BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (2024)

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Best Mashed Potatoes are made with cream cheese, sour cream and lots of butter! Easy mashed potatoes recipeturns out perfectly every time.

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (1)

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Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish. We go through a lot of potatoes at our house and I think mashed potatoes are our favorite. They seem so simple to make, but it always seemed like sometimes they turned out really well and sometimes they weren’t quite as good.

It’s taken me a while to find a recipe that turns out absolutely perfect every single time. But this is it. Simple, but full of flavor and they turn out perfectly creamy. Every single time.

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (2)

How to make the best mashed potatoes?

The best mashed potatoes start with the right type of potatoes. Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are the best for mashing. The best mashed potatoes also have a lot of flavor and are perfectly creamy. Adding cream cheese, sour cream and butter to the potatoes is the secret to perfection!

I think the most important step of this recipe is the last one. Once the potatoes are all mashed, you place them in a baking dish and add a little bit more butter on top before baking for about 30 minutes on low heat. You can skip this step if you are pressed for time, but the baking does something amazing for the texture of the potatoes. I also love that I’m not having to do the mashing part at the very last second – I can get all the work done earlier and have the potatoes doing their thing in the oven while I get the rest of dinner ready!

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (3)

What type of potatoes make the best mashed potatoes?

I’ve used all varieties of potatoes before, but Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes yield the best mashed potatoes. They have a higher amount of starch which helps the mashed potatoes to be fluffy and creamy.

Ingredients in Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes – Use Russets or Yukon gold potatoes for best results. Potatoes need to be peeled and chopped into 1” pieces so they can cook more quickly.

Cream cheese – You’ll need an 8 ounce package of cream cheese. Any variety will work, but you will need to cut it into smaller pieces before adding to the potatoes so that it melts faster.

Sour cream – Adds the perfect flavor and creaminess!

Butter – Add most of the butter into the potatoes and save a little bit to add on top just before baking. You can’t have potatoes without butter!

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (4)

How to make Best Mashed Potatoes recipe

Place the potatoes into a large pot, and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, and return the potatoes to the pot. Turn heat to high, and allow the potatoes to dry for about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat.

Add the cream cheese, sour cream and 6 Tbsp of the butter to the potatoes. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher (or an electric mixer if your arm gets tired!). Keep mashing until completely smooth.

Place the potatoes in a large baking dish (9X13 or something similarly sized). Slice the remaining 2 Tbsp butter very thinly and place the slices evenly over the top of the potatoes. Bake in oven at 300° for about 30 minutes. (If you don’t have time for this step, you can just add the last 2 Tbsp of the butter into the potatoes and serve right after mashing.)

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (5)

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (6)

Best Mashed Potatoes

Best Mashed Potatoes are made with cream cheese, sour cream and lots of butter! Easy mashed potatoes recipeturns out perfectly every time.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Best Mashed Potatoes

Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Author:

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs potatoes peeled and chopped into 1” pieces (russets or Yukon gold potatoes work best)
  • 8 oz. cream cheese cut into smaller pieces
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cube butter divided

Instructions

  • Place the potatoes into a large pot, and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, and return the potatoes to the pot. Turn heat to high, and allow the potatoes to dry for about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat.

  • Add the cream cheese, sour cream and 6 Tbsp of the butter to the potatoes. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher (or an electric mixer if your arm gets tired!). Keep mashing until completely smooth.

  • Place the potatoes in a large baking dish (9X13 or something similarly sized). Slice the remaining 2 Tbsp butter very thinly and place the slices evenly over the top of the potatoes. Bake in oven at 300° for about 30 minutes. (If you don’t have time for this step, you can just add the last 2 Tbsp of the butter into the potatoes and serve right after mashing.)


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What type of cream cheese to use?

You can use any variety of cream cheese. Regular cream cheese is my preference, but you can use a low-fat or non-fat variety if you prefer.

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (7)

What to serve with mashed potatoes?

Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish for any type of meat. They pair perfectly with our perfect pork roast recipe or our slow cooker holiday ham. And it goes without saying that you have to have them as part of your Thanksgiving dinner! They go perfectly with Slow Cooker Turkey Breast, Smoked Turkey or Classic Roasted Turkey.

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (8)

POTATOES MAKEFANTASTIC SIDE DISHES! HERE ARE MORE FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT:

  • How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
  • Loaded Baked Potato Rounds
  • Alfredo Twice Baked Potatoes
  • Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes w/Maple Cinnamon Butter

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (9)

Best Mashed Potatoes are made with cream cheese, sour cream and lots of butter! Easy mashed potatoes recipe that turns out perfectly every time.

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (10)

BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (11)

ABOUT US

I began Butter, with a Side of Bread to delve deeper into my fascination with food! I love cooking easy, delicious recipes and trying out new products. Welcome and I hope you stick around!

  • BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (12)
  • BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (13)
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BEST MASHED POTATOES RECIPE (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream in mashed potatoes? ›

The best Creamy Mashed Potatoes consists of perfectly cooked russet potatoes, melted butter, heavy cream and a touch of tartness like crème fraîche.

What adds flavor to mashed potatoes? ›

Garlic – For savory depth of flavor. Unsalted butter – For richness and buttery flavor. Milk – It smooths the starchy potatoes into an incredibly creamy mash. Use whole milk for the creamiest results.

Should you soak potatoes before making mash? ›

Soaking and/or rinsing the potatoes can help you modify the amount of starch that remains on them. Cutting potatoes into smaller pieces before cooking and rinsing them under cold water will wash away much of the excess starch.

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Garlic and herbs are added to boost flavor

Instead of boiling a few potatoes and mashing them plain, a lot of restaurant chefs like to apply a little more finesse. Garlic and herbs infused in butter and cream add a flavor boost without overpowering.

Why are Bob Evans mashed potatoes so good? ›

Made with fresh red skin potatoes, butter, and real buttermilk, Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes tastes like homemade. We put extra care into making our mashed potatoes rich and creamy to deliver that homemade flavor your family expects.

What is the trick to thicken mashed potatoes? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

How long do potatoes need to boil for mashed potatoes? ›

Once boiling, reduce heat, adjusting as needed to maintain a simmer. Cook potatoes until they offer no resistance when pierced: 10–12 minutes for baby potatoes, 15–20 minutes for small potatoes, or 30–40 minutes for large cubed potatoes. Drain potatoes in a colander and let cool 10 minutes.

Do you put hot or cold milk in mashed potatoes? ›

For the very best result every time, always gently warm the butter and milk before adding to the potatoes, rather than adding cold dairy straight from the fridge. Here's why: Warm dairy is absorbed faster and more easily, with less stirring than its cold counterpart.

Why do you put vinegar in mashed potatoes? ›

The addition of a mildly acidic vinegar to a starchy veggie like potatoes not only deepens the flavor profile, but it also helps to tenderize the tubers.

Why add baking soda to mashed potatoes? ›

Directions. Throw just a pinch of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda into potatoes while mashing to make them fluffier.

What is the 1 ingredient upgrade for the fluffiest mashed potatoes? ›

The secret ingredient is just ice-cold water.

You soak the potatoes in iced water before they are cooked. This eliminates much of the starches in the potatoes, resulting in a super light and fluffy mash. It's also like when you make rice. The key to fluffy rice is to rinse off as much starch as possible.

Should I let potatoes cool before mashing? ›

Alternately you can use a ricer or, should you want to go old-school, use a hand-held masher. Just be sure that while the potatoes are still warm, add the heated milk the butter, salt and pepper. If you wait until they've become cold, the flavors will not meld properly. Taste.

Should you rinse starch off potatoes for mashed potatoes? ›

The main way we combat this problem is by rinsing away starch, both before and after cooking potatoes for fluffy mashed potatoes. Rinsing off starch means that there is less of it that can end up in the dish.

How does Gordon Ramsay make smashed potatoes? ›

Gordon Ramsay's Smashed Potatoes are made with baby potatoes, olive oil, herbs like rosemary or thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper this dish serves 8 and takes about 1 hour, including boiling and roasting for a crispy exterior.

Why do people put an egg in their mashed potatoes? ›

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

What does Gordon Ramsay use to cook with? ›

See for Yourself

Try HexClad and see why Gordan Ramsay loves it — and you'll love it too. If you're a home cook worth your salt, you deserve the latest innovation in cookware. Try our revolutionary cookware for your next big meal, or start with a few of your favorite cookware items to stock your cabinets slowly.

Why do people add sour cream to mashed potatoes? ›

Sour cream adds a little bit of tangy flavor and a boost of richness to mashed potatoes. It's a fun change from the standard milk or cream and butter combo usually flavoring mashed taters. You can even try your hand at making homemade sour cream from heavy cream!

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