Cheddar Bacon Potato Casserole: A Comforting, Crowd-Pleasing Classic 🥔🧀🥓
Who doesn’t love a warm, cheesy casserole straight out of the oven? This Cheddar Bacon Potato Casserole is the ultimate comfort food that combines crispy bacon, gooey cheddar cheese, and perfectly roasted potatoes in one irresistible dish. Whether you’re looking for a side dish that’s sure to wow at a family gathering or a hearty meal to feed your crew, this casserole has got you covered.
The best part? It’s super simple to make, budget-friendly, and delivers that “comfort food” vibe in every bite!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Minimal ingredients: With just a few staple items like potatoes, bacon, and cheddar cheese, you’ll be able to whip this dish up in no time.
- Budget-friendly: At around $4.04 for the entire casserole, it’s easy on the wallet, making it perfect for feeding a family or a crowd without breaking the bank.
- Irresistible flavor: The combination of crispy bacon and melty cheddar cheese over soft, seasoned potatoes is pure comfort food heaven.
Let’s dive into the recipe!
🛒 Ingredients Breakdown:
- 4 medium potatoes (from a 5 lb bag) – $1.20
- 6-8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (from a 12 oz package) – $1.66
- 1/2-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (from an 8 oz bag) – $1.00
- 2 tbsp butter (from a 1 lb stick) – $0.18
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- Salt, pepper, and garlic powder (from your pantry)
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Prep & Roast the Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Slice the potatoes thinly (about 1/4-inch thick) and place them in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Season generously with salt, pepper, and a dash of garlic powder. Scatter the onion slices over the top. Place the dish in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes, until the potatoes are just starting to soften and become golden around the edges.
2. Cook & Crumble the Bacon: While the potatoes are roasting, cook your bacon in a skillet over medium heat until it’s crispy. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then crumble it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
3. Top with Bacon & Cheddar: Remove the potatoes from the oven. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon evenly over the top of the potatoes, followed by the shredded cheddar cheese. Don’t be shy with that cheese – we want it nice and gooey!
4. Bake Again: Pop the casserole back into the oven for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. You’ll know it’s ready when the kitchen smells amazing and the top has that perfect golden-brown crust.
5. Serve & Enjoy: Let the casserole cool for a couple of minutes before serving, and then dig into this warm, cheesy, bacon-filled goodness! Pair it with a crisp salad or some roasted veggies for a balanced meal, or enjoy it as a standalone side dish at any gathering.
Pro Tips for Perfect Cheddar Bacon Casserole:
- Make it your own: Want to mix things up? Try adding chopped green onions, a little sour cream, or even a sprinkle of paprika for extra flavor.
- Add more veggies: Throw in some broccoli florets, diced bell peppers, or even mushrooms to make this casserole heartier and more nutritious.
- Meal prep magic: This casserole keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave, and it tastes just as good as the day you made it.
Why You’ll Make This Again (and Again):
This Cheddar Bacon Potato Casserole is the perfect blend of cheesy, savory, and hearty. It’s great for busy weeknights, potlucks, or even as a side dish for a special family dinner. Plus, the crispy bacon and gooey cheese take humble potatoes to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Got leftovers? You can repurpose them into a breakfast hash by tossing them into a skillet with some scrambled eggs. Trust me, you’ll want to make this dish a regular in your rotation!
Don’t forget to share your delicious creation with us! Mention @Budget101com or tag #Budget101.
Cheddar Bacon Casserole Print Now
Cheddar Bacon Potato Casserole
Equipment
- Mandoline Slicer
Ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes
- 6 slices bacon
- ½ cup cheddar cheese (shredded )
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 onion (sliced)
- Salt & Pepper
- dash garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice the potatoes and layer them in a 9x13 baking dish. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Top with onion slices.4 medium potatoes1 onionSalt & Pepperdash garlic powder2 tbsp butter
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are nearly tender.
- In the meantime, cook the bacon until crispy and crumble it.6 slices bacon
- Remove the potatoes from the oven and sprinkle the crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese on top.1/2 cup cheddar cheese
- Bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
You can swap out cheddar for other cheeses like mozzarella or pepper jack for added flavor.
If you altered the ingedients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cooking/baking time.
Nutrition
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This recipe was so easy to follow, and it turned out delicious! I made a couple of adjustments by adding sautéed onions and a little garlic powder to the sauce for more depth of flavor. My kids don’t always love scalloped potatoes, but they were asking for seconds! I think I’ll be using this recipe as a base and trying out different flavors each time.
I was looking for a new side dish, and this casserole hit the spot! 🧀 For those wanting to make it even heartier, I added diced ham, and it worked so well with the bacon and cheddar.
This Cheddar Bacon Potato Casserole is comfort food at its finest—crispy bacon, melty cheddar, and tender potatoes all baked to perfection. Simple, budget-friendly, and sure to please any crowd!