Oven Baked Mashed Potatoes are creamy, delicious, and easy to assemble ahead of time. A box of instant mashed potatoes is the secret to this incredible potato side dish!
I love cooking and baking from scratch. But you can’t deny that sometimes the best dishes start by opening a can or box. Like this Cranberry Orange Bread that uses canned cranberry sauce or this Peach Crisp made with bisquick.
Why This Recipe is Best
These Baked Mashed Potatoes are my family’s favorite. My kids actually prefer these over fresh potatoes (and to be honest, so do I).
They are packed with flavor, thick enough to withstand your heartiest of gravies…yet they have a creamy flavor and can stand on their own plain!
- The easiest potato recipe ever. Only 5 minutes or prep work!
- Super creamy taste.
- Make ahead. Assemble it up to one day ahead of time!
- Oven baked. You’ll love the golden brown top on these potatoes.
Ingredient Notes
- Instant mashed potatoes – Prepare them according to the directions on the box.
- Sour cream – For that ultra creamy flavor!
- Cream cheese – Adds even more creaminess and a cheesy tang.
- Unsalted butter – You can use salted but I prefer to be able to control the saltiness of baked mashed potatoes.
- Seasoning – A little salt, pepper and paprika is all you need!
- Parsley – An optional garnish for serving the potatoes.
Use Real Potatoes Instead
Okay. I know some of you will ask. How do I make this if I don’t want to use instant potatoes.
Easy. Add your washed, peeled potatoes to a large pot covered with water. I would say about 12 potatoes, depending on size. You’ll want about 6 cups of mashed potatoes (each medium potato usually yields 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes.
Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, cook until tender. Drain the water and mash the potatoes (I like to use my mixer to get them extra creamy and smooth). Then follow the directions in the recipe card using the mashed potatoes for the instant potatoes.
Tips and Tricks
- Use room temperature cream cheese and sour cream. Take both ingredients out of the fridge about 20 minutes ahead of time. This makes them easier to mix into the instant potatoes.
- Make ahead option. You can combine the ingredients and assemble them in the baking dish up to 24 hours in advance. Cover with foil and keep refrigerated until ready to bake.
- Cheesy topping. If you want cheesy oven baked mashed potatoes, bake them as directed, remove and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Return to the oven for another 3 – 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
Recipe FAQs
Plain unsweetened Greek yogurt makes a perfect substitute for the sour cream in this recipe.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat and enjoy within 3 days for best taste.
I prefer russet potatoes for mashed potato recipes. Yukon gold (yellow) or white potatoes are also good choices!
I have not tested a dairy free version of this recipe. You could try it with nondairy sour cream, cream cheese and butter and let me know how it turns out!
Baking gives the mashed potatoes a golden brown topping that I love! I also find it evenly distributes the heat throughout the potato dish for a better flavor.
What to serve with Baked Mashed Potatoes
These potatoes as I said above are hearty enough to withstand your favorite gravy.
But they are delicious enough to enjoy as a side dish all on their own.
- One of my favorite dinners, Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef is perfect when you crave comfort food but don’t want to turn on the oven!
- Tender, flavorful Classic Meatloaf recipe with a sweet and tangy bbq glaze. This Perfect Meatloaf is better than you remember, give it a try tonight and serve it with today’s potatoes! No gravy needed.
- Today’s potatoes go perfect with this Authentic Swedish Meatballs recipe. It’s delicious enough for a weeknight meal, and impressive enough for guests! You’ll love the creamy sauce and the sides of cucumbers and lingonberries!
- With only a few minutes prep time, you can have this Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken for dinner tonight! Pull out your crockpot, fix it and forget it!
- Thick and juicy, this crispy parmesan oven Baked Pork Chops recipe is delicious. The BEST pork chop recipe you’ll ever need!
- Whip up a batch of these Crockpot Meatballs for an easy weeknight dinner. Serve with today’s potatoes, dinner rolls, and a side salad!
- This Easy Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff Recipe is the perfect weeknight meal. Tender beef with a thick and creamy mushroom sauce. Your family will love it!
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Baked Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 12 servings instant mashed potatoes prepared (or about 6 cups)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 ounce cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ cup unsalted butter sliced thin
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Prepare instant potatoes according to package directions. Make them thicker than normal by adding in some extra flakes.
- Once prepared, blend in sour cream, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Pour into a buttered 13 x 9 baking dish. Sprinkle the top with a little pinch of paprika and place slices of butter over the top.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes. ENJOY.
Notes
- To make ahead of time, before baking, cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Remove from refrigerator and bake for 40-50 minutes uncovered. ENJOY.
- To use fresh potatoes, you'll need 6 cups of mashed, about 10-12 potatoes, peeled.
Video
Nutrition
Learn how to turn instant mashed potatoes into the best potato side dish with this easy Baked Mashed Potatoes recipe!
If you wanna make them Loaded-do you dot with butter slices & sprinkle paprika THEN top w/ cheese, bacon & scallions?
When you make them the evening before, can you use a crockpot the next day instead of the oven?
This is so great for when company is coming over. Pinning!
Great idea and everyone loves them!! thanks for the recipe
Love that these can be made ahead of time! So easy and delicious!
This is seriously making me hungry! This looks totally awesome!
YUM THESE WERE DELICIOUS! THANK YOU!