Make-ahead Mashed Potato Casserole Recipe

Mashed Potato Casserole is an outrageously scrumptious but extremely sensible option to make mashed potato forward of time! A layer of cheese and bacon prevents the mash from drying out because it reheats within the oven, whereas remodeling this humble aspect into one thing extra-devilish and decadent. Oh the ability of cheese (plus bacon)!

Make it recent, or assemble forward and reheat when required. Serve instead of plain ole’ mash.

With the vacations quick approaching, I assumed it could be well timed to share my favorite option to make mashed potato forward of time.

The factor with make-ahead mash is that you just can not merely reheat it within the microwave or oven. You would possibly suppose a splash of milk and good stir is all it takes to revive it. However I can let you know that’s the trail to a mouthful of gluey horridness.

Whereas there are nifty methods to reheat chilly mashed potato efficiently*, a giant dish of creamy Mashed Potato Casserole takes the prize for probably the most foolproof-yet-show-stopping method I do know! It additionally wins the prize for the bottom effort on the day-of since you actually simply pop the pre-assembled dish into the oven. It’s a win-win, 10/10 – nothing may very well be extra becoming on your vacation feast menu!!

* How I reheat plain mashed potato: Chilly mash in scorching cream (recipe right here, however be aware it’s extra work on the day) or in heavy responsibility piping baggage submerged in boiling water, a trick caterers use (see my demo right here on Instagram).

However truly, trying on the picture beneath, it does look fairly engaging with nearly full bacon protection on the floor. And … is there even such a factor as an excessive amount of bacon?? (Yeah nah)

Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to make Mashed Potato Casserole:

• Potato – Floury and all-rounder potatoes work finest to attain a fluffy but creamy mash with out fussing with potato ricers and different devices.
  – Australia: a budget dirt-brushed potatoes bought in every single place (referred to as Sebago) are very best
  – US: Russet
  – UK: Maris Piper

• Milk – Our liquid to loosen the potato as much as type mash. If making forward, we add additional (see How To Make part for extra).

• Bitter cream – I choose utilizing bitter cream somewhat than cream in mashed potato casserole as a result of the slight tang makes a pleasant counterpoint to all the opposite richness occurring right here (butter, cheese, bacon). It doesn’t make it bitter within the least. It type of provides creaminess into the mash with out including cloying richness. Does that is smart??

• Butter – Mash with out butter isn’t mash. #strongopinions!

• Cheese – I exploit a mixture: Mozzarella for wonderful melty-cheesy-stretchiness. Then Purple Leicester for flavour (it’s savoury and a bit sharp, like aged cheddar), and so as to add a beautiful orange hue to the mash floor. In case you’re within the States, your orange cheddar is right right here.

  In any other case, use any melting cheese you want (colby and Monterey Jack are different private favourites). In case you decide to make use of mozzarella as your most important cheese, add a handful of parmesan for flavour as a result of mozzarella alone is definitely fairly bland and lacks saltiness.
  Shred your individual – One among my 5 non-negotiable guidelines acknowledged loudly on the primary web page of my cookbook is, “All the time shred your individual cheese”! Retailer-bought pre-shredded cheese is coated in anti-caking brokers which stop it from melting in addition to freshly-grated. I exploit a typical field grater for the work.
  Pack your cups of cheese – For consistency I choose weight over quantity to measure cheese. So I’ll weigh a hunk of cheese earlier than grating it. However in case you are utilizing cup measures, make sure to pack your cups tightly when measuring the shredded cheese in any other case you’ll be brief. No one needs to be brief on cheese, ever!

• Bacon – For sprinkling over the casserole floor. Notice: I at all times use streaky bacon. As a result of fats = flavour! Additionally, fatty bacon crisps up and hues higher, with out drying out.

• Inexperienced onion – For a contact of oniony freshness and color.

No rocket science right here. We make mash, unfold it right into a casserole dish, high with cheese, bacon after which cease right here if making forward. Lastly, on the day of your do, bake it!

1. Minimize potatoes – Peel and minimize the potatoes into even sized items.

2. Boil till delicate – Place the potatoes in chilly salted water. Deliver it as much as a boil over excessive warmth then scale back the warmth all the way down to medium excessive or medium so it’s simmering quickly. Cook dinner for quarter-hour (no lid) or till the potatoes are very delicate. They need to collapse whenever you jab it with a fork.

3. Mash – Drain the potatoes properly in a colander and pour them again into the empty pot. Mash with the butter, milk, bitter cream and salt.

   MAKE-AHEAD ADJUSTMENT – If you’re making this dish with the intention of serving it the following day, then add an additional 2/3 cup milk. The mash will appear too unfastened, however that is intentional. It’s to think about the truth that mashed potato companies up when refrigerated in a single day. So as soon as reheated, it has the identical consistency as when it’s freshly made!

   Potato masher – I like to make use of a potato masher that is sort of a spherical disc with holes in it, as pictured above. It’s the quickest and simplest instrument for a {smooth} mash with out utilizing a potato ricer (which I reserve only for Paris Mash, when looking for that next-level-luxe, ultra-smooth, 3-Michelin-restaurant end result!).

4. Unfold in a casserole dish.

5. High with the cheeses and bacon. (Sure you eagle-eyed spotters, I used to be brief on bacon for these photographs 😂)
   For make forward – At this stage, the assembled dish may be popped within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Simply take it out of the fridge 2 hours forward so it has time to de-chill. This may make it reheat sooner and extra evenly within the oven.

6. Cowl with foil then bake for 20 minutes at 200°C / 400°F (180°C fan), if freshly made. Add an additional quarter-hour if you happen to’re reheating a make-ahead casserole you ready the day earlier than.

7. Uncover – Take away from the oven and bake for an extra 10 minutes till bubbly and golden.

8. Voila, able to serve! Crack by that molten cheese floor and marvel at how creamy the mash beneath is!

It is a dish designed to be a aspect. (I do know we will all image it moonlighting as a standalone dish after a giant night time on the turps or a surprising day at work, but it surely’s meant to take the place of conventional plain mashed potato, I swear.) As a result of truly, although this has cheese and bacon on it, beneath is all creamy plain mashed potato.

So place it on the desk or on the buffet alongside the mains and let all people dig in and assist themselves! Attempt to get in first although. As a result of you already know full properly the primary in line are going to take greater than their justifiable share of that cheese bacon topping – and we all know full properly we additionally can not blame them…..