Recreate a convenience food favorite with this quick and easy recipe for Cheesy Smashed Potatoes.

About a month ago, my husband began challenging me when we were in the grocery store. He likes to buy boxed mashed potatoes, crocks of macaroni and cheese and other pre-made foods.

Meanwhile, I like to make everything fresh. Knowing what goes into the food I eat is a big deal for me. If I’m the one cooking the food, then I don’t have to worry about partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrups sneaking their way into what I consume.

So anyway, one day he picked up a container of Country Crock Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and said, “Well if you can make this from scratch then I’ll stop buying these things.” It was as if the sky had opened up and I was peeking into Heaven. Cheesy smashed potatoes? Here we come!

(As an aside, I have no idea why he couldn’t try making them himself. It certainly seemed like a viable option, no?)

Spending $5 or whatever it is for a little plastic thing with dehydrated potatoes and all sorts of preservatives really irritates me. How are we to spend less on groceries when we are throwing money away on appealing packaging of single-meal foods? I told him, of course, I could make that and, in fact, I could make it better.

And guess what? I did! Hope you enjoy this easy recipe for cheesy smashed potatoes.

Cheesy Smashed Potatoes Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Forget sought-bought! These cheesy smashed potatoes are loaded with flavor and creaminess. So easy to make yourself.

Ingredients

4 medium red potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup cheddar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp chili powder
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Boil potatoes until tender when pricked by a fork. Drain
In large bowl, smash potatoes against sides with a fork until no solid potatoes remain. Stir in cheddar and milk and mix until creamy. Add additional milk one tablespoon at a time if the consistency is too pasty.
Stir in chili powder, salt and pepper until well mixed.