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Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

This loaded baked potato casserole is easy to make with favorite potato toppings including sour cream, cheese, green onions and bacon. This side dish is comfort food at its finest!

Delicious potato side dishes are the perfect accompaniment to dinner mains. Try these other favorites including crockpot cheesy potatoes and cheesy hashbrown casserole!

Loaded baked potato casserole in white baking dish with a serving spoon.
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Baked Loaded Potato Casserole

If you love a loaded baked potato, and casseroles the same amount, with some extra room in your heart for a heaping pile of mashed potatoes, then this loaded baked potato casserole is for you. It’s an easy no-fuss comfort dish to bring to a BBQ, serve at a potluck, or make during the holidays.

Soft pillowy potatoes, ooey-gooey cheese, salty bits of crispy bacon, sour cream, and onions make this a family favorite. It’s a party-sized version of a twice-baked loaded potato, more hearty than potato skins plus can be made ahead which makes for easy entertaining!

Recipe Ingredients

Assembled loaded baked potato casserole in white baking dish.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Potatoes: I love using russet potatoes because they hold their structure and have a really great potato flavor.
  • Butter: A nice amount of fat makes the potatoes extra creamy and divine.
  • Half-and-half: Add as much as needed to help make the potatoes come together to your desired consistency.
  • Sour cream: I love the tang sour cream adds to the potatoes.
  • Bacon: Cooked and crumbled bacon adds a nice saltiness and cuts through the creaminess.
  • Green onions: The freshness of green onions help balance the richness of this casserole.
  • Cheese: I love cheddar cheese and potatoes, and using shredded just helps to melt in all the right places.
  • Seasoning: Salt and pepper are all that is needed to make the potatoes shine.

Substitutions and Variations

One of my favorite side dishes is twice baked potatoes. This version is easier and tastes just as delicious. It’s a great way to use up leftover baked potatoes. We love to serve it with baked BBQ chicken and oven roasted vegetables.

  • A little heat. Add in some diced jalapeno or hatch chilis. For mild heat, remove the seeds. For medium heat, keep some.
  • Different cheese. Cheddar is classic, but you could go with anything from gruyere to Parmesan to blue cheese.
  • Garlic. Adding some roasted garlic into your mashed potatoes is a great way to add more flavor.
  • Cream cheese. Use it instead of sour cream in the potatoes.
  • Corn niblets. Sweet kernels of corn pair well with potatoes.
  • Crispy onions. Sprinkle some on top for a little added crunchy texture.

How to Make Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

Loaded baked potato casserole ingredients collage.
  • Prep. Pierce potatoes, brush with olive oil, and bake 60 minutes, or until fork tender. Let cool and remove as much skin as desired.
  • Mix: In a large bowl, mash potatoes, butter, half-and-half, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Add 1/2 the cheese, bacon, and green onions (save the rest to add to the top) and mash until you reach desired texture. Add more half-and-half or milk, as needed.
  • Bake: Spread potato mixture into a 2-quart baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese, bacon, and green onions. Bake 25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Serve while warm.

Cooking Tips

  • Make ahead. Make this casserole up to 2 days ahead of time. For convenience, the whole thing can be assembled and kept in the fridge covered, until you’re ready to bake it.
  • Pierce the potatoes. Don’t forget to poke holes in the potato before baking it. This is to allow steam to escape, to get an even bake, and to avoid a potato explosion.
  • Texture. If you like very smooth and creamy potatoes, you’ll want to mash a little longer. If you like a chunkier texture, keep an eye on it and stop mashing once you reach desired consistency.
  • Russets. When it comes to baking potatoes, russet potatoes are the best. This dish has a little bit more flexibility because they get broken down and no longer need to hold their structure. If you happen to have your favorite mashing potato on hand, that will also work.
The best loaded baked potato casserole in baking dish on a white platter.

Recipe FAQs

Should I peel my potatoes first?

No! I know it seems a little counterintuitive when thinking about mashed potatoes, but since we’re baking them and not boiling them, you want to leave the skin on. It’s what keeps the structure. Besides, bits of crispy skin in your casserole is kind of amazing. Before you begin mashing you can try and get rid of as much of the skin as you want.

Can I make this loaded baked potato casserole vegetarian?

Of course! Though the bacon adds a nice balance to the dish, it isn’t necessary to it still tasting amazing. You can always swap it for a plant-based substitute, if you’d like.

What is the difference between loaded potato and twice baked potatoes?

The loaded baked potato is baked until the outer skin is nicely crisp, and the inside is baked, soft, and slightly fluffy. It is then loaded with all of the delicious toppings available to you.

Twice-baked potato goes one step beyond this. After the first bake, the inside flesh of the potatoes is scooped out into a bowl, mashed together with butter, cream, sour cream, and salt and pepper, then put back into the crispy skins, topped with the cheese, bacon, and onions and then baked again.

Loaded baked potato casserole close up on a spoon.

Make Ahead Loaded Potato Casserole

Making this loaded baked potato casserole ahead of time is a great idea especially during holiday baking.

Assemble casserole up to 2 days ahead of time. Cover and refrigerate casserole until ready to bake.

You can also freeze this casserole before baking. Assemble up to step 5 then cool completely. Cover the baking dish with foil and place in the freezer up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then bake as directed.

Storing, Freezing, & Reheating

To store leftovers: Once cooled, store leftovers in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days.

To freeze leftovers: This dish freezes well, but keep in mind potatoes are a little funny when kept frozen. When they thaw you may find the consistency has changed and they’re a bit watery. If this happens, just add a bit more sour cream and butter before reheating.

To Reheat: If reheating from frozen, bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until heated all the way through. You can also use the microwave if you’re just reheating an individual serving size.

Loaded baked potato casserole on white plate.

Love cheesy potatoes? Try these au gratin potatoes, scalloped potatoes and ham or funeral potatoes!

More Potato Recipe You’ll Love

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loaded baked potato casserole close up

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

5 from 10 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
This loaded baked potato casserole is made with baked potatoes, sour cream, cheese, and bacon, then baked until melty and scrumptious. A welcome addition to any table! 
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 4 medium baked potatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil

Filling

  • 6 Tablespoons butter , melted
  • cup half-and-half , plus more as needed
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt , plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper , plus more to taste
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese , plus more, if desired, divided
  • 4-6 slices bacon , cooked and crumbled (about 1/2 cup), divided
  • 2-3 green onions , thinly sliced, divided

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
  • Prep the potatoes by washing them under cold water. Pierce them with a fork several times and then place on baking sheet. Brush with olive oil. Bake 60 minutes, or until fork tender. Let cool. Reduce oven to 375°F.
  • Cut the potatoes and remove as much skin as desired. In a large bowl, mash the potatoes, butter, half-and-half, sour cream, salt, and pepper with a potato masher. Add 1/2 the cheese, bacon, and green onions (save the rest to add to the top). Mash until you reach desired texture. Add more half-and-half or milk, as needed.
  • Spread potato mixture into a 2-quart baking or casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheese, bacon, and green onions.
  • Bake 25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Serve while warm.

Notes

Storage: Once cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days.
Freeze: This dish freezes well, but keep in mind potatoes are a little funny when kept frozen. When they thaw you may find the consistency has changed and they’re a bit watery. If this happens, just add a bit more sour cream and butter before reheating.
To reheat: If reheating from frozen, bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes until heated all the way through. You can also use the microwave if you’re just reheating an individual serving size.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 454mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 597IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

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