These simple spinach Parmesan baked mashed potatoes are the perfect way to prep before Thanksgiving. Delicious and packed full of flavor.

I would happily eat mashed potatoes and nothing more for dinner. Why are they so good? That delicious mix of creamy mash and butter. YES PLEASE!

That’s why I decided to step it up a notch, not just give you the mashed potatoes you’re used to – nope. These babies are also packed with spinach and Parmesan cheese. They’re rich and creamy and oh-so-savory!

And, if I’m being honest, my favorite part of these baked mashed potatoes is that they are topped with super crispy fried onions. Similar to what you might find in traditional green bean casserole.

Another great thing about this casserole recipe is that you can prep it the day before your holiday feast (this is a favorite in our house for Thanksgiving!) and bake it the next day.

Ingredients needed

• Potatoes – This is the base of the dish! I like to use red potatoes for this dish, but yellow or white potatoes are also a great option.
• Whole milk – I like to use whole milk because it’s rich and flavorful. However, you can use 2% or fat free if you’re looking to cut down on the calories.
• Butter – Can’t have mashed potatoes without delicious butter!
• Spinach – You can use frozen, chopped, or fresh. Both will work well here but you need to squeeze the water out of the spinach before adding it to the mashed potato mixture.
• Parmesan – I like to use good quality grated Parmesan cheese.
• Fried onions – This is the topper that really sets this dish apart from most mashed potatoe dishes! It adds textrue and a big burst of flavor.

Making baked mashed potatoes

For this recipe, I kept it really simple and added easy mix-ins that I knew would bake up perfectly.

• Step 1 – make that mashed potatoes!
  • I give the full directions on how to make the mashed potatoes, but you can make them however you like your mashed potatoes. You can also use store-bought or boxed mashed potatoes.
• Step 2 – stir in the mixins!
  • For this recipe, we use spinach and Parmesan cheese. I think this is a match made in heaven, but feel free to use chopped kale instead of spinach if you have it on hand.
• Step 3 – top it up!
  • I love the use of French-fried onions in this recipe. They add such a good crunch and the perfect flavor!
• Step 4 – bake!
  • Pop it in the oven and give it a good bake! It will come out hot and ready to devour!

How do you store baked mashed potatoes?

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

You can pop them in the oven or heat them in the microwave to reheat.

If you microwave the topping, it will get a little soft, but it still adds good flavor.

Can I make changes to this recipe?

Of course!

While I have already noted that you can use boxed or store-bought mashed potatoes, the other simple change you can make is to mix the ingredients into the potatoes.

I love the idea of making this recipe, but instead of parmesan and spinach, you could use bacon, cheese, and green onions to make loaded baked mashed potatoes!

More potato recipes

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Roasted White Sweet Potatoes with Honey Cinnamon Glaze

Cheesy Potatoes (Funeral Potatoes)

The Best Baked Sweet Potatoes