3 Easy and Delicious Potato Side Dishes

Cheesecake Factory mashed potatoes

The mashed potatoes I tried at Cheesecake Factory were so good that I decided I had to reproduce them at home. I did a bit of research, and here is the best copycat recipe for this easy potato side dish. The two secret ingredients are what makes this dish special and a hit at dinner parties.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cubed red potatoes
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish, or to taste
• 1 cup shredded Gouda cheese

Instructions:

1. Wash and chop your red skin potatoes, leaving the skins on.

2. Place the potatoes in a pan of boiling water and cook until fork-tender.

3. Drain off the water and return the pan to the heat to dry the potatoes. Stir the potatoes gently to help any remaining water evaporate.

4. Add the butter and salt to the potatoes and mix with a rotary beater or potato masher just until the butter melts.

Stir in the horseradish and Gouda cheese, mixing just until combined. Feel free to sprinkle a little parsley on top like I did.

It comes out creamy and delicious, with a smoky tanginess because of the gouda and the horseradish. Make sure to make this next time you are hosting.

French onion potatoes

I love French onion soup, and this quick potato side dish is very similar to that I taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 10-oz can French onion soup
• 1 1-oz envelope dry onion soup mix
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 2.5 lbs russet potatoes
• 2 cups shredded gruyere cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Peel your potatoes, then dice them into 1-inch cubes.

3. Melt a stick of butter, add in a can of French onion soup, and a packet of dry soup mix. If you like your potatoes extra flavorful, consider doubling the amount of onion soup and dry soup mix. Stir well.

4. Spread your potatoes evenly in a 13*19 baking dish, making sure they only make one layer. Then pour the mixture over the potatoes, getting them fully coated. Give it a bit of a stir.

5. Cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

6. Remove the foil, then continue cooking for 30-45 more minutes or until potatoes are tender and absorb all that soup. Stir 2-3 times throughout this time to ensure the potatoes cook evenly.

7. Shred up Gruyere cheese and add it on top of the potatoes. Then cover the dish tightly with foil again and let potatoes rest for about 5-10 minutes to soak up the soup mixture and allow for the cheese to melt.

These potatoes were soft and full of flavor, and so easy to make. Great dish to take to your next holiday gathering.

Garlic parmesan roasted sweet potatoes

Ingredients:

• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
• Fresh thyme

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400º F.

2. Wash, peel and cut your sweet potatoes into thin slices.

3. Melt two tablespoons of butter – you can do it in the microwave.

4. Place the sweet potato slices in a Ziploc bag, or a bowl if you do not mind doing the dishes. Throw in two tablespoons of garlic powder, a tablespoon of olive oil, the butter, salt and pepper to taste, a big handful of grated Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Close the bag and shake until everything is combined and well coated.

5. Lightly butter a baking dish and arrange coated sweet potatoes into a spiral if you have the time, or just spread them out, making sure there is an even layer. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and a little parmesan if you like.

4. Bake the sweet potatoes for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm and sprinkle with fresh thyme.

The taste is quite unusual, with the sweetness of the sweet potato, but then the tartness of the parmesan. This is really good, and this is not your average sweet potato.

Potato side dishes

There you have it: three potato or sweet potato side dishes that will be an amazing addition to your cooking repertoire, and go wonderfully for any kind of a holiday dinner or gathering.

What are your go to festive side dishes? Do you have a personal favorite? Do you always make that one dish that everyone adores, or do you prefer trying new recipes and discovering more and more delicious meals?

Share in the comments!

Then, go ahead and check out my 3 Quick and Easy Chicken Freezer Meal Ideas.