Smoked Mashed Potatoes With Crispy Bacon and Cheese

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Once you’ve tried my smoked mashed potatoes recipe, you’ll never go back to the boring old stove top ones! 

Plus its super simple to cook them along side whatever you have in the smoker. It doesn’t matter what temperature your running at, you just want some of that smoky flavor and some heat for the cheese to melt.

Why You’ll Love These Smoked Mash Potatoes

Picture this.  You’ve got a piece of meat smoking away..

What better side dish than some buttery, creamy mashed potatoes smoking right alongside?

Throw on a few root vegetables, and dinner is done with zero fuss.These are like normal mashed potatoes, but a hundred times better!

No matter how you like your mashed potatoes – with cream, butter, cheese, or milk – add the element of smoky flavors.

Best Potatoes to Use for Smoked Mashed Potatoes

When it comes to mashed potato you can’t go past the Yukon Gold potato.  They are firm and not too starchy.  Perfect for boiling, mashing, and smoking.

The flavor of Yukon Golds is a little buttery, so perfect for a mash.

Red potatoes are a close second, but take care how you mash them so they don’t become pasty and gluey.

Russet potatoes tend to become watery when boiled and mashed, they are much better suited to baked or roasted potatoes.

What You Need for Smoked Mashed Potatoes

Yukon Gold Potatoes
Heavy cream
Butter
Kosher salt
Diced bacon
Cheese
Sour cream
Green onions

How to Smoke Mashed Potatoes

You can make smoked mashed potatoes two ways. You can cook the potatoes on the pellet grill, mash then re-smoke them. Or you can boil as normal, mash then smoke the masked potatoes on the pellet smoker.

Either way, boil them in salty water to enhance the flavors. Drain the water completely from the pan. Cook on low heat the evaporate after draining, if need be, to remove the last of the water.

Make sure all the extra ingredients are ready to go for when the potatoes are ready.  You’ll get a much better result if everything is added while the potatoes are warm. 

That way the potatoes stay smooth and creamy, rather than clumpy and gummy.

How Long Should I Smoke Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes

When smoking the cooked mashed potatoes, leave it on the smoker for around 1 hour.  Then top with more grated cheese and continue smoking until melted. 

How to Tell When the Smoked Potatoes Are Done?

Knowing when the potatoes are done is a simple process.  Pierce with a fork or skewer, if it goes through to the center with no resistance, the potatoes are done. Alternatively, check with a temperature probe. When it reads 200°F, the potatoes are ready.

What’s the Best Way to Mash the Potatoes?

You may have read shortcuts using the blender or a hand mixer to mash potatoes.  Trust me when I say, that’s not a good idea! Over mixing will leave your potatoes gummy and gluey in texture.  Not a pleasant experience!

Pull out the good old masher, and get mashing! Do an initial mash, then add your liquid and seasonings. Place it all in a heat-proof dish and place on the pellet grill for smoking.

What Can I Season the Smoked Mashed Potatoes With?

There are a lot of ways you can add variation to your mashed potatoes. You can smash the potatoes rather than mash them.

Or use sour cream instead of milk.  A heavy cream or cream cheese also gives a great flavor twist. Add some flavorings like fresh or dried herbs, chili flakes, garlic cloves, or green onions.  Season with salt and black pepper. And everything tastes better with bacon bits!

What Flavor of Wood Pellets Should I Use?

These potatoes aren’t going to be on the grill long enough to worry too much about the type of wood pellets you use.

Chances are you will already have some type of meat already smoking.  So use whatever you already have loaded.

If you want to switch out pellets, go for something like pecan, oak, or hickory.

How to Make Smoked Mashed Potatoes 

Below are my six simple steps for delicious smoked mashed potatoes.

Step 1 – Fry the Bacon Off

Slice your green onions.

Set aside.

Dice up bacon.

Fry up the bacon in your cast iron skillet (or whatever pan you are going to use for smoking the potatoes).

Set aside bacon.

We’ll use this same pan later to spread the mashed potatoes on.

Step 2- Cook the Potatoes

Dice up potatoes and place into a pot filled with cold salted water (2 tbsp salt).

Bring to boil for 15-20 minutes until fork tender.

Strain, and place back into the pot.

Step 3 – Mash the Potatoes

Mash the potatoes.

Use a potato ricer for a smoother consistency if you have one. Otherwise just use a regular potato masher.

Step 4 – Add Seasonings

Add heavy cream, butter, and 1/2 tsp salt to the pot and continue mashing until no lumps, and smooth consistency.

Stir in some of the green onions into the mash, about 1/4 cup.

Step 5 – Prepare the Mash

Spread out the mashed potatoes onto your cast iron pan.

Top with cheese.

Step 6 – Smoke the Mash Potatoes

Smoke at 275F-300F for 1 hour until cheese is golden brown.

Serve with sour cream, bacon bits, green onions, and more cheese 🙂

What to Serve With Smoked Mash Potatoes

Mash potatoes are the perfect side dish. Doesn’t matter if your having a big holiday meal or weeknight dinner, they are always a crowd pleaser. Here is what I like to serve the smoked mashed potatoes with;

Smoked Beef Cheek

Smoked Tri Tip

Traeger Smoked Brisket

Smoke On!

Charlie

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