EASY BACON RITZ MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE RECIPE
MASHED POTATOES ARE A STAPLE FOR ANY HOLIDAY DINNER, ESPECIALLY THANKSGIVING! THIS YEAR, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN & HELPFUL TO SHARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE “STORE BOUGHT – BUT NOT” RECIPE HACKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THIS CHEESY BACON & RITZ MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE COMES TOGETHER IN UNDER AN HOUR AND USES MY SECRET COOKING WEAPON: INSTANT MASHED POTATOES!
CHEESY BACON & RITZ MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE
INSTANT MASHED POTATOES GET A BAD RAP. HOMEMADE (FROM SCRATCH) MASHED POTATOES ARE EASY & INEXPENSIVE TO MAKE – SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND THE POINT. BUT I ALWAYS HAVE SOME INSTANT MASHED POTATOES IN MY CUPBOARD – BECAUSE THEY’RE GREAT FOR A LAST MINUTE SIDE DISH, SOUP OR RECIPE STARTER!
THIS SIDE DISH IS OFFICIALLY BEING ADDED TO MY LIST OF “MUST HAVE” HOLIDAY SIDE DISHES. NOT ONLY IS IT EASY & INEXPENSIVE TO MAKE, IT’S A MAJOR CROWD PLEASER. I’VE NEVER HAD MORE PEOPLE ASK FOR A RECIPE!
HOW TO UPGRADE INSTANT POTATOES
THE FIRST STEP OF THIS RECIPE IS TO UPGRADE YOUR INSTANT POTATOES. AKA, HOW TO MAKE YOUR STORE BOUGHT INSTANT MIX TASTE HOMEMADE!
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL WANT TO DO:
- USE CHICKEN BROTH INSTEAD OF WATER
- USE MILK OR HEAVY CREAM
- DOUBLE THE BUTTER
- ADD LOTS OF SALT AND PEPPER
- ADD CREAM CHEESE, SOUR CREAM OR SHREDDED CHEESE FOR EXTRA FLAVOR
FOR THIS RECIPE, YOU DON’T NEED CREAM CHEESE OR SOUR CREAM. BUT IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SPICE UP YOUR POTATOES, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRYING! I USED CHEDDAR CHEESE, BUT YOU CAN USE WHATEVER YOU LIKE.
HOW TO MAKE THE CASSEROLE
FIRST, YOU’LL WANT TO MIX SHREDDED CHEESE INTO THE POTATO MIXTURE. I LIKE USING MILD WHITE CHEDDAR BECAUSE IT’S SMOOTH, CREAMY & MELTS REALLY WELL. THE FLAVOR ISN’T OVERPOWERING EITHER.
I USED 2 PACKETS OF INSTANT MASHED POTATOES – THIS MADE ENOUGH FOR 6-8 PEOPLE. IF YOU’RE SERVING LESS PEOPLE, USE 1 PACKET. IF YOU’RE SERVING MORE, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PACKETS!
SPOON THE MIXTURE INTO A BAKING DISH. I USED THIS 9X13 INCH BAKING DISH FROM MY OUR PLACE BAKEWARE SET.
I USED 5 SLICES OF COOKED BACON – YOU CAN USE THE EASY MICROWAVE KIND, TURKEY BACON, OR EVEN VEGAN BACON. WHICH REMINDS ME – YOU CAN ALSO SUBSTITUTE VEGETABLE BROTH, DAIRY FREE CHEESE & VEGAN BUTTER IN THIS RECIPE!
PUT ABOUT 20 RITZ CRACKERS INTO A PLASTIC BAG. CRUSH THEM UP WITH YOUR HANDS – I LIKE LEAVING THEM ON THE CHUNKY SIDE FOR EXTRA CRUNCH. THEN THROW IN THE BACON – CHOPPED UP. AND ADD A TABLESPOON OF GARLIC SEASONING BLEND.
SPRINKLE THE CRUSHED RITZ CRACKERS ON TOP OF THE POTATOES. THEN, DRIZZLE 2 TABLESPOONS OF MELTED BUTTER ON TOP OF THE CASSEROLE.
YOU CAN MAKE THIS AHEAD OF TIME AND BAKE BEFORE SERVING. JUST COVER IN FOIL & THROW INTO THE OVEN WHEN YOU’RE READY. BAKE FOR 30 TO 40 MINUTES AT 350F. TO GET IT EXTRA CRISPY, REMOVE THE FOIL AND BAKE FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES TO GET THE RITZ CRACKER TOPPING BROWNED! SERVE WARM AND ENJOY!
DON’T FORGET TO SET OUT SOME BLACK PEPPER (I LIKE TO FRESHLY CRACK MINE) FOR SERVING!
SEE BELOW FOR THE EASY TO FOLLOW RECIPE FOR MY NEW FAVORITE CHEESY POTATO CASSEROLE WITH BUTTERY RITZ CRACKERS!
