When it comes to beloved side dishes, mashed potatoes is the hands-down favorite in my family. This buttery, fluffy root vegetable purée is the star of the dinner table whether I’m serving meatloaf, roast chicken, wine-braised pork, or a Thanksgiving turkey. But I’ve often thought that this comforting dish deserves to be more than just a side and instead belongs in the center of the plate.

A layered potato pie is the perfect solution—and not just any toss-it-together baked dish but one inspired by the Italian potato pie calledgatto di patate.The recipes here follows features panko-dusted, Parmesan-flavored mashed potatoes that hold a layer of creamy cheese (pluscrumbled sausage,sautéed chard, and orcaramelized onions with fragrant rosemary.) Once unmolded from the pan, it presents like a layer cake.

You can prepare the pie in advance, because it reheats perfectly and slices beautifully. And it’s nearly as fast to make as mashed potatoes, with some additional hands-off baking time. These spectacular mashed potato pies may be built from humble ingredients, but they’re sure to make a statement on your table for any occasion or, dare I suggest it, even on a weeknight.