Creamy Potato Bake

Begin with instant mashed potatoes and add a few simple ingredients to make this easy and delicious loaded Creamy Potato Bake recipe in the oven!

Creamy Instant Mashed Potato Casserole

Save time and skip washing and peeling potatoes by using a package of instant potatoes as the base of the potato casserole. The best part of this side dish recipe is that nobody will know these are instant potatoes that only take ten minutes to whip up!

These potatoes have enough flavor that you never wish you had gravy. It makes a great new potato side dish idea for holidays, special family meals or Sunday dinner.

If you’re making a smaller holiday meal this year it’s easy to use a smaller pack of instant mashed potatoes and reduce the ingredients accordingly.

Lighter than our Farmhouse Mashed Potatoes or Crock Pot Make Ahead Potatoes, but just as rich the typical tongue will have no idea you whipped this casserole up with instant potatoes.

The cream cheese with onions and chives adds a flavor that’s similar to our Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes. Garlic could easily be added to this creamy potato make to feature that specific flavor. For a similar creamy feel, but with whole potatoes and more of a cheesy flavor try our Creamy Crock Pot Potatoes.

What Can I Add to Boxed Mashed Potatoes?

• Whipped cream cheese with chives
• Egg
• Onions
• Parsley
• Butter
• Smoked paprika

Tips for Making Creamy Potato Casserole

• We prefer smoked paprika to incorporate more of the smoky flavor, but regular paprika works well too.
• Regular, buttery or any fairly basic type of instant mashed potatoes work well.
• Make the recipe with 6 servings of potatoes that are 1/2 cup each for a total of 3 cups of mashed potatoes.
• Cheddar cheese and bacon bits can also be sprinkled on top or stirred in the mixture to make a loaded potato casserole.
• Using a mini-food processor to finely chop the onion creates a fine and consistent texture that can be tricky to do by hand.
• Sprinkle paprika as evenly as possible over the top of the casserole taking care to break up any clumps.

How to Make Creamy Potato Bake

Make instant mashed potatoes according to the directions on the package.

One caveat I prefer is to boil the water in a sauce pan and put the potatoes in the bottom of my mixing bowl. I pour the boiling water over the potatoes to save dirtying the saucepan.

Mix up the instant mashed potatoes.

Mix in the whipped cream cheese with chives. This makes the potatoes lighter and so much richer.

Using an electric mixer really speeds up the process.

Add an egg, the parsley and finely chopped onion and mix well.

Spread into a 1 or 1/2 quart casserole dish.

Dot with butter. I typically use a butter knife to slice a few pats off and spread them out over top of the potatoes.

Then sprinkle with paprika. We prefer the smoked paprika best.

A dusting of paprika really gives the potatoes a rustic look and flavor.

Bake in an oven that’s been preheated to 400°F for 20 to 30 minutes until the casserole browns a bit on top and bubbles on the sides. This gives the egg time to bake into the potatoes.

Serve warm with Oven Baked Pork Chops, Creamy Pork Chop Casserole or Pork and Sauerkraut Roll-ups. Another side dish that goes great with these potatoes are Bacon-Onion Green Beans.

Other Easy Potato Recipes:

• Citrus Glazed Sweet Potatoes are a classic on our Thanksgiving table and enjoyed throughout the year.
• Sausage and Potato Skillet is a one-skillet meal that is hearty and satisfies.
• Chicken would be great served over this creamy potato bake and it tastes great baked into this Chicken and Twice Baked Potato Casserole.
• Cheesy Bacon Potato Casserole adjust a classic potato casserole recipe to make bacon the star of the show!
• Air Fried Baby Potatoes are simple, but tender and perfectly complement so many meals.

Printable Creamy Potato Bake Recipe