Cheesy Shredded Potato Bake Recipe

The Best Cheesy Shredded Potato Bake Recipe for Comfort Food Fans

Cheesy shredded potato bake reimagines humble spuds into a mouthwatering culinary masterpiece that elevates comfort food to an art form.

Crispy golden edges and creamy interiors make this dish irresistibly tempting for hungry families and weekend gatherings.

Rich, melted cheese creates a luxurious blanket over tender potato shreds, promising warmth and satisfaction in every forkful.

Layers of carefully seasoned ingredients build complex flavors that dance across your palate with each delightful bite.

Textural contrasts between crunchy surfaces and smooth, velvety centers define this crowd-pleasing side dish that never fails to impress.

Simple ingredients combine to produce something far greater than their individual parts, turning an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience.

Home cooks of all skill levels can confidently tackle this crowd-pleasing recipe with guaranteed delicious results.

Why Cheesy Shredded Potato Bake Is Comfort Food Goals

  • Savor Cheesy Comfort: This potato bake delivers ultimate comfort food with its rich, melty cheese and crispy golden top that promises pure indulgence in every single bite.
  • Quick and Effortless Preparation: The recipe transforms simple ingredients into a stunning side dish using basic kitchen tools like a box grater or food processor, making it accessible for home cooks of all skill levels.
  • Texture Paradise: Combining soft, creamy potato shreds with crispy cheese edges creates a delightful contrast that makes each forkful exciting and satisfying, elevating a humble potato dish into something extraordinary.
  • Smart Ingredient Technique: Using pre-baked potatoes with skin on adds extra flavor and nutrition, while sautéing shallots and garlic builds deep, complex undertones that transform this from an ordinary potato bake into a gourmet experience.

All the Goodness You’ll Need Inside

Main Ingredients:

Potato Ingredients:
  • Baked Potatoes: Cooled potatoes with skin provide hearty base and rustic texture for the dish.
  • Sour Cream: Creamy ingredient that adds richness and helps bind the potato mixture.
Cheese Ingredients:
  • Cheddar Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Sharp and tangy cheeses that provide melty, golden topping and deep flavor profile.
Aromatic Ingredients:
  • Shallot, Garlic: Fragrant alliums that build a savory, complex base flavor for the potato bake.
Seasoning Ingredients:
  • Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the overall taste of the dish.
Binding Ingredients:
  • Butter: Adds richness and helps sauté aromatics while providing smooth cooking medium.

How to Layer and Bake to Cheesy Perfection

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatics

In a small pan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add shallots and cook until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Remove from heat.

Step 3: Shred Potatoes

Using a box grater or food processor, grate the cooled baked potatoes, keeping the skin on for added texture and nutrition.

Step 4: Mix Potato Filling

In a large mixing bowl, combine:
  • Sour cream
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Sautéed shallots and garlic

Gently fold in shredded potatoes, maintaining their light and fluffy texture.

Step 5: Assemble and Bake

Transfer potato mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheddar and parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top turns golden brown and crispy.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Let the potato bake cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy this creamy, cheesy side dish hot from the oven.

Tips to Get That Top Golden and Crispy

  • Potato Prep Magic: Use fully cooled baked potatoes to ensure the best shredding texture and prevent mushy results.
  • Cheese Layer Trick: Grate cheese freshly for maximum melting potential and more vibrant flavor compared to pre-shredded options.
  • Gentle Mixing Method: Fold potato mixture carefully to maintain the delicate shredded texture, avoiding over-mixing which can make the dish dense.
  • Moisture Control: Pat potatoes dry before shredding to prevent excess liquid and ensure a crispy, golden-brown top.
  • Cheese Distribution Hack: Sprinkle cheese evenly across the surface for consistent melting and a beautiful golden crust that looks professionally prepared.

Keep It Warm or Chill It for Later

  • Refrigerate: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, keeping the potatoes moist and fresh.
  • Reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating. For a crispier top, place in a preheated 350℉ oven for 10-15 minutes, covering with foil to prevent excessive browning.
  • Freeze: Wrap the cooled potato bake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, which helps maintain the dish's original texture and flavor.

What Complements This Potato Dish Well

  • Craft a Crisp White Wine Companion: Pair this creamy potato bake with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc, whose bright acidity cuts through the rich cheesiness and complements the dish's subtle garlic undertones.
  • Select a Hearty Meat Sidekick: Serve alongside roasted chicken or grilled steak, as the potato bake's cheesy texture and savory profile create a perfect match with tender, seasoned proteins.
  • Boost with Fresh Green Salad: Add a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the dish's richness, providing a crisp, tangy contrast that refreshes the palate between bites of the cheesy potato bake.
  • Create a Rustic Herb Garnish: Sprinkle fresh chopped chives or parsley on top just before serving to introduce a bright, green element that adds visual appeal and a subtle herbaceous note to the comforting potato dish.

Fun Ingredient Swaps to Change It Up

  • Herb-Infused Potato Casserole: Elevate the classic recipe by adding fresh chopped rosemary, thyme, and chives to the potato mixture. The herbs will bring a vibrant, earthy flavor that complements the rich cheesy base.
  • Bacon and Green Onion Potato Bake: Crisp up some bacon pieces and sprinkle them throughout the potato mixture. Fold in sliced green onions for a zesty, smoky variation that adds depth and crunch to the dish.
  • Spicy Jalapeño Cheese Potato Casserole: Dice fresh jalapeños and mix them into the potato blend for a kick of heat. Swap half the cheddar with pepper jack cheese to intensify the spicy profile and create a bold, exciting version of the original recipe.
  • Mediterranean-Style Potato Gratin: Replace cheddar with crumbled feta cheese and mix in sun-dried tomatoes and chopped kalamata olives. Sprinkle some dried oregano for an authentic Mediterranean flavor that transforms the humble potato bake.
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Cheesy Shredded Potato Bake Recipe

Cheesy Shredded Potato Bake Recipe


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4.8 from 17 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Creamy Cheesy Shredded Potato Bake brings comfort and richness to family dinner tables with golden-brown edges and irresistible layers of melted cheese. Hearty potatoes nestled between sharp cheddar and smooth cream create a satisfying side dish that draws everyone closer to share warmth and deliciousness.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 3 large russet potatoes
  • 2 ½ cups freshly shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 1 ½ cups sour cream

Dairy and Seasoning:

  • 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) salted butter
  • ½ cup (50 grams) grated parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup diced shallot
  • 1 clove garlic, minced

Spices:

  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Warm the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) and coat a 2-quart (1.9 liters) baking dish with a thin layer of cooking spray or butter.
  2. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat, gently sautéing finely chopped shallots until they become soft and translucent, approximately 4 minutes.
  3. Add minced garlic to the shallots and cook for an additional 30 seconds, then remove the pan from the heat source.
  4. Utilize a box grater or food processor to shred the pre-cooked potatoes, keeping the skin intact for added texture and nutrients.
  5. Combine sour cream, salt, black pepper, of sharp cheddar cheese, and the sautéed shallot-garlic mixture in a large mixing bowl.
  6. Carefully fold the shredded potatoes into the creamy mixture, ensuring an even distribution while maintaining the potato’s delicate texture.
  7. Transfer the potato mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating a light, even layer.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese evenly across the top of the potato mixture.
  9. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the surface turns a beautiful golden brown and the cheese becomes bubbly and slightly crisp.

Notes

  • Prep potatoes ahead by baking them in advance, allowing them to cool completely for easier shredding and better texture.
  • Grate potatoes with skin on for added nutrition, rustic appearance, and to prevent waste.
  • Sauté shallots and garlic slowly to develop a sweet, mellow flavor that enhances the entire dish’s depth.
  • Fold potato mixture gently to maintain the shredded texture, avoiding overworking which can make the dish dense.
  • Use a mix of cheddar and parmesan for a complex, rich cheese flavor with both creamy and sharp notes.
  • Bake until golden brown to create a crispy top layer that provides delightful contrast to the creamy interior.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 380 cal
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 680 mg
  • Fat: 28 g
  • Saturated Fat: 17 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 15 g
  • Cholesterol: 85 mg
Lucas Bennett

Lucas Bennett

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

Simple Everyday Recipes, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Creative Meal Planning, Recipe Testing and Improvement

Education

Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wisconsin

  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Practical culinary training, fundamental cooking techniques, meal planning, and using fresh, local ingredients.

Lake Superior College, Duluth, Minnesota

  • Program: Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems
  • Focus: Cooking methods that promote sustainability, farm-to-table practices, and eco-friendly meal creation.

Lucas Bennett’s cooking journey started in his parents’ kitchen, where he learned to prepare tasty, no-fuss meals from scratch. His culinary passion led him to Fox Valley Technical College, where he gained practical cooking skills.
He then expanded his focus on sustainability at Lake Superior College. Today, Lucas shares easy, approachable recipes designed to make cooking enjoyable and stress-free for everyone.

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