Moms Best Mashed Potato Pie

Our Moms Best Mashed Potato Pie, known as Gatto di Patate, is a Neapolitan potato pie recipe made with simple ingredients such as mashed potatoes, eggs, mozzarella, parmigiana, pecorino cheeses, butter, milk, and ham.  This a delicious recipe for those who love a great potato pie! Perfect for gatherings and holidays.

 

A serving of our mother's mashed potato pie served on a white plate.

Our Mom’s Best Mashed Potato Pie

Okay, our mom’s best-mashed potato pie is not low in calories. However, it’s so delicious and creamy—who cares?

Baked with pieces of cured ham and melted mozzarella mixed with mashed potatoes in a pie form, or as a casserole, your family and friends will be eating and going back for more!

The taste and texture of this baked potato pie are so light and creamy with a crispy crust on top! What’s not to love? 

It’s amazingly delicious! Our potato pie is very similar to a potato croquette but without frying!

This recipe makes a large casserole, and it is perfect to feed a crowd.  It pairs perfectly with our mom’s best chicken piccata.  And, reheats beautifully too!

On a white plate is a serving of our mom's mashed potato pie.

Everyone loves Mom’s Best Mashed Potato Pie 

Even the kids!  We usually make this “Gatto” for gatherings with family and friends and it goes very quickly!

Even on a smaller scale, it’s a great recipe to whip up as an easy dish using your “leftover mashed potatoes” from the night before. Toss in some additional ingredients and mix until the mixture is creamy, then bake!

Moms Best Mashed Potato Pie by 2sistersrecipes.com

 

Cook’s Helpful Notes and Tips:

  • To get a creamier mixture from mashed potatoes, use an immersion hand-stick blender or a hand mixer.  They work best. Then continue with the recipe.
  • You can omit the ham inside and it becomes a “vegetarian” version.
  • Also, you can divide the potato mixture into 2 smaller foil trays, bake them, then freeze the trays for future dinners. When you need one, just take a tray out in the morning, and allow it to thaw on the counter for several hours.  When you get home from work, reheat in the oven uncovered for 30 minutes, or longer until it’s well heated through.

 

*See Our Full Recipe Card Below!

Ingredients for Mom’s Best Mashed Potato Pie

For mom’s best-mashed potato pie, you will need the following :

  • 5 lbs. Idaho potatoes – peeled then chopped
  • 1/4 pound sliced Ham – chopped
  • 1 (16 ounces) Mozzarella – chopped ( you can use low-fat)
  • 4 large whole eggs – lightly beaten
  • 1 cup Pecorino Romano cheese- grated
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese – grated
  • 1 cup of 1% low-fat milk
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 stick butter – salted (we used Smart Balance Butter)
  • 1 cup plain bread crumbs or GF bread crumbs
  • 1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
  • NO salt

Directions to Make Best Mashed Potato Pie:

1.  Peel and chop potatoes. In a large pot of boiling water, add the potatoes and cook for about 25 to 35 minutes, or until the potatoes are softened.  Drain in a colander.  Place potatoes back into the pot.

2.  Add the butter and mash the potatoes until well-mashed.
Using an immersion hand-stick blender, or an electric hand mixer, beat the potatoes to a smooth and creamy texture for about 2 minutes.  

3. Stir in chopped mozzarella, milk, eggs, ham, and parsley.
Use a large spoon to mix well.  Add the grated cheese and fresh ground pepper.  Mix well again.

4. Use a 16-inch rectangular deep casserole pan, ceramic or stainless steel.  Butter the bottom and sides of the pan.  Scatter 1/2 cup of bread crumbs and shake the pan until the entire surface is covered with bread crumbs.

5.  Pour the mashed potato mixture and spread it evenly in the pan.  Scatter some chopped pieces of butter on top.  Scatter the remaining 1/2 cup of bread crumbs on top.

6.  Bake at 350 degrees.  Uncovered, for ONE hour, or until the top is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes. Cut into square pieces and serve.

Serves 8 to 12

Storing, Reheating and Freezing

  • Store this mashed potato pie in a sealed air-tight container and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat any leftovers can be done either in the microwave, and it should be only a serving on a plate. If you need to reheat the entire casserole, then it’s best to reheat it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees and for 15 to 20 minutes, until it is heated through.
  • To freeze, we recommend you bake this casserole first, then allow it to cool completely, cover with aluminum foil, and freeze. It will freeze well, and only up to one month.

A Delicious Side To Serve

There are so many options to serve our moms mashed potato pie as a side, and here are a few suggestions:

A wonderful side dish for the holidays

Your family will love this potato pie.  It is such a delicious dish! I bet this casserole will be one of the first things that will disappear from your Thanksgiving or Christmas buffet.  It’s a winner!!

Try this recipe!  Today, this is still one of our favorite dishes and we hope it will be yours as well.

ENJOY!!

More Tasty Casseroles 

On a white plate is a serving of our mom's mashed potato pie.

Mom's Best Mashed Potato Pie

Yield: 8 to 12 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Mom's Best Mashed Potato Pie, known as Gatto di Patate, is basically an Italian potato pie recipe made with simple ingredients such as mashed potatoes, eggs, mozzarella, parmigiana, and pecorino cheeses, butter, milk, and ham. A delicious recipe for those who love a great potato pie!

Ingredients

  • 5 lbs. Idaho potatoes - peeled then chopped
  • 1/4 pound sliced Ham - chopped
  • 1 (16-ounces) Mozzarella - chopped (you may use low-fat)
  • 4 large whole eggs - lightly beaten
  • 1 cup Pecorino Romano cheese - grated
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese - grated
  • 1 cup of 1% low-fat milk
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 stick butter - salted (we used Smart Balance Butter)
  • 1 cup plain bread crumbs or GF bread crumbs
  • 1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
  • NO salt

Instructions

  1. Peel and chop potatoes. In a large pot of boiling water, add the potatoes and cook for about 25 to 35 minutes, or until the potatoes are softened. Drain in a colander. Place potatoes back into the pot.
  2. Add the butter and mash the potatoes until well mashed.
  3. Using an immersion hand-stick blender, or an electric hand mixer, beat the potatoes to a smooth and creamy texture for about 2 minutes.
  4. Stir in chopped mozzarella, milk, eggs, ham, and parsley. Using a large spoon to mix well.
  5. Then add the grated cheese and fresh ground pepper. Mix well again.
  6. Using a 16-inch rectangular deep casserole pan, ceramic or stainless steel. Butter the bottom and sides of the pan. Scatter 1/2 cup of bread crumbs and shake the pan until the entire surface is covered with bread crumbs.
  7. Pour the mashed potato mixture and spread evenly in the pan. Scatter some chopped pieces of butter on top. Scatter the remaining 1/2 cup of bread crumbs on top.
  8. Bake at 350 degrees. Uncovered, for ONE hour, or longer until the top is golden brown.
  9. Cool for 10 minutes. Cut into square pieces.
  10. Serves 8 to 12

Notes

Storing, Reheating & Freezing:

  • Store this mashed potato pie in a sealed air-tight container and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat any leftovers can be done either in the microwave, and it should be only a serving on a plate. If you need to reheat the entire casserole, then it's best to reheat it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees and for 15 to 20 minutes, until it is heated through.
  • To freeze, we recommend you bake this casserole first, then allow it to cool completely, cover with aluminum foil, and freeze. It will freeze well, and only up to one month.
  • Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 12 servings Serving Size: 1 serving
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 353Total Fat: 13.4gCarbohydrates: 35.3gProtein: 19.6g

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    This recipe was originally posted in 2013, and all photos and content are the same.

    Happy Cooking! …and thanks for stopping by! 🙂

    xo anna and liz

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    27 Comments

    1. sounds like an interesting recipe. I don’t think i’ve heard of or seen a potato pie before!

    2. looks delishous. did you omit the milk in the instructions? they are in the ingredients. I’m sure they should be added with the butter and then mashed until smooth. thank you for the recipe.

      1. Hi Caroline! thanks so much. The milk is in the instructions along with the mozzarella, which comes after the add the “butter and mash” the potatoes until smooth. I hope this helps! thanks again.

    3. I just did this mashed potato pie and it came super delicious! I only added an extra Wudy sausage in the mix otherwise I followed your recipe to the letter! Well done for posting it!!

      1. Hi Ivan! Thank you so much!! Welcome to our website, it’s so nice to meet you!
        So glad you had a terrific outcome with our recipe, and love your extra ingredient added in there too! Thanks again!

      1. Hi Margy! Yes, you can make it the day before, but we recommend to bake it too. Then you can reheat it the next day, and it will still be light and fluffy even after you reheat it.

        1. Also, my sister said, you can make it one day ahead, refrigerate and then bake it the next day. As long as you keep it refrigerated, it is totally fine.

    4. question – is this dish something that one could assemble a day ahead and bake the day of serving? i’m planning a Mediterranean-inspired thanksgiving and want to make this in lieu of mashed potatoes. please let me know! thanks.

      1. Absolutely! Cover the baking dish well will foil wrap, then chill in your fridge. The next day, remove from the refrigerator and allow it to sit on your counter for an hour or so to warm up a little before baking. Then follow directions for baking.

    5. Hi there! We have a similar recipe in my family on my mother's father's side. From what I understand, no one knows how to spell the name pronounced "cutdaw". At least thats how I've heard it pronounced growing up.We also don't know the origin. This recipe of yours is the closest I've seen to it. Ours is 2 large potatoes, cream cheese and 6 eggs with the bread crumb and parm cheese crust. I noticed the name of yours and it also looks like it might be the same. How are you pronouncing what yours is called? And the origin? Thank you so much!

      1. Hi Amy! I had to call my mom and ask her how this recipe came about because we had no clue either.
        First, the name is in the Neopolitan dialict and it's pronounced as "got- toe" and it was originally a name for the bridal cake, and then later the name was adapted to this dish made with potatoes, as Gatto di patate, because it resembled the bridal cake – "sheet of cake " with a Light yellow color inside and a smooth and creamy texture. And my grandmother Anna ( who I am named after) and my great grandmother both made this pie. So I know it's been around over a century. It's interesting how recipes come about and thank you for asking – now we all know a little more about the history of this recipe! Thanks again!!

    6. I'm cooking for Easter tomorrow and I am definitely going to try this recipe – sounds great!!