The Best Easy Mashed Potatoes Recipes
Mashed potatoes are a holiday staple and oh-so-delicious. They’re made by boiling potatoes until they’re soft, then mashing them up with butter, milk, or cream until they’re creamy and smooth. But did you know there are lots of different ways to make them? In this post, we’re going to explore 30 different mashed potato recipes that are easy to make so you have the best mashed potatoes ever.
The Best Easy Mashed Potatoes Recipes
My entire childhood my favorite food was mashed potatoes. I loved them. Every holiday we served them, 80% of my plate was mashed potatoes. If we went to a restaurant where I didn’t really like anything, I’d order a plate of mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes hold a special place in my heart.
It doesn’t matter what type of potato you use or which spices or creamy additions you throw in, they always come out delicious.
In this roundup, you’ll find all sorts of mashed potato recipes to suit every mood and occasion.
From classic versions with a hint of garlic to more adventurous twists featuring things like roasted garlic or melted cheese, there’s something here for everyone. If you’re cooking for a crowd this Thanskgiving or Christmas and looking for a fresh zesty mashed potatoes recipe, you’re in the right place!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Prevent Lumps in My Mashed Potatoes?
To avoid lumps, ensure your potatoes are cooked until fork-tender but not overcooked. Use a potato masher, ricer, or electric mixer to achieve a smooth consistency. I like to give them a preliminary mashing first, then add warm liquid gradually while mashing.
How Long Can I Store Leftover Mashed Potatoes?
Leftover mashed potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Be sure that to refrigerate quickly after they cool though so they last longer. Otherwise bacteria grows pretty quickly because of the milk.
Tips On How To Make Delicious Mashed Potatoes
- Choose the Right Potatoes: Opt for starchy potatoes like Russets or Yukon Golds for the fluffiest and creamiest mashed potatoes. Their high starch content ensures a smooth texture when mashed.
- Don’t Overcook: To avoid watery mashed potatoes, be careful not to overcook the potatoes. Boil them until they’re fork-tender but still hold their shape, usually around 15-20 minutes depending on size. Too much water gives them a super nasty texture.
- Get the Consistency Right: Start by mashing the potatoes with a potato masher for a chunkier texture or use a potato ricer for silky-smooth potatoes. Add warm milk or cream gradually to achieve the desired consistency, being careful not to overmix, which can make them gluey (so can too much water or too much boiling… eww).
- Flavor Infusion: Infuse flavor into your mashed potatoes by simmering minced garlic or herbs like rosemary or thyme in the milk or cream before adding it to the potatoes. Alternatively, mix in roasted garlic, caramelized onions, or grated cheese for an extra punch of flavor.
- Season Generously: Potatoes are like sponges when it comes to seasoning (so much so that did you know to fix an over-salted soup you throw a potato or two in there while cooking and it’ll soak up the salt? Then toss the potatoes after), so don’t be shy with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving, adding small amounts at a time to avoid over-salting.
Image Credit: tastyoven
Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes are made easily in the pressure cooker. These creamy mashed sweet potatoes are mixed with yogurt, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and a dash of nutmeg.
The combination of warming Fall spices, yogurt, and syrup creates a mouth-watering taste and an extra creamy texture! These mashed sweet potatoes are a great addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table, too!
Get the full recipe from: Tasty Oven
Image Credit: tastyoven
These healthy Crockpot Mashed Sweet Potatoes are a delicious side dish to add to just about any dinner or Thanksgiving holiday gathering. With just a few ingredients and your trusty slow cooker, mashed sweet potatoes are easy to make and taste wonderful!
This recipe for making crockpot mashed sweet potatoes is an easy way to make this healthy side dish for dinner and a great way to make a large batch of sweet potatoes for the holidays.
Get the full recipe from: Tasty Oven
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
Tasty, easy, and a perfect side dish, these Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes are great with any meal. Full of flavor, they are a delicious way to get your starches in! There are so many benefits of sweet potatoes that we do often switch them out from our regular Yukon Gold or red potato.
If you are looking for a new way of eating your potatoes and want a great side dish, you cannot go wrong with these Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
Roasted garlic and herbs make this Roasted Garlic Mashed Potato recipe a stand out dish! No peeling required, this is the easiest roasted recipe you will ever make. Minimal ingredients and fresh herbs make this a super easy and tasty recipe.
Making your own roasted garlic really amps up the flavor. You can easily double this recipe to serve a large crowd.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: onmykidsplate
Smooth and creamy, these easy mashed sweet potatoes are fast and perfect for dinner. This delicious side is light enough that it makes a great weeknight side, but is also creamy enough to hold a place on any holiday table at Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.
This recipe has just the right amount of sweetness! This recipe is a great alternative to the typical sweet potato casserole and is a crowd-pleaser. You only need a few ingredients to make the best mashed sweet potatoes.
Get the full recipe from: On My Kids Plate
Image Credit: onmykidsplate
Crispy mashed potato pancakes make the perfect side dish or breakfast! Serve this golden brown potato pancakes recipe with sour cream or your favorite dipping sauce for a delicious bite that the whole family will enjoy.
These potato pancakes are a great recipe to give you the crispy brown potatoes you’re craving without having to leave your house. Potato pancakes are so versatile, you can totally serve them for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Get the full recipe from: On My Kids Plate
Image Credit: theforkedspoon
These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are light, creamy, fluffy, and so full of flavor. The perfect side dish for everyday family meals or special holiday dinners, the pressure cooker helps make mashed potatoes both fast and easy to make!
Serve these perfect weeknight mashed potatoes with all your favorite easy recipes, family dinners, or special holiday meals.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: theforkedspoon.
Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes are fluffy, creamy, and super easy to make. The perfect dinnertime side dish or Thanksgiving dinner vegetable, enjoy these delicious pressure cooker mashed sweet potatoes served sweet, savory, or somewhere in between.
From start to finish, these mashed sweet potatoes take approximately 30 minutes to make in your Instant Pot or other electric pressure cookers. If you know that you are especially slow preparing ingredients, then perhaps it will take a few minutes longer.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: xoxobella
Mashed red potatoes with skin makes a delicious side dish for pretty much any recipe you can think of! Try red skin mashed potatoes with steak, chicken or any other meat, poultry or fish. It’s so easy to make and the kind of side dish everyone will want a second helping of.
Expect a creamy, fluffy result and feel free to make extra because leftover mashed potatoes can be transformed into potato pancakes and other tasty sides.
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
Image Credit: thedefaultcook
These air fryer garlic mashed potatoes skipped the boiling water for roasting alongside fresh garlic in your air fryer. A delicious side perfect for both busy weeknights and holiday meals!
Simple ingredients you likely have on hand, low-prep method with easy peeling, and flexible roasting options for convenient meal prep.
Get the full recipe from: The Default Cook
Image Credit: whatagirleats
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Browned Sage is an elevated take on a classic side dish, featuring a delightful blend of sweet potatoes, nutty browned butter, and fragrant sage. The sweet potatoes are mashed until smooth and creamy, then infused with the rich, toasted flavor of browned butter and the earthy aroma of crisp sage leaves.
This dish strikes a perfect balance between sweet and savory, making it a versatile accompaniment to a variety of main courses. The combination of textures and flavors creates a comforting and satisfying side that is sure to impress at any autumn gathering or holiday feast.
Get the full recipe from: What A Girl Eats
Image Credit: agratefulmeal
These red skin mashed potatoes are exactly what you want – creamy, but just the right amount of texture and flavor from the skins. They are a great option for any night of the week or your holiday meals at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Infuse mashed potatoes with herbs and garlic effortlessly during boiling for added flavor. Elevate your dish with this simple yet flavorful twist.
Get the full recipe from: A Grateful Meal
Image Credit: dashfordinner
Who needs regular ol’ mashed potatoes when you have this fabulous Boursin mashed potatoes recipe!? Made with russet potatoes, butter, cream, and a round of your favorite brand of gournay cheese, this take on the staple side dish is going to knock your socks off!
These Boursin Mashed Potatoes are a versatile side dish perfect for any special occasion, from Christmas to Sunday dinner. The Boursin cheese adds an explosion of garlic and herb flavor, elevating ordinary mashed potatoes to new heights.
Get the full recipe from: Dash For Dinner
Image Credit: simplystacie
Loaded Mashed Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food side dish recipe. This homemade casserole is extra indulgent with loads of cheese, bacon and sour cream.
Loaded Mashed Potatoes are a side dish recipe you’ll be thinking about long after you eat it. It’s cheesy. It’s savory, It’s rich. It’s oh so good!
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: walkingonsunshinerecipes
Why settle for plain potatoes when you can take them to the next level with this delicious mashed potato casserole!
Made with creamy mashed potatoes, bacon, and plenty of cheese, this ultimate comfort food is ideal for family dinners, potlucks, and special occasions. It’s sure to be a guaranteed hit!
Get the full recipe from: Walking On Sunshine Recipes
Image Credit: simplystacie
Slow Cooker Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes are the best way to make potatoes! Creamy, rich, garlicky flavor in every bite for a delicious fall side dish.
Potatoes are a favorite comfort food dish. These Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes are so simple you can enjoy them every week!
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: ihearteating
Chocolate Mashed Potato Cake recipe takes leftover mashed potatoes and turns them into a moist chocolate cake that’s so light and fluffy!
Mashed potatoes are the key to some light and fluffy baked goods. The mashed potatoes work the same magic in this cake. The cake is really moist, and the potatoes also help to give it a fluffier texture.
Get the full recipe from: I Heart Eating
Image Credit: walkingonsunshinerecipes
Indulge in the comforting and timeless goodness with this basic classic mashed potatoes recipe. Made with just a few simple ingredients like potatoes, butter, milk, and salt, this is the best holiday mashed potatoes recipe!
If you’re looking for a cozy addition to a family dinner or want to impress guests over the holidays, this recipe is sure to satisfy cravings and warm hearts.
Get the full recipe from: Walking On Sunshine Recipes
Image Credit: ericasrecipes
Gruyere, Garlic, and Gouda Mashed Potatoes with French fine herbs, butter, and cream are beautifully delicious cheesy mashed potatoes to complement your main dish. Creamy Gouda and nutty Gruyere cheeses blend together perfectly in these easy mashed potatoes with cheese.
This recipe using both Gruyere and Gouda in mashed potatoes gives a delicious taste and makes this recipe extra special.
Get the full recipe from: Erica’s Recipes
Image Credit: ericasrecipes
Ranch Mashed Potato Cups have creamy ranch mashed potatoes and bacon in crescent cups for a fun and tasty party food. This recipe is an easy version of Uno’s pizza skins appetizer to make at home and a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes.
This potato cups recipe for pizza skins-inspired, creamy ranch mashed potatoes in toasty crescent cups works. Make these potato cups for a kid’s party, sleepover, game watching, or family movie night munchie.
Get the full recipe from: Erica’s Recipes
Image Credit: sweetandsavorymorsels
There’s something incredibly comforting about a big, hearty serving of mashed potatoes. But when you elevate it to a Loaded Baked Mashed Potato Casserole, you’re transforming a familiar side dish into the star of the show.
Perfect for sunday dinners, holiday tables, or when you need the ultimate comfort food, this recipe combines creamy mashed potatoes with mouth-watering toppings for a dish that’s sure to impress.
Get the full recipe from: Sweet And Savory Morsels
Image Credit: cinnamonandkale
These healthy mashed potatoes without butter are creamy, comforting and delicious. The potatoes are mashed with olive oil, which adds a great flavor and texture. Plus, olive oil is a healthy choice which makes this dairy-free mashed potato low in saturated fat.
It is easy to make with simple ingredients and is suitable for all the family – dairy free, gluten free, egg free. Making mash with no butter also makes it vegan and 100% plant based
Get the full recipe from: Cinnamon And Kale
Image Credit: livingchirpy
Everybody loves potatoes, but on a low carb diet, even though they do contain a lot of carbs, they also contain a plethora of good stuff! Vitamin B6, B3, C, Potassium andFiber.
This yummy carrot mash recipe is quick and easy. A hot side dish perfect for cold days. It involves 7 simple ingredients, 30 Minutes It is paleo and gluten-Free
Get the full recipe from: Living Chirpy
Image Credit: cinnamonandsageco
Smooth and creamy Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes are so full of buttery goodness, you won’t want to make any other kind of mashed potatoes again! Made with hearty russet potatoes, lots of butter, and so many different kinds of seasonings, Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes are loaded with flavor.
These Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes go deliciously with various main dishes. They are also a perfect side for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Get the full recipe from: Cinnamon And Sage Co
Image Credit: foodfolksandfun
Mashed Potatoes are fluffy, creamy, and perfect every time! They’re so easy to make in the Instant Pot you’ll never want to make them another way.
This Instant Pot method is super quick and easy. This is handy when making a lot of food for a holiday meal, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner, or other special occasions.
Get the full recipe from: Food Folks And Fun
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
Loaded Mashed Potatoes are great anytime of the year as they would be divine with a roast, ribs, steak, chicken, fish etc.
Made with cream, butter, chives, cheddar cheese and bacon, you can’t go wrong with these potatoes. A great make ahead side dish also!!
Get the full recipe from: Noshing With The Nolands
Image Credit: blackberrybabe
Caramelized Onion and Bacon Mashed Potatoes combine the rich flavors of caramelized onions and crispy bacon with creamy mashed potatoes, creating a savory and indulgent side dish. The sweetness of the caramelized onions complements the salty crunch of the bacon, adding depth and complexity to the classic mashed potato dish.
This flavorful twist on traditional mashed potatoes is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, offering a delicious balance of savory and sweet elements in every bite.
Get the full recipe from: Blackberry Babe
Image Credit: theartoffoodandwine
Creamy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food and always a welcome sidekick. Roasting garlic makes it sweeter, and takes away the bite, which makes all of the difference in this fantastic side dish.
These potatoes are so creamy and make a perfect pairing with Oven Roasted Turkey Breast and our juicy Tomahawk Steak.
Get the full recipe from: The Art Of Food And Wine
Image Credit: chocolatemoosey
Learn how to make mashed potatoes from scratch with Broccoli and Cheese Mashed Potatoes, made even better with a secret technique. Serve them as a holiday side dish or serve all year round with steak.
Potatoes are so versatile – side dishes, main dish, snack, breakfast, lunch, dinner, sometimes even dessert. You can serve them casually on a random Tuesday night or you can dress them up for the holidays.
Get the full recipe from: Chocolate Moosey
Image Credit: easybudgetrecipes
This Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese recipe is a bit on the naughty side because they’re made with Yukon Gold potatoes, butter, cream, and cream cheese. They’re the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and family dinners.
If you wanted to make these a little less “naughty”, then you can use milk (anything but skim) instead of cream. You can also use low-fat cream cheese, too.
Get the full recipe from: Easy Budget Recipes
Wrapping Up 30 Different Sweet Potatoes Recipes
mashed potatoes are a timeless classic that never fail to bring comfort and satisfaction to the table. By following a few key tips, such as choosing the right potatoes, seasoning generously, and incorporating plenty of butter and cream, you can achieve mashed potato perfection every time.
As you explore this collection of mashed potato recipes, remember that the true joy lies in the process of creating something nourishing and delicious with your own hands. So, the next time you crave a comforting, satisfying meal, turn to mashed potatoes as your trusty companion.
Embrace the joy of mashing, mixing, and tasting your way to mashed potato bliss, and savor the moments of togetherness and satisfaction that come with every bite. Happy mashing!
