Description
Paula Deen’s Mashed Potato Bake delivers comfort straight from Southern kitchens with creamy potatoes layered beneath a golden, crispy cheese crust. Hearty and indulgent, this recipe promises a rich side dish that welcomes friends and family around the table with warmth and classic flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups frozen hash browns
- 1 (7.6 ounces/216 grams) package butter & herbed mashed potato mix
- 2 cups water
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 stick (113 grams/½ cup) butter
Seasonings and Toppings:
- 2 cups French-fried onion rings
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot by bringing 475 milliliters (2 cups) of water to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Add frozen hash browns to the boiling water and cook for 5 minutes, ensuring they are partially thawed and heated through.
- Thoroughly drain the hash browns using a colander, pressing gently to remove excess moisture.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the drained hash browns with mashed potato mix, creating a uniform base for the casserole.
- Incorporate melted butter, softened cream cheese, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and sour cream into the potato mixture, stirring until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Season the mixture with garlic salt, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper, blending thoroughly to ensure consistent flavor.
- Grease a 2-quart casserole dish with butter or cooking spray, preparing it for the potato mixture.
- Transfer the prepared mixture into the casserole dish, using a spatula to spread it evenly and create a smooth surface.
- Place the casserole in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the edges turn golden and the center is heated through.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and generously sprinkle French-fried onion rings across the top.
- Return the dish to the oven for an additional 5 to 8 minutes, allowing the onion rings to become crispy and deep golden brown.
Notes
- Crispy onion rings lose their crunch if added too early, so sprinkle them during the final 5 minutes of baking for maximum texture and golden color.
- Aluminum foil acts as a protective shield for casserole edges that tend to brown faster than the center, preventing burning and ensuring even cooking.
- Thorough mixing guarantees every spoonful bursts with balanced flavors, incorporating cream cheese, sour cream, and seasonings uniformly throughout the dish.
- Room-temperature cream cheese eliminates lumps and creates a silky smooth base, preventing unexpected chunks in your final preparation.
- Excess moisture from hash browns can transform your casserole into a soggy mess, so thoroughly drain and pat them dry before mixing to maintain a perfect consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 966 mg
- Fat: 29.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Carbohydrates: 47.8 g
- Fiber: 3.6 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg