Best Baked Potato Casserole

This Best Baked Potato Casserole is a delicious, cheesy casserole that is hearty enough to be a main dish but makes a tasty steak house-styled side dish as well.

I love those individual traditional twice-baked potatoes you can really only get at a steak house. If it’s a good steak house, the twice-baked potato will be sizzling with bubbly cheese and crispy bacon fresh from the oven when it hits your table. I held a small dinner party wanting to create that same steakhouse experience as I am a fan of recreating things at home. Well, it turns out it is a little more complicated to do when you are cooking everything yourself and you don’t have the luxury of a sous chef to help plate.

Instead, I decided a casserole would suffice and you know what? It does! Freshly pulled from the oven this loaded baked potato casserole has all the delicious flavors we love in a twice baked potato. Only I am not standing in a hot kitchen stuffing individual potatoes and re-baking them.

Gooey cheese, crispy bacon and delicious flavor in an easy dish you can make any night of the week. 

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole Is…

• The perfect side dish and a great potato recipe.
• A loaded baked potato in casserole form.
• Filled with all the flavors of a twice-baked potato.
• A delicious side dish and a family favorite.
• A great way to switch up from standard mashed potatoes or baked potatoes.
• The easiest way to serve a potato side dish.
• A delicious potato casserole recipe great for Sunday dinner, or a holiday meal.

Tools

Stand mixer or potato masher works

9 x 13 Baking Dish

Ingredients

Potatoes- I use russet potatoes for this but red potatoes will work as well.

Cheese- This is a cheesy casserole and I like using white cheddar for it. You can also use yellow cheddar or even sharp cheddar cheese if you prefer.

Greens Onions- Add a nice mild onion flavor to the casserole and keep with the loaded baked potato flavor.

Sour Cream- Sour cream adds flavor and richness to the potatoes. You can also use plain Greek yogurt.

Butter- I use salted real butter. It is important to use real butter over margarine.

Milk- I like to use whole milk or 2% milk. You can also use heavy cream if you like. 

Bacon- Crispy thick-cut bacon works best but if you have regular bacon, that will work fine too.

Seasoning- I use sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to season this casserole. You can also use Kosher salt or standard table salt. Use what you have.

Directions

Begin by peeling the potatoes, then cutting them in half. Place potatoes in a large pot with water and boil until soft.

While the potatoes cook, cut up the bacon into bite-size chunks. Add them to a skillet and cook until crisp. Remove when done and set aside. Strain the tender potatoes and add them to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Grate the cheese and chop up the green onions.

Heat oven to 350℉.  

Add the butter, milk, half the bacon, half the cheese, yogurt, salt, and pepper. If using a potato masher, mash until the potatoes are creamy and all ingredients are combined

When ready, pour into a lightly greased 8 x 13 baking dish. Top with remaining cheese, bacon, and green onions.

Bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.

Cooking Notes

• Be sure to use full-fat milk and yogurt or sour cream for this recipe. This is a comfort-style dish and should be made with this in mind.
• I use real butter not margarine.
• It is a good idea to whip the potatoes in a stand mixer to ensure they are creamy throughout.
• You can use any style of cheddar you like. I happen to love white cheddar for this recipe but yellow or sharp cheddar cheese works just as nicely.
• This casserole works well made ahead and can easily be reheated later.

Serving Suggestions

• This best-baked potato casserole creates a great steakhouse experience at home without the fuss of making actual twice-baked potatoes. Naturally pairing this casserole with a steak just makes sense. Be sure to check out this Sirloin Steak with Herb Butter. A perfect addition to this meal.
• For sides, serve alongside a green salad or a veggie dish like this Roasted Sweet Corn with Basil or Roasted Asparagus.
• In addition to steak, this Best Baked Potato Casserole also pairs well with this Grilled Spatchcock Chicken recipe.

How To Store

Allow the casserole to come to room temperature. Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or scoop the casserole into an airtight container. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

How To Reheat

Cover the baked potato casserole with aluminum foil and place it into a 350℉ oven until heated in the center. 

FAQ

What can I sub for the sour cream?

Greek or plain yogurt works great as a substitute. I even use my homemade yogurt for this recipe as well when I strain off the excess liquid to ensure a thick-style yogurt.

Can this recipe be doubled to feed a larger crowd?

You can double it for a larger casserole however, the dish you’d need would have to be quite large. I find making two works great but if you have a baking dish that can accommodate doubling up the recipe, go for it.

Would 2% milk work for this recipe?

Yes, 2% milk works fine as a substitute for whole milk in this recipe.

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Other Recipes To Try…

• Simple Potato Soup
• Crispy Oven Fries
• Sweet Potato Casserole

If you try this recipe and love it, I would appreciate you coming back to give it 5 stars!