    Bake Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  8. Top the potatoes with the remaining cheddar cheese. Cook until the cheese has melted, browned slightly, and the edges are bubbly, about 20 minutes

    Top Loaded Mashed Potatoes with cheese
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  9. Top the cooked casserole with the bacon and chopped chives. Serve immediately with a side of sour cream, more shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, and chives. 

    Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Tip

  • After you transfer the mashed potatoes to the casserole dish, you can top it with cheddar cheese and bacon, then cover the dish with plastic wrap and foil. Refrigerate or freeze until you are ready to serve. It will keep 2 days in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer.