As a child, I was a picky eater. When the holidays rolled around, about half my plate was made up of mashed potatoes. Spooning a larger-than-life helping of mashed potatoes with a generous pat of butter was my own little holiday ritual. I’d fill up on potatoes, treating turkey or ham as a dainty side. And you know what? I’ll still stand by my childhood proclivities. Mashed potatoes deserve such acclaim.
My adult palate has certainly broadened, but I’ll never get tired of a good ol’ mountain of mashed potatoes. Today, though, it’s better if they’re loaded. Bacon, cheese, sour cream, scallions, chives, and butter are the best adornments. But what’s even better is when you don’t have to mash or load the potatoes yourself, especially during the busy holiday season.
That’s where Costco comes in.
Costco’s Kirkland Signature Loaded Mashed Potatoes
A beloved Costco prepared side is back for yet another year: Kirkland Signature Loaded Mashed Potatoes. The potatoes are more decadent than anything I’d make on my own, and it certainly helps that Costco includes three different cheeses in the bake (provolone, mozzarella, and Parmesan) alongside bacon crumbles, butter, sour cream, and parsley.
The dish is priced at $3.49 per pound, or about $12 per container. In years past, the tray featured six pre-portioned mashed potato balls, and while this year’s container still includes six servings, it looks like the mashed potatoes are now spread out, casserole style. The whole concoction is ready to bake and only takes 40-50 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees F to prepare.
Fans on Reddit have praised the dish for being both tasty and gorgeous, calling it the “best pre-made food item I’ve gotten from Costco.”
“This is what heaven looks like,” one enthusiastic Redditor commented on a post calling the dish a 10/10. “Glorious” is the word another another Redditor chose to describe the mashed potato bake after removing it from the oven.
If reading about this buttery potato bake has you salivating, you’re not alone. Even five-year-old me would have been tempted. Costco’s Loaded Mashed Potatoes dish is a seasonal offering, so we’d recommend grabbing one (or a few) while you can. Savvy Redditors also say the mashed potatoes freeze well, so even single-person households can stock up on this fan-favorite prepared deli find.
