Loaded Smashed Potatoes With Cheese, Bacon, and Sour Cream

There’s not a lot that needs to said about loaded smashed potatoes with cheese, bacon, and sour cream. A delicious combination that doesn’t need to be “sold” to anyone. This recipe is creamy, cheesy, and OH so delicious.  And like all my favorite recipes, you can easily tweak it to make it your own! Add your favorite baked potato toppings and it’ll be delicious. 

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 Loaded Smashed Potatoes With Cheese, Bacon, and Sour Cream

There are few side dishes my family loves as much as this one. From the kiddos to my husband, everyone loves it when this dish is on the menu. It’s also perfect for feeding a crowd and your extended family will request this at EVERY gathering once you make it once.

If you love baked potatoes but don’t have the patience to make them regularly, this quick 30 minute alternative is going to be your new carb best friend. 

WHY THIS CHEESY LOADED SMASHED POTATOES RECIPE WORKS

Makes Great Leftovers: I love making a batch of this and reheating it throughout the week. It goes great with a number of main dishes and if your family is like mine they won’t complain one bit about eating it more than once. 

Creamy and Delicious: Obviously, combining delicious potatoes with sour cream, butter, and cheese is a delicious combo! Then topping it with your favorite baked potato toppings like green onions and bacon takes it to the next level. Truly such a treat. 

Customizable: Like most of my recipes, you can truly make this your own. Leave out the bacon, substitute greek yogurt for sour cream, add veggies, top it with leftover chili… the options are endless! 

Affordable: You get a lot of bang for your buck with this recipe! It makes a ton of food and can be served with multiple meals. To make it even more affordable, omit the bacon or use leftover bacon from breakfast. 

INGREDIENTS IN LOADED SMASHED POTATOES:

Potatoes: The star of the show and the base of this recipe is the potatoes! I prefer Idaho potatoes but you can use any you have on hand. 

Bacon: An optional ingredient but adds SO much smoky, salty, delicious flavor. This is a great way to use leftover bacon from your favorite breakfast recipe. Or you can also use store-bought bacon pieces.

Sour Cream: You can use low fat if desired or substitute for greek yogurt for added protein. 

Butter: You can use salted or unsalted – whatever you have on hand. Just adjust the amount of salt you add accordingly. 

Cheddar Cheese: My family prefers sharp cheddar, and I like to buy blocks and shred it myself for the best results. You can use any cheese you like, though! 

Chives or Green Onion: Admittedly, I’m the only green onion lover in my family so I keep this to the side and add it only to my portion. Feel free to do the same or mix it all together if your whole family likes them!

Salt, Pepper, and Seasonings to Taste: I typically stick to salt, pepper, and garlic but you can doctor this up any way you like! 

HOW TO COOK LOADED SMASHED POTATOES:

1. Add potatoes to boiling salted water. 
2. Cook until fork tender, approximately 12-15 minutes on medium high. 
3. Meanwhile, mix together all other ingredients in a bowl. 
4. Drain potatoes and add to the bowl. 
5. Mix with all other ingredients and smash with a potato masher or meat chopper. We like to leave ours chunky but mash to your desired consistency. 

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

This side dish is SO versatile and can be served alongside your favorite protein and veggie combo. We often serve it alongside steak, meatloaf, or grilled chicken and a green vegetable. The sky is the limit and this side dish will go great with SO many different main coruses.

STORAGE

This can be stored in the refrigerator for approximately four days. I don’t recommend freezing it. 

FAQ

What is the difference between mashed potatoes and smashed potatoes? 

Mashed potatoes typically have a smoother consistency and smashed potatoes remain chunky. I typically use an electric mixer to mash potatoes and use a meat chopper or manual potato masher for smashed potatoes. 

Can I use cream cheese instead of sour cream in this recipe? 

Go for it! I’m sure it’ll be delicious. You might want to add a splash of milk to thin out the potatoes when using the thicker cream cheese. 

Can I substitute greek yogurt for sour cream in this recipe? 

Absolutely! I often substitute greek yogurt into this recipe to incorporate extra protein. The taste change is minimal and my family doesn’t notice either way.  I also often do half sour cream and half greek yogurt.

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