Leftover Mashed Potato Casserole
Mashed Potato Casserole is an easy and delicious way to use up leftover mashed potatoes from your holiday dinner. The leftover potatoes are layered in a casserole dish with cheese, cooked ham, and a crispy breadcrumb topping. It’s a great way to take those leftovers and turn them into a brand new dish.
Sometimes making the actual holiday dinner is the easy part. The hard part is knowing what to do with all the leftovers! Yes, you can just reheat them but turning them into something new is always better and this leftover mashed potato casserole is a great way to do it.
We always end up with lots of mashed potatoes for the holiday meal – everyone thinks they can eat twice what they really can! Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, so this easy potato bake is the perfect way to use them all up. Once you add a few ingredients plus a crispy topping, those leftovers turn into a brand new meal.
What I love about this recipe is that you can easily adjust it based on what you have. So, you can swap the cooked ham for leftover Thanksgiving turkey or change the cheese to whatever you have in your fridge. It’s a flexible and easy side dish or main dish which is just what we all need after a big holiday celebration.
Ingredients
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese for the topping and filling
- Bread crumbs
- Plain leftover mashed potatoes
- All-purpose flour
- Salt and black pepper
- Large egg
- Cooked ham or speck cut into cubes – if you use prosciutto you may want to use a little less salt.
- Shredded Fontina or Gruyere cheese, be sure to shred your own cheese from a block, packaged shredded cheese always contains additives which can effect how the cheese melts and taste.
- Butter – melted and cooled, I use salted butter. If you use unsalted you should add another 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
Instructions
Mix Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs in a small bowl and set it aside. In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, flour, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and egg.
Spread half of the mashed potato mixture in the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the cubed ham over the top.
Followed by the shredded cheese. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining potatoes on top of the cheese.
Then sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top. Drop dots of butter on top of the breadcrumbs.
Bake the potato casserole until the top is golden brown. Let it sit at room temperature for five to ten minutes before serving.
Variations
Mashed Potatoes: We keep our potatoes pretty plain, but any kind of leftover mashed potatoes – like ones made with sour cream, butter, cream, and other add-ins like herbs and cheese – will work. If yours are very cheesy and rich, you might want to cut back on the added cheese for the casserole.
Meat: I love cooked ham in this dish, but leftover cubed turkey or roast chicken is wonderful, too. Cooked and crumbled bacon or pancetta would be great, also.
Cheese: Instead of Gruyere or Fontina cheese, try shredded sharp cheddar cheese, provolone, or Swiss cheese, or any other good melting cheese for a different flavor.
Garnishes: Feel free to top the baked casserole with sliced green onions, scallions, chives, or fresh chopped parsley for garnish.
You might want to double the number of potatoes you mash this year just so you have enough to make this leftover mashed potato recipe the next day! It’s a cozy and satisfying dish – Enjoy!
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Leftover Mashed Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons bread crumbs
- 3 cups mashed potatoes*
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 dashes black pepper
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup cubed cooked ham or speck (100 – 150 grams)
- 1 cup shredded Fontina/Gruyere
- 1-2 tablespoons butter
*It's best to use mashed potatoes that haven't been dressed but those would work also.
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly grease and flour a medium 8 ½ x 4½ inch (21 x 11 cm) baking dish.
- In a small bowl mix together the parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Set aside.
- In a large bowl add the mashed potatoes, flour, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and egg. Mix to combine.
- Transfer ⅔ of the mixture to the prepared baking dish, and spread it evenly on the bottom and up half the sides of the pan.
- Sprinkle the cubed ham or speck on top, top with the shredded cheese, top with small spoonfuls of the remaining mashed potato mixture on top. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture on top and dot with butter. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 35-45 minutes or until browned on top. Let sit 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Hi there
This is a great idea.
Is there a way to make this without the bread crumbs?
Hi Dena, you could leave it out, you might need an extra tablespoon of flour to help bind it though. Let me know how it goes. Take care!
This was really good! I had leftover mashed red potatoes and ham that I had smoked in my smoker. My husband told me to make sure I hang onto that recipe, lol
Hi Kristin, thanks so much, so glad you both enjoyed it. I’m sure it was really good with the smoked ham. Take care!
This is gateau! I’ve been looking for this recipe ever since we moved back from Italy. My friend there would make this dish for the office lunch. It’s just comfort food. Thank you!
Hi Linda, thanks so much, so glad I could help out. Take care!
Really good recipe! I eyeballed measurements, used parm and cheddar cheeses, added blanched broccoli to the ham layer and it was loved by all.
Hi Kacie, thanks so much, so glad you and everyone enjoyed it. Take care!
I made this last night for dinner, and we loved it. I would give it a solid 4.5. However, I took squares of the leftover casserole this morning and fried it in a combination of butter and bacon fat, and it was AMAZING! “I think you need to make that again. SOON. (my daughter)”
I think next time, I will try it with either kielbasa or taco meat!
Hi Debbi, thanks glad you enjoyed it and your daughter also. Take care and have a great week!
I made a couple of alterations to this recipe because of what I had available. I used breakfast sausage instead of the ham, and cheddar cheese instead of Gruyere. I fed farmers who were busy combining, and they all loved it! It was a perfect meal to take to the field and easy for them to eat on the go, so it will be on my regular meal rotation from now on!
Hi Kathy, thanks so much, great substitutions. Glad the farmers enjoy it. Take care.