If you're looking for a side dish that can steal the show, this Loaded Baked Potato Casserole needs to be on your smoker. It's creamy, cheesy, loaded with bacon, and finished with fresh green onion for the perfect bite.
Instead of baking this casserole in the oven, we're taking it to the smoker at 225°F for an hour. The low and slow cook gives the potatoes plenty of time to get hot and bubbly while picking up that delicious smoky flavor.
Made with frozen hash browns, cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, and a simple seasoning blend, this is an easy smoked potato casserole that takes very little effort to put together.
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Why I Love This Recipe
- Smoked for extra flavor: Cooking it on the smoker adds a subtle smoky flavor you just can't get from the oven.
- Loaded with bacon and cheese: Because potatoes are always better when they're loaded up.
- Perfect for a crowd: This makes a hearty side dish for BBQs, holidays, potlucks, and game days.
Ingredients
- Frozen Hash Browns
- Sour Cream
- Cream Cheese
- Milk
- Butter
- Bacon
- Cheddar Cheese
- Salt Pepper Garlic Seasoning (or Ninjacue All Day Seasoning)
See recipe card for quantities.
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Instructions
Step 1: Make the Potato Mixture
In a large mixing bowl, combine the frozen hash browns, sour cream, softened cream cheese, milk, melted butter, shredded cheddar cheese, and seasoning.
Step 2: Add to a Cast Iron Skillet
Transfer the potato mixture into a cast iron skillet and spread it out into an even layer.
Top the casserole with additional shredded cheddar cheese and diced bacon.
step 3: Smoke the Casserole
Place the cast iron skillet onto a smoker at 225°F.
Smoke for approximately 1 hour, or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the cheese on top is melted.
Step 4: Add the Finishing Touch
Remove the skillet from the smoker and sprinkle the top with freshly sliced green onion.
Serve hot and watch this one disappear!
Pro Tips
Use a cast iron skillet
Cast iron is perfect for this recipe because it holds heat extremely well and can go directly from the smoker to the table.
Don't forget the extra cheese
Mixing cheese into the potatoes gives you cheesy flavor throughout, while adding more cheese on top creates that delicious melted cheese layer.
Get the bacon crispy
For the best texture, use cooked, crispy bacon rather than adding raw bacon directly to the casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this potato casserole in the oven?
Absolutely. If you don't have a smoker, bake the casserole at 350°F until hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted.
Do I need to thaw the hash browns?
Thawing the hash browns first helps the casserole heat more evenly and keeps the cooking time closer to one hour.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. Assemble the casserole ahead of time, cover it, and refrigerate until you're ready to cook. You may need additional cooking time if you're starting with a cold casserole.
Final Bite.
This Loaded Baked Potato Casserole is the kind of side dish that deserves a permanent spot in your BBQ rotation. It's ridiculously easy to make, packed with creamy cheesy flavor, and smoking it at 225°F gives the potatoes that extra layer of flavor that makes people wonder what you did differently.
Pile it high with bacon, cheddar, and green onion, grab a spoon, and serve it straight from the cast iron skillet. When you've got smoky potatoes, melted cheese, and crispy bacon all in one bite, you really can't go wrong.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
This Loaded Baked Potato Casserole is creamy, cheesy, and packed with bacon, then smoked at 225°F for incredible flavor. The perfect BBQ and tailgate side dish!
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 8
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen shredded hash browns
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ¼ cup cooked diced bacon
- 1 tablespoon salt, pepper & garlic seasoning
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 225°F.
- In a large bowl, combine hash browns, sour cream, cream cheese, milk, melted butter, shredded cheddar cheese, and seasoning.
- Fold everything together until well combined.
- Transfer the potato mixture to a cast iron skillet and spread evenly.
- Top with extra shredded cheddar cheese and remaining diced bacon.
- Place the cast iron skillet onto the smoker.
- Smoke at 225°F for 1 hour, then 350 for the next 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the smoker and top with sliced green onion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1.5 hours
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking, Grilling
- Cuisine: American
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