Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole with Buttered Breadcrumbs Topping

Need a side dish that'll have everyone coming back for seconds? This Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole with Buttered Breadcrumbs Topping is exactly what your holiday menu needs.

Yukon Gold potatoes are mashed with cream cheese, sour cream, and lots of cheese. Then, they are topped with crispy, buttery breadcrumbs and, of course, more cheese. Best of all, you can make it ahead, which is a lifesaver during busy holiday cooking!

🗝️ Recipe's key points

• Make it the night before! This mashed potato casserole is a great make-ahead dish. Just assemble everything, cover it, and place it in the fridge until you're ready to bake.
• You get creamy mashed potatoes loaded with cheese and tangy sour cream, all topped with a crunchy, golden breadcrumb layer. The texture contrast between creamy and crispy is what makes this casserole so good.
• Sure, it's great for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but don't save this mashed potatoes casserole just for holidays. It's fantastic for potlucks, dinner parties, or whenever you need to feed a crowd.

There's nothing wrong with plain mashed potatoes. But take those same potatoes, load them up with cheese, bake them with a crispy topping, and you've got something that disappears fast. My family requests this every holiday, and I always make extra because there's never enough!

🛒 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

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Potato casserole

• Yukon Gold potatoes – these are my go-to because they're already buttery and creamy on their own.
• Salted butter – because butter makes everything better.
• Cream cheese – makes the potatoes extra rich and smooth.
• Sour cream – adds that tangy flavor that keeps things interesting.
• Seasonings (onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne powder) – this seasoning combo gives the potatoes so much flavor!
• Fresh thyme leaves – this adds a fresh herbal flavor that sets this mashed potato casserole over the top.
• Monterey Jack cheese – melts into the potatoes and has a nice, mild flavor.
• Sea salt and ground pepper – just enough to bring out all the other flavors.
• Whole milk – helps to smooth out the whole mixture.
• Eggs – give the casserole a bit of body that makes it easy to serve.

Buttery bread topping

• Salted butter – this helps the topping stay crispy as it bakes and adds the perfect amount of buttery flavor
• Panko bread crumbs – there's just no substitute for this extra crispy topping!
• Corn flakes – this might sound strange, but it comes together with the Panko crumbs for the crispiest, crunchiest topping ever.
• Garlic powder – Add just a bit of savory flavor to the topping.
• Gruyère cheese – goes on top and brings in a nutty flavor.

🗒 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

🥫 Storage

Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. I don't recommend freezing this mashed potato casserole. The dairy doesn't freeze well and can become grainy when thawed.

To reheat, cover the casserole with foil and warm it in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes. For just a serving or two, the microwave works fine - about 2-3 minutes should do it.

📚 Variations

Add Bacon: Cook up 6-8 strips of bacon, crumble them, and fold most of them into the potatoes before baking. Save some to sprinkle on top - because bacon on top of bacon is always a good idea.

Lighter Version: Swap in reduced-fat cream cheese, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and go with 2% milk. It'll still taste great, just with fewer calories and less guilt.

Different Cheeses: Try sharp cheddar or white cheddar instead of Monterey Jack. Switch the Gruyère for Parmesan or aged cheddar if that's what you have.

👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

• Once you add the milk and eggs, stop mixing as soon as everything's combined. Over-mixing can give the potatoes a gluey consistency.
• Let that butter brown a little when you're making the topping. That nutty, toasted flavor takes the breadcrumbs from good to amazing.
• Give the casserole 5-10 minutes to sit after it comes out of the oven. It needs a minute to set up, which makes it way easier to serve without everything falling apart.

📗 Related Recipes

These other potato side dishes go with absolutely every main dish!

• Cheesy Diced Potato Casserole – Another decadently cheesy potato casserole, this one is made with diced potatoes and melted mozzarella.
• Italian Potato Salad – This is no ordinary potato salad. It's egg-free, mayo-free, and way healthier than you think.
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Bacon – Want something different? Why not a casserole with sweet potatoes instead!
• Grilled Cheesy Potatoes in Foil – Firing up the grill for your main dish? Cook these cheesy potatoes right alongside!
• Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere Cheese
• Roasted Rosemary Potatoes with Garlic – You'll love how this dish becomes crispy on the outside and stays creamy on the inside.
• Skillet Fried Italian Herbed Potatoes – This classic potato dish is loaded up with fresh herbs.

🍽 What to serve with Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole

I love to serve this mashed potato casserole recipe with a hearty main course like Balsamic Glazed Lamb Chops, Roast Boneless Leg of Lamb, or Dry Aged Standing Rib Roast.

I would also recommend serving it alongside a fresh vegetable side dish like Parmesan Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Crockpot Green Bean Casserole, or Oven Baked Zucchini.

🔪 All Our Way recommends the following

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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

• Dutch oven – for boiling the potatoes.
• Casserole dish – I used a 9x13-inch casserole dish for baking and serving.
• Hand mixer or potato masher – whichever you prefer for mashing.
• Potato peeler – for peeling the potatoes, of course!
• Dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, and a liquid measuring cup – to get all the proportions just right.
• Cheese grater – I used a box grater for grating the fresh Monterey Jack and Gruyère.

📞 Chiacchierata (chat)

There’s something so comforting about mashed potatoes. They become even cozier when you turn them into a casserole like this one. It’s the kind of dish that makes everyone slow down at the table, reach for seconds, and say, “Okay… who made the potatoes?!” 😄

I love this recipe because it has everything we love about classic purè di patate (mashed potatoes). It’s creamy, buttery, and has hints of aglio (garlic). Plus, it adds a golden, crunchy topping that feels so festive! It's fancy enough for your special holiday table. But it's also easy to make for a Sunday dinner with family gathered around.

And the make-ahead magic? Total lifesaver. Preparing this casserole ahead of time is a great idea. It gives you more time to chiacchierata in the cucina. You can enjoy more hugs with the nipoti (grandkids), too. Plus, it means less rushing at the stove! That’s always a win in my book.

Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

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