Loaded Smashed Potatoes
Ready for a new family favorite? Your crew will join the clean plate club when you make these crispy, loaded smashed potatoes with gooey melted cheese, cool sour cream, sharp green onion and savory bacon.
You might be wondering, what’s the difference between smashed potatoes and mashed potatoes? Well, while both dishes start with boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes are smooth and creamy, often with the skins removed for a more uniform texture.
Today we are talking about smashed potatoes, which we don’t boil as long and then leave pretty chunky, retaining their skins for added texture and flavor after baking them. You can even bake potatoes like this, forgo the toppings, and just add a little salt for an awesome alternative to French fries.
What to serve with loaded smashed potatoes
Now that’s covered, you may be wondering how to build a meal with these smashed potatoes. Let’s start with protein – grilled steak, baked chicken, or even barbecued pork are perfect entrees with these as a side dish. Round out the meal with some greens by adding roasted broccoli or asparagus.
Or you can make them the main dish and serve them with a fresh salad. A tangy citrus vinaigrette with arugula would be an excellent complementary flavor with these tasty taters and toppings. For a rich, comforting meal when it’s cold out, serve them with a steaming bowl of hearty chili, Brunswick stew or classic vegetable soup.
These versatile potatoes go well with many other dishes, so they’re perfect for a potluck or other large spread. Serve them alongside other sides like creamy coleslaw, grilled corn, or garlic-roasted veggies. They also make great appetizers and party food along with other snacks like deviled eggs, a charcuterie board, or cut fruit.
Ingredients needed to make loaded smashed potatoes
To make this recipe for delicious smashed potatoes, you will need the following ingredients:
- Potatoes: Go for petite Yukon Gold potatoes or fingerling potatoes. Because they are small, they cook quickly and also have thin skins that crisp up perfectly when smashed and roasted.
- Salted Butter: Adds a rich, creamy flavor and helps create that satisfying crispy texture.
- Cheddar Cheese: Because melted cheese makes everything better! Sharp cheddar adds a slightly tangy, gooey goodness to every bite.
- Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder: This trio of seasonings add depth of flavor.
- Bacon: Crispy bacon instantly adds irresistible flavor, crunch, and smoky, salty goodness.
- Green Onions: Brings a mild onion flavor and a pop of freshness for a pleasant contrast to the cheesiness and creaminess of the potatoes.
- Sour Cream: A cool, creamy, tart finish that perfectly balances the other flavors.
Frequently asked questions about smashed potatoes
Here are a few of the most common questions and answers about making these loaded smashed potatoes. If you have a question you don’t see covered here, please drop it in the comments. I will reply as soon as I can!
Why are my smashed potatoes falling apart?
Your potatoes might be overcooked or not drained properly. Boil them just until fork-tender and make sure to let them steam-dry for a few minutes before smashing. This will help them keep the desired shape on the sheet pan.
How do you keep smashed potatoes from getting gluey?
Don’t overcook or overwork the potatoes. Gently smash them with the bottom of a glass just until they are flattened yet still in one piece.
Why do my potatoes fall apart when I boil them?
You might be boiling them too vigorously. Keep your water simmering gently, not rapidly boiling. For these potatoes, you only want them in the pot for about 15 minutes to become tender enough to smash.
More Grandma-Approved Recipes To Try
If you like this recipe for loaded smashed potatoes, you will love these other yummy recipes.
- Best Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
- BLT Loaded Tater Tots
- Creamy Mac and Cheese (Grandma’s Recipe)
- Cheesy Bacon Spinach Dip
- Stuffed Italian Chicken Roll-Ups
Loaded Smashed Potatoes
Equipment
- Stock pot or Dutch oven
- Baking Sheet
- Medium mixing bowl
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 12 petite Yukon gold or fingerling potatoes
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter melted
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 10 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking pan and set aside.
- In a large pot, boil the potatoes in salted water for about 15 minutes just until tender. Do not over boil. Drain the water and let the potatoes cool just enough to touch them.
- Place the potatoes on a prepared baking sheet. Use the bottom of a glass to smash potatoes until flattened but still in one piece.
- Brush each potato with melted butter and then sprinkle the salt, pepper and garlic powder on top.
- Put in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Take potatoes out and sprinkle with the cheese and return to oven until cheese is melted (about 2-3 minutes).
- Combine 2 Tablespoons of chopped bacon and 1 Tablespoon of chopped green onions and set aside for garnish.
- While the potatoes bake, make the topping. Mix the sour cream, the rest of the bacon and the rest of the green onions until well combined.
- Pull potatoes out and top each one with sour cream mixture. Garnish with bacon and green onions.
- Serve hot. Enjoy!
