Cheese and Bacon Smashed Potatoes
April 17, 2009 by Marye Audet
Filed under Side Dishes
Mashed potatoes are one of the major four comfort foods; chocolate, ice cream, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes. They are great plain, with plenty of butter and maybe some gravy, but when you want serious comfort food give these a try. Smoky bacon, garlic, onion, and cheddar combine with the potatoes to create something amazing.
I served them with ham, but they make a great topper for shepherds pie, or anything where you want flavorful mashed potatoes. Not sure that you would want to dump gravy on these…
1/2 lb bacon
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
3 lbs potatoes- peel russets, if using the red potatoes leave the skin on and just scrub well
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup half and half- simmering hot
1 stick unsalted butter
2 cups grated sharp cheddar, divided
Salt and pepper tp taste
Boil potatoes in water to cover until tender. Drain.
Fry bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Crumble. Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease.
Saute onion and garlic in bacon grease until tender, and onion is transparent. Add potatoes to pan and warm through, stirring to coat with the pan juices.Pour the potatoes into a bowl. Add sour cream, half and half cream, butter, and 1 cup of the cheese. Mash with a potato masher until fluffy. Stir in bacon crumbles.
Spread in a 13×9 inch pan and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350F about 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling. Serve hot.
Serves 6-8
image:Marye Audet
I am generally a mashed potato purest. I like them with plenty of butter, salt and milk added. Only recently have I decided I like them okay with cream gravy on them… but I might be tempted to give these a try.. I am just not sure about the onion. I have yet to find a potato-onion combination that I like. I like onion, I just find potato and onion a weird flavor combo. That said, I want to point out that I am formerly a very picky eater who has come a very long way in broadening her horizons where food is concerned. Just ask my hubby
LOL Terry, that is funny. Even my picky eaters liked these
Yes, bacon, garlic, onion, and cheddar, that’s all it takes for me. Still, I’m blissful with just plain buttermilk mashed potatoes.
Tanna, I agree, mashed potatoes any way are just yum
Mashed potatoes…are comfort food. I have made left over mashed potatoes with cheese and onion and put this into muffin tins and bake them. Never thought about adding bacon…..
What a great idea
I love doing this with leftover potatoes. So one day you have them mashed, and for a change you have them resmashed with cheese.
OH man, these mashed potatoes look dangerous. I don’t think I’d be able to control myself around the creaminess and richness of this dish. I mean, smashed potatoes are good alone, but adding cheese and bacon…wow!
Imagine them on the top of a shepherd’s pie…I am just sayin’
I love mashed potatoes and am always looking for new recipes. I’m not sure why it never dawned on me to add bacon!
ELizabeth, I dont know, but anything with bacon is….well…yum…o.k..ALMOST anything.
Hey, my family LOVES my “loaded mashed potatoes” Make mashed potatoes same way, add sour cream, cream cheese, bacon and chives to taste. (reduce the amount of milk or chicken stock) I make creamy mashed potatoes so just turn on the mixer and tada! GREAT Potatoes to dress up any dinner!
Raquel that sounds great.:)