These cheesy smashed potatoes with bacon are the perfect appetizer recipe or side dish recipe the whole family will enjoy. Tender baby potatoes that are boiled then tossed in an olive oil and seasoning mixture, smashed and baked. Then shredded cheese and crispy bacon are added for additional flavor.
Potatoes are the ultimate if you ask me. They make perfect side dishes or appetizers, and that’s perfectly illustrated with this recipe. These smashed potatoes are full of two of the greatest things you can ever add to potatoes of any kind – cheese and bacon – and they serve equally well as a side or appetizer. I’ve been making these for years, and I use them to switch things up regularly. I’ve made them as part of breakfast or dinner, and I’ve brought them to my fair share of parties and potlucks, too. They’re always well-received, and I rarely have leftovers.
Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
These potatoes are boiled until tender, then mixed with seasonings and garlic. After that, I smash them, bake and top them with cheese and bacon, and I serve them up. It’s a simple recipe that doesn’t take a lot of time or effort but delivers a huge amount of flavor. And honestly, after mentioning cheese and bacon, what’s left to say. Except, “Try it!”
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Smashed Potato Recipe
- They are super easy to make and only take a few simple ingredients.
- They are great to serve as an appetizer or a side dish to all your favorites like beef, chicken, pork, and fish.
- Potatoes, cheese, and bacon are always a delicious combination everyone will enjoy.
Cheesy Smashed Potatoes Ingredients
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make these seasoned, cheesy, and bacon-loaded smashed potatoes. You’ll find everything you need easily at your local grocery store. The actual measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Baby potatoes
- Vegetable broth and water enough to cover the potatoes
- Bacon, cooked until crispy, then crumble
- Olive oil
- Cloves garlic, minced
- Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
How to Make Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
Making these potatoes is a relatively simple process, and it takes less than an hour from start to finish.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside.
Step 2: Boil the Potatoes
Add potatoes to a large pot and cover with vegetable broth. Add water to totally submerge the potatoes if needed. Boil over medium heat until the potatoes are fork-tender – about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and place them on a baking sheet to cool a bit.
Step 3: Cook the Bacon
Cook the bacon until crispy. Then, crumble it up and set aside.
Step 4: Season the Potatoes
Combine olive oil, minced garlic, and seasonings in a medium mixing bowl. Then, add the potatoes and stir to coat.
Step 5: Smash the Potatoes
Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and cover them with a piece of parchment paper. Then, place another baking sheet on top of the parchment paper and press down firmly to smash the potatoes to about ½ inch.
Step 6: Bake
Remove the top baking sheet and parchment paper. Then, pour the remaining oil mixture over the potatoes and bake them for 15 minutes. Flip and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
Step 7: Add Cheese and Bacon
Remove the potatoes from the oven and top them with cheese and bacon. Then, bake for another couple of minutes until the cheese has melted. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Don’t boil your potatoes for too long. You want them tender but not falling apart.
- The easiest way to smash the potatoes is to place a layer of parchment paper over them and press down with a baking sheet. It allows you to smash all the potatoes at once.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven as soon as the cheese has melted. You don’t want to cook them until smushy – just long enough to melt the cheese.
Variations
- Any variety of baby potatoes will work for this recipe.
- Use our favorite cheese for this recipe.
- For a spicy version of this recipe, add red pepper flakes to the oil and seasoning mixture.
What to Serve with Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
These potatoes make excellent appetizers or a fun side dish. Their classic potato, cheese, and bacon combo makes them perfect with all kinds of dishes. Try things like:
- Hamburgers
- Hot dogs
- Steaks
- Baked, seared, or fried chicken
- Pork chops
- Pork roast
- Your other favorite appetizers
In addition, these potatoes are great when topped with sour cream and chives.
Recipe FAQ
What is a smashed potato?
A smashed potato is one that’s been boiled until tender but not falling apart and then smashed down into a flattened dish.
Can smashed potatoes be made ahead of time?
You can boil the potatoes, coat them in oil, and smash them down a day or two before you’re ready to bake them with the added cheese and bacon.
Why are my smashed potatoes falling apart?
If you boiled your potatoes for too long, they’ll fall apart when you try to smash them.
Can cheesy potatoes be made ahead of time?
You can make them partway ahead of time. Boil them, coat them in oil, and smash them. Then, store them for up to two days before baking them with cheese and bacon.
Can cheesy potatoes be frozen?
Yes, they can. They’ll keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
Store these potatoes for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat, place the smashed potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 350 until heated through and the cheese is bubbly.
Try This Delicious Cheesy Smashed Potatoes Recipe
These cheesy smashed potatoes are seasoned to perfection and loaded with melted cheese and crispy bacon. They’re perfect for appetizers or a side dish, and they’re so easy to make, you’ll have no trouble making up a batch. You will have trouble not eating them all, though! Give this one a try, and I know you’re going to love it.
More Delicious Potato Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Cheesy Funeral Potatoes –Â Loaded with shredded potatoes, two types of cheese, chicken soup and sour cream, this potato casserole recipe is also topped with a Ritz cracker topping.
Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup –Â Made with broccoli florets, red potatoes, cheddar cheese all in a creamy soup broth for an easy weeknight dinner everyone will enjoy.
Potato Salad –Â The perfect side dish that pairs deliciously with everything from hot dogs and burgers to low and slow grilling recipes.
Cheesy Garlic Scalloped Potatoes, from Great Grub, Delicious Treats, are a favorite side dish recipe that you’ll enjoy as well.
Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds baby potatoes, rinsed
- 32 ounce vegetable broth and water enough to cover the potatoes
- 5 strips bacon, cooked until crispy, them crumble
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425° and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set aside.
- In a medium pot, add potatoes and cover with vegetable broth and water, if needed.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain and place potatoes on a cutting board or on a baking sheet to cool a bit.
- Cook bacon until crispy, then crumble and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add olive oil, minced garlic, and seasonings. Stir to combine.
- Place the potatoes into the bowl and stir to coat.
- Next, place the potatoes on a baking sheet.
- Cover the potatoes with a piece of parchment paper and then using another baking sheet, place it on the parchment paper and smash the potatoes to about ½ inch thick (this is a quick way to smash all the potatoes at once).
- Remove the top baking sheet and the parchment paper and pour the remaining olive oil mixture over the potatoes.
- Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes then flip the potatoes over and cook for another 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, top with shredded cheese and bacon.
- Place back in the oven for another couple minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Add any additional favorite potato toppings then serve,
Notes
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