Mississippi Mud Potatoes Is My New Favorite Side Dish

When I think comfort food, I think potatoes. As a kid, some of my fondest memories are of my Mississippi grandma handing me a mixing bowl and a peeler, sitting me down on the couch, and leaving me to do my best at peeling potatoes. The fluffy, flavor-packed mashed potatoes she made were the epitome of comfort food, but if I’m honest, I never liked the task of potato peeling. And if I’m extra honest, I still don’t (sorry, Grandma).

So, I’m always looking for ways to replace fresh potatoes with the frozen, pre-prepped variety to make recipes easier. This classic Southern recipe lets frozen diced potatoes shine in all their easy-to-use glory. These Mississippi mud potatoes are coated in a delicious, garlicky sauce and combined with onions, bacon, and cheese for a rich, savory side dish that’s perfect for dinner or brunch. 

Ingredients for Mississippi Mud Potatoes

• I prefer to use Ore-Ida frozen diced hash browns in this recipe, but a similar store brand also works fine. While I love the simplicity of the frozen potatoes, freshly diced russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes work really well in this recipe, too. I don’t recommend sweet potatoes for Mississippi mud potatoes as they tend to be too soft and a little mushy. 
• Sharp cheddar is my favorite cheese for this recipe, but sometimes I like to change it up. I love a combination of pepper Jack and sharp cheddar, but mozzarella, Colby, and Parmesan all make great substitutions.
• When it comes to the mayonnaise in this recipe, I’ve found it works best with a high-quality brand like Duke’s or Hellman’s. I don’t recommend substituting with Miracle Whip because of its lower fat content. 
• I’ve used several different brands of thick-cut bacon here and they all work well, but if you’re looking for a lighter alternative, opt for turkey bacon. 

Get Creative with Toppings

After the potatoes are done cooking, I often like to add a few extra toppings like:

• A dollop of sour cream
• Sliced fresh chives
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Jalapeño slices
• A drizzle of ranch dressing
  

Serving Suggestions

These cheesy Mississippi mud potatoes make a great side dish for dinners like pork chops, pot roast, or ranch chicken, especially when served alongside a fresh celery salad. For brunch, I like to serve these potatoes with fruit salad, millionaire’s bacon, scrambled eggs, and Mimosas. However you serve them, you can guarantee folks will be going back for seconds!

Make Ahead Tips

You can easily make Mississippi mud potatoes ahead of time. Simply cook the bacon and combine the ingredients as directed in the mixing bowl or a large airtight container. Then, cover the bowl or container and store the mixture in the fridge for up to a day before you plan to cook. When you’re ready to make the potatoes, pour the mixture into the greased casserole dish, bake as directed, and serve.