Mashed Potato Casserole

Mashed Potato Casserole – great make-ahead side dish for the holidays! SO easy and tastes AMAZING!!! Instant mashed potatoes, hash browns, cream cheese, butter, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, garlic, salt, pepper, and french fried onions. Can make in advance and refrigerate or freeze for later. Great for a crowd!

spoonful of mashed potatoes with fried onions

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Easy Mashed Potato Casserole for Thanksgiving

Mashed Potatoes are a MUST for Thanksgiving. You can’t have turkey and gravy without mashed potatoes. We LOVE to make this Mashed Potato Casserole for the holidays. It is super easy to prepare and tastes fantastic! Mashed potatoes and hash browns loaded with CHEESE and topped with French fried onions. YASSS! I could honestly just eat these potatoes and be happy! LOL!

baking dish of mashed potato casserole

How to Make Potato Casserole with Instant Mashed Potatoes

This casserole is super easy to make. It starts with some instant mashed potatoes. Next, you mix in frozen shredded hash browns, butter, cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, garlic, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a deep-dish 9×13-inch pan. Top the casserole with some French fried onions and bake.

  • If you aren’t a fan of Monterey Jack cheese, you can substitute your favorite cheese. Cheddar, mozzarella, gouda. Whatever you like will be fine!
  • I did not thaw my shredded hash browns before adding them to the casserole. You can thaw them, but it isn’t necessary. I just take the hash browns out of the freezer when I start making the mashed potatoes and break up any frozen clumps before mixing into the casserole.
  • If you don’t want to use the instant mashed potatoes, you can substitute an equivalent amount of freshly cooked or leftover mashed potatoes.
  • Can Mashed Potato Casserole be Made in Advance? Yes! This casserole is a great make-ahead recipe. You can make this the day before and refrigerate overnight.
  • If you are baking the casserole straight from the refrigerator, you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.
  • Can Mashed Potato Casserole be frozen? Yes! I freeze the casserole unbaked. To bake the casserole after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed below.
scooping mashed potatoes from baking dish

Potato Casserole is Great for a Crowd

This casserole is great for the holidays or any other time you need an easy side dish for a crowd. This is great for potlucks, tailgating, and cookouts. It is easy to make and tastes great! Here are a few of our favorite recipes that go great with this potato casserole:

No Knead Dinner Rolls

No Knead Dinner Rolls recipe – seriously THE BEST rolls EVER!! The best part is that you can make them…

spoonful of mashed potatoes with fried onions

Mashed Potato Casserole

Yield: 10 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Mashed Potato Casserole – great make-ahead side dish for the holidays! SO easy and tastes AMAZING!!! Instant mashed potatoes, hash browns, cream cheese, butter, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, garlic, salt, pepper, and french fried onions. Can make in advance and refrigerate or freeze for later. Great for a crowd! #thanksgiving #casserole #makeahead #freezermeal #christmas

Ingredients:

  • 2 (4-oz) packages butter & herb instant mashed potatoes
  • 1 (32-oz) package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 4-oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt, or to taste
  • ½ tsp pepper, or to taste
  • 1 (2.8-oz) can French fried onions

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Prepare instant mashed potatoes according to package directions.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooked mashed potatoes, butter, cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in shredded hash browns. Spread in prepared pan.
  • Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes. Top casserole with French fried onions. Bake and additional 10 to 15 minutes.

Notes:

Can prepare through step 3 and refrigerate or freeze for later.
To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed in step 4.
Can use any cheese you prefer in place of the Monterey Jack cheese.
Omit French fried onions for a gluten-free casserole.

Steph

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baking dish of mashed potato casserole
scooping mashed potatoes from baking dish

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Comments

    1. I haven’t tried this with diced hash browns. I think it would be fine. The casserole just wouldn’t have the same texture as the one I made. You also may need to increase the cooking time. The chunks might not cook as quicky as the shredded hash browns.

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