Description
Creamy paula deen mashed potato bake delivers comfort on a plate with rich, cheesy goodness. Southern-style potatoes combine classic ingredients for a satisfying side dish you’ll crave at family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups frozen hash browns
- 1 package (7.6 oz/216 g) butter & herbed mashed potato mix
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 stick (113 g/½ cup) butter
- 2 cups French-fried onion rings
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- Hydration: Bring water to a rolling boil in a large pot, then add frozen hash browns and cook for 5 minutes until partially thawed. Drain thoroughly using a colander, pressing gently to remove excess moisture.
- Blending: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine drained hash browns with mashed potato mix. Fold in melted butter, softened cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and sour cream until ingredients are evenly integrated.
- Seasoning: Enhance the potato mixture with garlic salt, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring a balanced and robust flavor profile.
- Preparation: Grease a 2-quart casserole dish with butter or cooking spray. Smoothly transfer the potato mixture into the dish, using a spatula to create an even surface.
- Initial Baking: Place the casserole in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 35-45 minutes until edges turn golden and the center is thoroughly heated.
- Crispy Topping: Sprinkle French-fried onion rings generously across the surface. Return to the oven for an additional 5-8 minutes, allowing the onion rings to become crisp and deep golden brown.
Notes
- Drain Thoroughly: Press hash browns gently in colander to remove maximum moisture, preventing a soggy casserole texture.
- Cheese Temperature Tip: Ensure cream cheese and other dairy are at room temperature for smoother, more even mixing.
- Seasoning Balance: Taste mixture before baking and adjust salt levels carefully, as cheese and butter already contribute sodium.
- Crispy Topping Trick: Watch onion rings closely during final baking to achieve perfect golden-brown crunch without burning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 487
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 914 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 82 mg