Crispy Bacon and Mashed Potato Pizza

Mashed potato and bacon pizza blends creamy mashed potatoes with crisp bacon, finished with melting mozzarella and a sprinkle of parmesan for a truly comforting, crave-worthy pie.

This recipe is perfect for turning Thanksgiving leftovers—or any leftover mashed potatoes—into something exciting and delicious. Mashed potato and bacon pizza may sound unusual if you haven’t tried it before, but the combination of fluffy potatoes, salty bacon, and gooey cheese works amazingly well on a pizza crust. If you like savory, comforting flavors and creative ways to use leftovers, this mashed potato & bacon pizza is worth making.

I first tried this style of pizza at a local pizzeria years ago and have loved recreating it at home ever since. It’s a great example of how simple ingredients—pizza dough, mashed potatoes, garlic, bacon, and two kinds of cheese—can combine to make something memorable.

Ingredients

• For the pizza dough (makes about 16 oz dough):
  • 3 ½ cups bread flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ¼ oz active dry yeast
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 bulb garlic (for roasting) or 1 cup garlic mashed potatoes (store-bought or leftover)
• 4 tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil, divided
• 1 cup mashed potatoes (about)
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

Make the dough (or use store-bought)

1. If making homemade dough: combine the bread flour, sugar, yeast, and kosher salt in a large bowl.
2. Add 1 ½ cups warm water and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Stir until the mixture forms a rough dough. If the dough is too dry, add a little more water; if it’s too sticky, add a touch more flour.
3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 4–5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. Place the dough in a bowl coated with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let it rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Prepare roasted garlic and mashed potatoes

5. While the dough rises, roast the garlic: preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Peel away most of the papery skin from the garlic bulb, slice the top off to expose the cloves, drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, wrap the bulb in foil, and roast for about 40 minutes until soft and golden.
6. When cool enough to handle, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins and stir them into the mashed potatoes. If using already flavored garlic mashed potatoes, simply adjust seasoning and skip the roasting step.

Assemble and bake

7. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) if not already hot.
8. When the dough has doubled, punch it down and divide it into four equal portions for individual pizzas, or shape into one larger pizza if preferred.
9. On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll each portion into a round or oval shape and place on a baking sheet or pizza stone. Brush each crust lightly with about ½ tablespoon olive oil.
10. Spoon about ¼ cup of garlic mashed potatoes onto each dough round and spread into an even layer, leaving a small border for the crust. Top each with two slices of fresh mozzarella.
11. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
12. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with crumbled bacon and grated parmesan. Let cool a couple of minutes, slice, and serve warm.

Tips, variations and storage

• If your mashed potatoes are very thick, loosen them with a splash of milk, cream, or a little more olive oil before spreading on the dough so they heat through and create a creamy layer.
• Add chopped chives or thinly sliced green onions after baking for freshness. A dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche on each slice is a tasty finish, too.
• For a lighter version, use a lower-fat cheese or reduce the amount of bacon; smoked turkey bacon or pancetta are flavorful alternatives.
• To reheat leftovers, warm slices in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 8–10 minutes to crisp the crust and re-melt the cheese.
• Make-ahead: dough can be prepared the day before and refrigerated; allow it to come to room temperature before shaping.

This mashed potato and bacon pizza is a comforting, inventive way to use leftover mashed potatoes—and it’s great for family meals, casual entertaining, or a weekend treat. The creamy mashed potatoes pair with salty bacon and melty mozzarella for a rich, satisfying bite that’s surprisingly balanced. Try making mini pizzas for a party appetizer or four individual pizzas for a cozy dinner.