Loaded Mashed Potatoes

If you love the comfort of a baked potato, this loaded mashed potatoes recipe will be your new favorite potato side dish. It is creamy, cheesy, packed with bacon, and comes together easily, whether you start with instant potatoes, fresh russet potatoes, or leftover mashed potatoes. This is one of the best ways to add extra flavor to your dinner plate, and it works for everything from a quick weeknight meal to your holiday table.

I love potatoes, don’t you? I grew up in an era when dinner meant three things on your plate: Meat, Vegetables, and Starch. The hubby grew up the same way. To me, if there isn’t starch on the plate, I feel like I am forgetting something. I typically have a box of instant potato flakes in the pantry for nights when I am running behind. The first time I made this recipe, that was what I used. Since then, I have made this recipe countless times, and we tweak it with what we have on hand.

Mashed Loaded Potatoes

These Loaded Mashed Potatoes take a simple favorite and turn it into a side dish everyone gets excited about. Creamy mashed potatoes are stirred together with smoky bacon pieces, cool sour cream, fresh green onion, chives, and plenty of melty Colby Jack cheese. Every bite is rich, comforting, and packed with flavor, like a fully loaded baked potato in cozy, scoopable form.

Fresh Potatoes vs Potato Flakes

Potato flakes are the quickest option since they only need hot water and a stir, making them perfect when you need a fast side dish. Fresh raw potatoes take more time but offer better flavor and nutrition, especially Yukon Golds or russet potatoes, which have a high starch content and create lighter, fluffier mashed potatoes. You can peel them fully, partially, or not at all. If you keep the skin on, scoring it with a knife helps when mashing. A potato ricer is also a great tool because it creates small “rice-like” pieces that prevent overmixing, helping you avoid gluey potatoes and making it easier to blend in all your loaded mix-ins.

Ingredients in this Loaded Mashed Potatoes Recipe

You will find complete measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Mashed potatoes – Use prepared mashed potatoes made from russet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, yellow potatoes, instant flakes, or leftovers. Russets and Yukon Golds have a high starch content, making them naturally fluffy, while leftovers are an easy shortcut.
• Real bacon pieces – They add salty, smoky flavor with no extra cooking. Freshly cooked crispy bacon is always a great choice, though.
• Sour cream – Gives the potatoes a creamy, tangy boost. You can add a little cream cheese, heavy cream, or unsalted butter for extra richness.
• Green onion – Adds a fresh bite that balances the creamy potatoes. If needed, use extra chives instead.
• Chives – Offer mild onion flavor and color. Green onions can be used in their place.
• Shredded cheese –  Melts into the warm potatoes for added creaminess. Colby Jack works well, but sharp cheddar cheese or any melty blend from the grocery store is a great substitute.

How to Make Loaded Mashed Potatoes

If you are making potatoes from scratch, place potatoes into a large pot, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until fork-tender. Drain, return them to the pot, and mash potatoes with a potato masher.

If you are using instant potatoes or leftover mashed potatoes, simply prepare or reheat them according to the package or your preference.

Stir in the sour cream, real bacon pieces, shredded cheese, green onions, and chives into the hot potatoes.

Mix just until everything is combined and the cheese melts slightly from the warmth of the potatoes.

Spoon the potatoes into a casserole dish or baking dish if you prefer a nice presentation. Top with a little extra cheese or a sprinkle of green onions. Serve warm.

This potato recipe works no matter what kind of potatoes you start with. You can prepare them on the stovetop, in the microwave, or even use leftover potatoes from the slow cooker. If you make mashed potatoes often, this is a great way to bring new life to them without extra work.

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this recipe for mashed loaded potatoes, make sure you can find it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go.

More Potato Recipes to Love

If you love potatoes like we love potatoes, check out some of my favorites before you go! When it comes to a loaded potato, I have some clever recipes: Reuben Loaded Baked Potatoes, Taco Loaded Baked Potatoes, and even Chicken a la King Loaded Baked Potatoes. If you have never tried my Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, you need to, and if sweet potatoes are your thing, give these mashed sweet potatoes a try. Roasted Parmesan Wedges made in the air fryer are always a win, as is this Canadian Poutine and this recipe for New Potatoes and Peas. Find all of my Potato Recipes here and all of my side dishes here.

These loaded mashed potatoes taste like the coziest baked potato but are easier to serve for a crowd. They are fast, comforting, and always a hit on the holiday table or with any weeknight meal. Give them a try the next time you need a delicious potato recipe that everyone will love.

This recipe was originally posted on May 22, 2015. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on November 21, 2025.