Smoked Cheddar & Bacon Mashed Potatoes
Serves: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2½ lbs Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 4–6 strips thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese
- ½ cup whole milk (or heavy cream for extra richness)
- 4 tbsp butter
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1–2 green onions, finely chopped (for topping)
Instructions:
- Boil the Potatoes:
Add potato chunks to a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes. Drain well.
- Cook the Bacon:
While potatoes boil, fry up the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove and crumble once cooled. Reserve a tablespoon of the bacon grease for bonus flavor.
- Mash It Up:
Return drained potatoes to the pot. Add butter, milk (or cream), and the reserved bacon grease. Mash until smooth or slightly chunky—your call.
- Mix in the Good Stuff:
Stir in the shredded smoked cheddar and most of the crumbled bacon (save a little for topping). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with Swagger:
Spoon into a serving dish, top with remaining bacon, extra cheese, and green onions if using. Serve hot.
🥄 Cowboy Tip:
Want to really turn heads? Toss the whole finished batch into a cast iron skillet, sprinkle extra cheddar on top, and broil for 3–5 minutes until bubbly and golden.
