Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Name: Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1.5 kg potatoes (see notes (approx 6 med-large)); 60 g (1/4 cup) butter (melted); 120 g (1/2 cup) sour cream; 125 g (1/2 cup) milk; 80 g (1 cup) cheddar cheese (grated); 125 g cream cheese (softened to room temp); 2 tbs fresh chives (chopped); salt and pepper (to season); 20 g (1/4 cup) cheddar cheese (grated); 40 g (1/2 cup) parmesan cheese (grated); extra fresh chives (chopped)

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The ULTIMATE creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes with THREE types of cheese, sour cream and chives - simply the best kind of comfort food!

A delicious side dish to your favourite meat and seafood dinners.

Cheesy mashed potatoes in a serving dish.

There's regular mashed potatoes and then there's EPIC, cheesy, buttery and creamy baked mashed potatoes! These are NEXT LEVEL mashed potatoes.

Once you've made this version, you'll be hooked - I promise!

Serve them with your favourite meat dishes (think comforting lamb shanks, kid-approved devilled sausages, simple chicken or beef rissoles, or a mouthwatering homemade meat pie!).

Chives sprinkled over golden cheese topping.

Why You're Going To Love Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Simple ingredients - these cheddar mashed potatoes can be whipped up in no time at all... with ingredients you may already have at home.
Creamy and cheesy - this recipe calls for cheddar, parmesan and cream cheese, making it extra cheesy and PACKED full of flavour.
Crowd favourite - everyone loves a good mashed potato dish, and this one is no exception! Perfect for a plate to share, the sour cream and chives take it to the next level.
Kid-approved - kids absolutely LOVE this cheesy version of mashed potatoes.

What You Need

When you're looking for a comfort dish, and a budget friendly one that goes a long way, then cheesy mashed potatoes are a must do!

Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.

Ingredients set out in indivual containers on a bench top.

Potatoes - I used regular white potatoes for this recipe (you can use any potato variety that's suitable for mashing).
Butter - melted. Either salted or unsalted butter is fine to use.
Sour cream - full cream (not skim or light) is best. You can even make your own.
Milk - full cream (not skim or light) is best.
Cheddar cheese - preferably freshly grated, as this has better quality and texture than store-bought grated cheese, which has additives to prevent it from clumping.
Cream cheese - softened to room temp (I like using Philadelphia brand).
Chives - fresh and finely chopped.
Salt and pepper - to season.

For Sprinkling On Top

Cheddar cheese - once again, I recommend using freshly grated from a block, rather than pre-shredded cheese as the taste is much better.
Parmesan cheese - preferably freshly grated, if not, store-bought grated parmesan works is fine to use.
Extra chives - fresh and finely chopped.

Equipment Required

Only basic equipment is required to make this delicious cheesy mashed potatoes recipe!

You will need:

Large saucepan, stove top and oven;
Potato masher;
Cheese grater;
Baking dish - approx 22cm x 33cm (9 x 13 inch).

A dollop of mashed potatoes on a white plate with a gold fork.

Step By Step Instructions

Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.

Step 1 - Preheat And Prepare

Set oven temperature to 170 degrees Celsius (fan forced).

Grease a large 22cm x 33cm (9 x 13 inch) baking dish. Set aside.

Peel the potatoes and then cut them into even sized pieces.

Step 2 - Boil The Potatoes

Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water.

Bring the potatoes to a boil and allow them to cook for 15 minutes or until ready (when they can be easily pierced with a fork).

Place the potatoes into a colander to drain well, then add them back to the saucepan.

Step 3 - Mix The Ingredients

Add the melted butter, sour cream, milk, cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese and chives.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Sour cream, grated cheese and chopped chives added to a saucepan filled with cooked potatoes.

Mash the potatoes until they're smooth and creamy (try not to over-mash though, or you could end up with gluggy potatoes).

Step 4 - Bake And Serve

Spoon the mashed potato into the prepped baking dish.

Mashed potatoes spooned into a baking dish.

Top it off with extra cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, and chives sprinkled over the top.

Cheese and chives sprinkled over baking dish.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden.

A dollop of cheesy mashed potatoes on a fork.

Expert Tips

Cheesy mashed potatoes makes a tasty side dish to serve with either meat, chicken or seafood, and the golden melted cheese makes it tempting for even the fussiest of eaters.

Choose a variety of potato that's best for mashing.
Use full cream (not light) sour cream and milk to get the creamiest possible texture.
Use freshly grated cheese for the best flavour.
Cut the potatoes into equal sizes so they cook evenly.
Boil the potatoes until completely soft before mashing them; this will give you the smoothest mashed potatoes.
Don’t 'over-mash' your mashed potatoes, as this can make them gluey and dense.
If you have any leftover cheesy mashed potatoes, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Freeze for up to 1 month (allow to defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating).

Golden cheese and chives on top of a potato dish.

FAQs

What is the trick to making good mashed potatoes?

The secret to making the perfect mashed potatoes is to start with starchy potatoes and boil them until very soft. Then, mash the potatoes with butter and milk (or cream) until creamy. Season the mashed potatoes generously with plenty of salt and pepper for a delicious flavour!

What not to do with mashed potatoes?

When making mashed potatoes, it's important to avoid over-mashing the potatoes, as this can make them gluey and gluggy. Just mash until smooth and creamy, and don't forget to season your mashed potatoes with salt and pepper for flavour!

Why do you recommend freshly grated cheddar?

If you want the ultimate cheesy cheddar flavour with your mashed potato dish, then I recommend using freshly grated cheddar. Of course, store bought shredded cheese certainly is convenient but it also contains preservatives such as potato starch and natamycin, meant to keep the shreds from clumping together in the bag. Freshly grated cheddar also melts better, and certainly tastes better too!