Let’s make Cheesy Mashed Potatoes! This is such a fun and yummy way to jazz up plain mashed potatoes. Soft and velvety potatoes is mashed alongside cheddar cheese, cream cheese and butter, it is then topped with even more cheese, and oven baked until gooey.
Sometimes we make our cheesy mashed potatoes for special holiday dinners like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, but it’s also the perfect side dish to go alongside a piece of steak, salmon or your favorite protein any day of the year!
For a classic mashed potatoes recipe, head over to my tried and true Creamy Mashed Potatoes.
There’s no way Thanksgiving dinner will be complete without mashed potatoes. At our Thanksgiving table, it is served alongside my classic turkey recipe, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole.
The BEST Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
When we want a super duper elevated mashed potatoes that will give regular mashed potatoes a run for their money, we make these Cheesy Mashed Potatoes. It is one of those decadent and satisfying comfort food that both adults and kids love.
Because when it doubt, add cheese!
Incorporating cheddar cheese and cream cheese to mashed potatoes really adds creaminess and another dimension of flavor to jazz up the potatoes.
If you think you love your mashed potatoes now, wait till you try this cheesy mashed potatoes recipe!
Why we love this:
- Flavorful – the decadent flavors and gooey-ness from cheese are deeply incorporated into every single bite of this cheesy mashed potatoes recipe. It truly elevates your traditional mashed potatoes in the best way.
- Simple Ingredients – only straightforward pantry-friendly everyday ingredients are used.
- Tried and true recipe – this is ‘mashed potatoes on steroid’s’ – it makes the most glorious mashed potatoes that your family and guests will request year after year.
- Customizable – there are so many add-on’s you can incorporate to this basic cheesy mashed potatoes recipe to make it your own and switch things up! Check out our ‘Variations and Add On’s’ section below for ideas.
- Make ahead friendly – this is a must have for our holiday dinners because not only is it delicious, we can make it ahead. See instructions for storage and reheating below.
Ingredients
To make these delicious cheesy mashed potatoes, you’ll need only six basic pantry-friendly ingredients:
- russet potatoes – this recipe calls for russet potatoes, which have a nice balance of starch. It is also more wallet-friendly compared to other starchy potatoes. Peel skin off and use just the flesh to make cheesy mashed potatoes. If you want a more grainy mashed potatoes, you can keep the potato skins on.
- cheddar cheese – as the name implies, this is the key to our cheesy mashed potatoes. Opt for a mild cheddar if you prefer a milder cheesy flavor. We will be using the shredded form so that it dissolves quickly. Shred blocks of cheese yourself instead of getting the pre-shredded ones – they melt much better.
- cream cheese – this adds to the richness and creaminess of our cheesy mashed potatoes. Make sure it’s softened before using to make it easier to mix in.
- butter – use unsalted butter to control the salt levels in your dish. Bring butter to room temperature so it softened before using it.
- half & half – this is simply cream that is half milk and half cream. It makes your cheesy mashed potatoes rich and creamy. You can use heavy cream for a even creamier cheesy mashed potatoes.
- salt – mashed potatoes are one of those foods that really need a good amount of salt. Do test it and add more to taste as needed.
Additional toppings and seasonings
I made this cheesy mashed potatoes pretty simple with just potatoes, cheese, butter, cream and seasonings. You can definitely add additional ingredients on top of this base. Some suggestions are:
- other cheeses – feel free to add other kinds of cheeses (parmesan, moizzarella, Colby jack etc)…it is a cheesy mashed potato recipe after all!
- sour cream or yogurt – elevate the richness of your cheesy mashed potatoes by adding this tart and creamy ingredient.
- bacon – who doesn’t love bacon? This porky delight will add extra flavor and compliment the creamy potatoes perfectly!
- dry ranch seasoning – this will add some tanginess to this decadent dish.
- herbs and spices – adding chives, parsley and/or black pepper can bring a fresh flavor to your dish.
How to make mashed potatoes cheesy
When done right, cheddar cheese mashed potatoes is loaded with delicious, rich flavor and tastes like pure decadence. Follow the detailed instructions below on how to make the best ever cheesy mashed potatoes.
Step 1: Prepare the potatoes
Begin by washing, peeling and slicing the russet potatoes into big chunks.
After that, boil water in a large pot, then add potatoes to boiling water. Cook until they become tender.
Step 2: Mashing Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Once the potatoes are tender, drain them and return them to the pot (if using a hand potato masher), or to a stand mixer or large mixing bowl (if using a hand mixer).
Immediately (don’t wait for potatoes to cool), add cheddar cheese, cream cheese, butter, half & half, and salt, using either a hand potato masher, ricer, or stand mixer to mash and blend all ingredients together.
Pro tip: If able, bring these ingredients to room temperature an hour or so before using so it doesn’t significantly drop the temperature of the mashed potatoes.
Continue mashing until your potatoes become creamy and smooth. The cheese should be completely melted and incorporated into the potato mixture.
Taste your potatoes at this stage. If the mixture feels too thick, don’t hesitate to add a little extra cream, milk or more butter. If it’s too thick, add more cheese.
Season with additional salt and pepper to match your preferred taste profile.
Step 3: Bake Cheddar Cheese Mashed Potatoes
It’s time to bake our cheesy mashed potatoes!
I will say this part is completely optional. If you want to serve the cheesy potatoes as is without baking, that’s fine too!
Transfer your cheesy mashed potatoes to a casserole dish. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top as a finishing touch. You can totally add more than my suggested amount (heck why not…it’s almost the holidays!)
Bake at 350℉ for 3-5 minutes or until the top cheesy is melted and slightly golden brown.
And there you go! An easy yet mouthwatering cheesy mashed potatoes recipe that takes everything you love about mashed potatoes and make it even more delicious!
When you scoop into your cheddar cheese mashed potatoes, it should be creamy with a slight touch of the gooey melted cheese on top.
It makes the perfect side dish to your holiday meals, or served alongside steak, pork tenderloin, chicken or fish.
Make Ahead, Reheating and Storage
Cheesy mashed potatoes is a great dish to make ahead for holiday dinners such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, bring it to the refrigerator 24 hours in advance and let it come to a full defrost.
To reheat, place in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Reheat in the oven at 350 ºF for 25-30 minutes or until warmed through. Add extra butter or cream if they appear too dry upon reheating.
If reheating a smaller portion of leftovers, microwave can be used as well.
Tips and Tricks
- Choose the right potatoes: Opt for russet or Yukon gold potatoes for the creamiest texture. These potatoes have a higher starch content, ideal for fluffy mashed potatoes.
- Cheese variety: While cheddar cheese is a popular choice, you can mix cheeses like mozzarella, parmesan, or Gruyère cheese as well. Using a blend of cheeses can enhance the depth of taste.
- Skip the pre-shredded cheese: Avoid using pre-shredded cheese, as it often contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Grate cheese from a block for the best results.
- Combine potatoes with cheese immediately: Once water is drained from potatoes, combine cheeses and other ingredients immediately. Once potatoes cools, it will make the mixture harder for the cheese to melt and for the mixture to combine smoothly.
- Thickening or thinning potato consistency: Adjust consistency of mashed potatoes to your liking. Adding milk or butter to thin it out, and add shredded cheese to thicken it. If you are topping with cheese and baking it, that will thicken it out slightly as well. Mashed potatoes also thicken slightly after sitting out for a while.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Some people actually prefer unpeeled potatoes – consistency of your mashed potatoes will be coarser (some like it that way!) and nutrients from the skin will be incorporated into it.
Ensure that potatoes are boiled until fully cooked and tender – this will make it easier to mash it up and get a smooth consistency. Using a ricer can also help make the potatoes smoother.
Yes, milk is a fine substitute, especially for a lighter version. However, using half & half or cream provides a richer, creamier texture.
Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded cheese, which may contain anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly. Mixing cheese into hot potatoes (immediately after potatoes are done cooking and drained, don’t wait until they cool) while mashing also aids in achieving a creamy consistency.
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More Potato Dishes
If you are looking for more potato side dishes, here are some of my favorites:
- Garlic Hasselback Potatoes
- Baked Potato Casserole
- Cheesy Garlic Scalloped Potatoes
- Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes
- Potato Mac Salad.
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lb russet potatoes
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, plus more for sprinkling on top
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1½ cup half & half
- 1 tbsp salt plus more as needed
Instructions
- Scrub potatoes under running water. Peel and slice into large pieces.
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add potatoes. Boil for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Drain water. Either return potatoes to the pot or transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Add cheddar cheese, cream cheese, butter, half & half, and salt. Use a potato masher to mash potatoes. The other ingredients will mix in as you mash. Mash until potatoes are smooth.
- Optional step: transfer mashed potatoes to a casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350℉. Sprinkle more cheddar cheese on top of mashed potatoes. Bake in preheated oven for about 3 minutes or until the cheese on top melts.
- Serve and enjoy!
