This creamy, comforting Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole is ready to add some spook to your Halloween table!
Well, friends, we’re officially headed into the season of cute food. Over the next few months, every food blogger in town will be working hard to figure out how they can turn a meatball into a monster, spaghetti into brains, and a slice of pizza into a Santa hat.
Typically, I’m not one for “cute food.” I much prefer plain old, unfussy, delicious food. But I have to admit I find myself getting swept up in the holiday preparations this time of year. I mean, who can resist a jack o’lantern cupcake or a pilgrim hat made out of cookies? There’s something incredibly fun and whimsical about transforming standard, run of the mill ingredients into a beloved holiday symbol.
Today, the #SundaySupper team is kicking off the holiday food madness with Idaho® potato recipes decorated in a spooky Halloween theme. I have to admit, at first the idea seemed challenging. After all, it’s potatoes. I’ve had them baked, fried, roasted, and smothered in cheese and bacon, but I’ve never had them “spookified.”
All it took was a short brainstorm session with the Mr. before I realized there were actually quite a few ways to dress up this pantry staple. We tossed a few different ideas around before settling on this creepy crawly Loaded Mashed Potato Spider Web Casserole.
Now, as much as I’m getting into this cute food thing, I’m never willing to sacrifice looks for taste. Luckily, this casserole tastes as good as it looks. Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes are loaded with cheese and covered in a sour cream spider web. Bits of crumbled bacon not only add their savory crunch, but also make it appear the spider has had quite a successful day of luring unfortunate souls into his web. The result is a loaded potato pie that’s just as comfortable at a Halloween party as it is on your Thanksgiving table (maybe nix the spider web for that one). However you choose to serve it, this is pure carby comfort food.
The other good news about this dish? It’s a cinch to make. You don’t have to spend hours with tweezers and a piping bag to make something fun for your next party! This spider web pattern only requires a zip lock bag, a dollop of sour cream, and about two minutes. I used a cheapo dollar store plastic spider as the topper on this casserole, but you can also use an olive ring to make an edible one. Simply use one olive ring for the body, then slice the rings in half and arrange them around the body for legs.
I can’t wait for you to check out all of the other ways the #SundaySupper team has decorated their Idaho® potatoes this week. It’s a virtual spud costume party up in here! From zombies to brains to mummies, you’ll be shocked at all the ways you can incorporate potatoes into your Halloween party menu.
You can find more creepy crawly Halloween ideas on our Pinterest board. To learn more about Idaho® Potatoes, check out their website, and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more taterspiration! <<That’s right. I just made up a new word.
Spooky Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Idaho® potatoes
- 1 Tablespoon salt
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 3/4-1 cup milk or half and half
- Additional salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 ounces cheddar or colby jack cheese, shredded
- 8 slices bacon
- 1/3 cup sour cream
Instructions
Recipe by NeighborFood
This post is sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission. All opinions are my own.
Hey Courtney! What a great recipe! I love that it is classy yet fun.
I wanted to reach out and let you know that I have included this recipe in a round-up post of my favorite 13 Halloween dinners for kids! It is a really great, simple recipe that I’m sure my readers will love.
All credit has gone right to you, of course. I did include a single image from your post. If this is a problem, please let me know!
I would love it if you checked the post out. You can find it here: https://familiesandfinance.com/easy-halloween-dinners
Thanks so much for including me in the roundup and for letting me know!
I think the recipe should say 1 tsp salt not 1 tbsp. Also, I only needed 1/4 cup milk to get a good mashed potato consistency. Very easy, fun, and tasty (with less salt).
I think you’re right! Thank you for the catch! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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You most definitely did not sacrifice taste when you created this adorable dish! I love how the bacon resembles the spider’s conquests!!
This is SO FUN! Yay for halloween and taters!
Excuse me, but there’s a spider in my potatoes!
Looks great!! 🙂
Perfect creepy dish!
Courtney, This is fun and could be a hearty dish for any Halloween party. I love how you could change the sour cream decoration to a turkey or Santa or anything really for a very cute dish to take to any holiday party!
I adore this! Such a smart idea to make the sour cream spiderweb – fabulous!!!!
The spider is creeping me out, but the casserole sounds amazing 🙂 !!
This is the coolest casserole I’ve ever seen. I love it!
Absolutely adorable! And your spiderweb completely puts mine to shame!
I will be making this for dinner some time soon … I love all things loaded mashed potatoes!
Me too! They’re definitely a comfort food of mine.
I would love to make this! I was going to do something similar until I saw your title where we sign up – but I like you presentation of it so much better than what I was thinking!!
Great minds think alike! 🙂
Love me some loaded tater casserole. That spider is creepy.
I know right?? They came in a package, and my husband strung one up in our doorway as a fun little trick. Because apparently he doesn’t care if I have a heart attack. 😛
Your casserole is beautiful and I bet it tastes amazing!!
I love your presentation perfect for Halloween!
I’d happily dive into your spider web mashed potatoes like nobody’s business. That sour cream spiderweb is brilliant!
Renee – Kudos Kitchen
My hubby would be ALL over this casserole. Who am I kidding? So would I!!!
This is awesome! Loaded potato deliciousness that is perfectly spooky for Halloween. Love it!
I would attack that casserole with a giant spoon. Yum!