Cheesy Mississippi Mud Potatoes Recipe

Irresistible Cheesy Mississippi Mud Potatoes Recipe

Creamy, crispy potatoes drenched in a heavenly cheesy Mississippi mud potatoes recipe are about to become your new comfort food obsession.

These delectable spuds pack a flavor punch that’ll make your taste buds dance with joy.

Layers of melted cheese, crispy bacon, and rich sour cream create a mouthwatering experience you won’t forget.

Each bite promises a perfect blend of textures and tastes that scream home-cooked goodness.

The secret lies in the simple yet magical combination of ingredients that transform ordinary potatoes into an extraordinary dish.

Crisp edges, gooey center, and a sprinkle of green onions make this recipe a true crowd-pleaser.

Prepare to fall in love with the most irresistible potato side dish that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Cheesy Mississippi Mud Potatoes: Reasons to Love Them

  • Dive into a classic side dish that combines crispy bacon, melted cheese, and tender potatoes for the ultimate comfort eating experience.
  • Minimal prep work and basic ingredients make this recipe a breeze for home cooks of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned kitchen pros.
  • Perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, and casual dinner parties where you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Swap ingredients or add personal touches like extra cheese or different herbs to make this recipe uniquely yours and suit various taste preferences.

What You’ll Need for Mississippi Mud Potatoes

Main Ingredients:
  • Potatoes: Starchy, hearty base that creates the foundation of this comforting side dish.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Sharp and melty cheese that adds rich, tangy flavor and creamy texture.
  • Bacon: Crispy, salty meat that provides a smoky and savory element to the dish.
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
  • Garlic Salt, Green Onions: These ingredients add depth and fresh, zesty notes to the potato dish.
Binding Ingredient:
  • Mayonnaise: Creamy condiment that helps bind all ingredients together and provides a smooth, rich consistency.

Kitchen Gear for Creamy, Cheesy Potatoes

  • 9×13-inch Baking Dish: Essential for mixing and baking the potatoes evenly.
  • Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining ingredients before transferring to the baking dish.
  • Cheese Grater: Needed to grate fresh cheddar cheese for maximum flavor.
  • Sharp Knife: Required for peeling and dicing potatoes, and slicing green onions.
  • Measuring Cup: Helps accurately measure the mayonnaise.
  • Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for mixing ingredients thoroughly.
  • Oven Mitts: Crucial for safely handling hot dishes during baking and removing from oven.

How to Make Mississippi Mud Potatoes

Step 1: Fire Up The Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 325°F (160°C) and get ready for potato magic.

Step 2: Gather Potato Goodness

In a spacious 9×13-inch baking dish, toss together these mouthwatering ingredients:
  • Potatoes (peeled and diced)
  • Cheddar cheese (freshly grated)
  • Garlic salt
  • Crispy bacon (crumbled)
  • Green onions (thinly sliced)

Step 3: Create Creamy Coating

Drizzle mayonnaise over the potato mixture and stir with enthusiasm until every morsel is luxuriously covered.

Step 4: Bake To Perfection

Slide the dish into the preheated oven and let it transform for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

You’ll know it’s ready when the potatoes turn tender and the top develops a gorgeous golden-brown crust.

Step 5: Rest And Relax

Once out of the oven, let the dish rest briefly to allow flavors to settle and temperature to cool slightly.

Step 6: Serve And Enjoy

Plate up these incredible Mississippi Mud Potatoes as an irresistible side dish that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Tips for Extra Cheesy Mud Potatoes

  • Cut potatoes into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
  • Partially cook bacon before crumbling to reduce risk of burning during long baking time and enhance overall flavor profile.
  • Grate cheese fresh for better melting and smoother coating on potatoes, creating a more luxurious and creamy texture.
  • Swap regular mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or light mayo for lower-calorie version, and use turkey bacon for reduced fat content.
  • Adjust garlic salt carefully to prevent over-salting; taste mixture before baking and add salt incrementally for optimal flavor.

Fun Ways to Switch Up Mississippi Mud Potatoes

  • Low-Carb Cauliflower Swap: Replace potatoes with cauliflower florets for a keto-friendly version that maintains the creamy, cheesy texture while reducing carbohydrate content.
  • Vegan Potato Bake: Substitute mayonnaise with cashew cream, use plant-based cheese, and replace bacon with smoky tempeh bits for a completely dairy-free and meat-free alternative.
  • Greek-Inspired Potato Casserole: Swap cheddar for feta cheese, add oregano and diced olives, and use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise to create a Mediterranean-style potato dish.
  • Spicy Southwestern Remix: Replace green onions with jalapeños, use pepper jack cheese, add chili powder, and include diced bell peppers for a zesty, southwest-inspired potato bake.

Serving Mississippi Mud Potatoes at Gatherings

  • Comfort Food Companion: Pair these cheesy potatoes with grilled barbecue chicken or smoked brisket for a hearty southern-style meal.
  • Brunch Brilliance: Serve alongside scrambled eggs and crispy bacon for a decadent weekend breakfast that will impress family and friends.
  • Potluck Perfect: Bring this dish to gatherings in a portable casserole dish, keeping it warm with a portable food warmer to maintain its delicious cheesy texture.
  • Party Pleaser: Garnish with extra crispy bacon bits and fresh green onion sprinkles right before serving to add a pop of color and extra crunch.

Storing Cheesy Potatoes for Freshness

  • Transfer cooled potatoes to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, keeping them fresh and tasty.
  • Carefully pack leftovers in a freezer-safe container or sealed freezer bag, which will maintain quality for 2-3 months.
  • Place portion in microwave-safe dish, cover with damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even warming.
  • Spread potatoes in a baking dish, cover with foil, warm at 350F for 15-20 minutes, then uncover for extra 5 minutes to restore crispy top layer.

FAQs

  • Why are they called Mississippi Mud Potatoes?

The name comes from the rich, hearty style of cooking popular in Mississippi, with ingredients layered densely like the thick mud along the Mississippi River delta.

  • Can I use different types of cheese?

Absolutely! While cheddar works best, you can experiment with monterey jack, colby, or a blend of cheeses for different flavor profiles.

  • Is mayonnaise essential in this recipe?

Yes, mayonnaise helps bind the ingredients, adds creaminess, and creates a rich, smooth texture that makes these potatoes incredibly delicious.

  • Can I make this dish vegetarian?

You can easily skip the bacon and use vegetarian bacon bits or simply omit it, though this will change the traditional flavor profile of the recipe.

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Cheesy Mississippi Mud Potatoes Recipe

Cheesy Mississippi Mud Potatoes Recipe


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4.5 from 15 reviews

  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Mississippi mud potatoes combine creamy russet potatoes with a rich blend of cheesy, bacon-studded goodness. Home cooks appreciate this hearty side dish that brings Southern comfort to dinner tables with irresistible flavors.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 67 cups potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 package (1 lb/454 g) bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cups (480 ml/16 oz) cheddar cheese, grated

Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:

  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced

Binding Ingredient:

  • 1 cup (240 ml/8 oz) mayonnaise

Instructions

  1. Carefully prepare a workspace with all necessary ingredients and tools, ensuring a clean, organized cooking environment.
  2. Thoroughly wash and peel potatoes, cutting them into uniform, bite-sized cubes to promote even cooking and consistent texture.
  3. Crisp bacon in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown and perfectly crunchy, then drain on paper towels and crumble into small, delicate pieces.
  4. Whisk mayonnaise in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a smooth base for coating the potato mixture with rich, creamy flavor.
  5. Gently fold diced potatoes into the mayonnaise, ensuring each potato chunk is completely and evenly covered with the creamy mixture.
  6. Incorporate shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, garlic salt, and freshly chopped green onions into the potato mixture, stirring gently to distribute ingredients uniformly.
  7. Transfer the seasoned potato blend into a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading the mixture evenly to create a consistent layer for optimal cooking.
  8. Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 325°F (163°C) and bake for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until potatoes become tender and the top develops a golden, crispy crust.
  9. Remove from the oven and allow the dish to rest for 5-10 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and the casserole to set before serving.
  10. Garnish with additional green onions if desired, and serve hot as a delectable side dish that promises to delight any crowd.

Notes

  • Customize Bacon Options: Swap regular bacon with turkey bacon or plant-based bacon alternatives for different dietary preferences or health considerations.
  • Enhance Dairy-Free Version: Replace mayonnaise and cheddar cheese with vegan alternatives like cashew-based cheese and plant-based mayo to create a lactose-free option.
  • Boost Potato Texture: Par-boil potatoes briefly before mixing to reduce overall baking time and ensure a crispier exterior while maintaining a creamy interior.
  • Elevate Flavor Profile: Experiment with additional seasonings like smoked paprika, dried herbs, or red pepper flakes to add depth and personalize the dish’s taste.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Side Dish, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 800 mg
  • Fat: 25 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 10 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Lena Martinez

Lena Martinez

Contributing Writer & Culinary Educator

Expertise

Southwestern and Latin American cuisines, Vegetarian and plant-based recipe development, Culinary education and community outreach ​

Education

Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM
Certificate in Culinary Arts

Emphasized Southwestern cuisine and sustainable cooking practices


Lena grew up surrounded by the colors, spices, and traditions of the Southwest – flavors that sparked her love for bold, honest cooking. After earning her Culinary Arts certificate at Santa Fe Community College, she made it her mission to teach home cooks how to create flavorful, plant-powered meals without the fuss.
Her recipes are packed with vibrant ingredients, simple steps, and the kind of heart that turns a regular meal into something you’ll want to share. Outside the kitchen, Lena spends her time wandering farmers’ markets, trading family recipes, and helping young chefs find their voice through food.

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