The Finest Creamy Mashed Potatoes

November 25, 2025

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Created On: November 23, 2025 &nbsp| Up to date: November 24, 2025 | Depart a remark

Mashed potatoes are such a traditional vacation facet dish, and right now I’m sharing my recipe for one of the best Creamy Mashed Potatoes. You don’t want tons of fancy components–simply butter, milk, salt, and pepper–to make this cozy vacation facet dish. These straightforward mashed potatoes may be prepped forward of time, and even frozen, till prepared to make use of. Get pleasure from as a vacation facet dish or an everyday dinner facet.

I like to consider myself as considerably of a mashed potato professional. As a baby, they have been just about the one factor I’d eat on the Thanksgiving desk, and I make them usually as an grownup. I’ve shared a couple of flavored mashed potato recipes through the years, however this super-creamy traditional is my all-time favourite. They’re straightforward to make and complement virtually any veggies and protein you wish to pair with them.

Why You’ll Love This Simple Mashed Potato Recipe

Will be prepped forward of time – Mashed potatoes may be prepped a couple of days upfront and reheated proper earlier than dinner. They are often reheated on the stovetop or within the oven. They could want a bit of further milk to loosen them, however they may nonetheless style recent and flavorful.
Simple to make – Mashed potatoes are most likely probably the most low-maintenance of the Thanksgiving sides. All you must do is peel and cube potatoes, boil till fork-tender, after which mash properly with milk, butter, and seasonings. They won’t look as fancy as scalloped potatoes, however for my part, mashed potatoes are all you want.
Only some components wanted – You solely want about 5 predominant components to make these ultra-creamy mashed potatoes. I do love taking part in round with enjoyable mashed potato flavors and additions, however I often discover myself craving a traditional model filled with butter, buttermilk, and properly salted.

Ideas For Making The Finest Mashed Potato Recipe

Don’t over-boil the potatoes – I used to suppose it could make the mashed potatoes creamier if I boiled them till they fell aside, however it will probably truly water-log them, creating mashed potatoes with an excessive amount of water and never a lot taste. Cook dinner till the primary signal that the fork can simply pierce by means of the potato.
Use a potato ricer – I’m not often massive on further kitchen devices, however a potato ricer may be so useful when making creamy mashed potatoes. Working the cooked potatoes by means of the potato ricer removes all of the lumps and provides the mashed potatoes a {smooth}, wealthy texture. Should you don’t have a potato ricer, you should use a kitchen sieve or only a common potato masher.
Don’t skimp on the salt – Potatoes are fairly gentle in taste by themselves, in order that they want a lot of salt. I like so as to add salt throughout cooking, in addition to after the butter and milk have been combined. I additionally use salted butter, relatively than unsalted, however both can be utilized.

Recipe Elements

Potatoes – Yukon Golds make super-creamy mashed potatoes, and I do use them sometimes, however I discover they’ve a barely candy taste as soon as mashed. Due to that, I desire russet or Idaho potatoes for my mashed potatoes. I additionally often peel the potatoes first, however preserving the skins on does add some dietary profit. Any potatoes can be utilized for mashed potatoes, although.
Butter – Common or dairy-free butter will work for this recipe. I desire to make use of salted butter as a result of potatoes actually take up salt, so it provides an additional taste, however unsalted butter will work, too.
Milk – Any milk can be utilized in mashed potatoes, so long as it’s unsweetened. I desire buttermilk due to its tangy taste, however common or dairy-free milk may even work. Some folks love to make use of cream or half-and-half as a result of it makes the mashed potatoes even richer and creamier.
Salt + Pepper – Salt is a vital ingredient when making mashed potatoes, so don’t skimp on it. I like so as to add an enormous pinch of salt to the water the potatoes prepare dinner in, and to season the completed mashed potatoes to style. Freshly cracked black pepper additionally goes properly and provides a bit of kick.
Garlic – Garlic is an optionally available ingredient, however one which does go properly with mashed potatoes. If I’m utilizing garlic, I like so as to add it to the milk and butter so it will probably prepare dinner a bit of bit, relatively than simply including it uncooked to the potatoes as soon as they’re mashed. Garlic powder can also be an incredible addition if you need a light garlic taste.

How To Make The Finest Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Wash and peel potatoes, after which cube them into bite-sized items. It doesn’t matter what measurement they’re; you need all of them to be about the identical measurement in order that they prepare dinner on the similar time. You’ll be able to depart the peels on for those who desire.
Add diced potatoes to a big pot after which cowl with chilly water. Add a beneficiant pinch of salt to the water, then place the pot over medium-high warmth. Carry water to a boil (about 12-Quarter-hour) and let the potatoes prepare dinner till fork-tender, about 20 minutes as soon as the water is boiling.
Drain the potatoes properly, then allow them to sit for a couple of minutes to permit any extra water to evaporate. Then, you may both add them again to the pot and mash them properly with a potato masher, or run them by means of a potato ricer for super-smooth mashed potatoes. I like utilizing a potato ricer as a result of it makes the mashed potatoes tremendous {smooth} and helps drain out any extra liquid. If utilizing a potato ricer, it’s possible you’ll wish to maintain it over the sink while you first press down, simply in case any water comes out first.
Flip the warmth on low and add within the melted butter. Combine the potatoes with the butter till {smooth}. Subsequent, pour within the buttermilk and blend once more till the specified consistency is reached. If you would like your mashed potatoes to be further free, you may add extra milk. Lastly, season properly with salt and black pepper, to style.
Mashed potatoes may be loved instantly or set apart till able to eat. To reheat mashed potatoes, both add them to a baking dish, wrap them in foil, and bake till heated by means of, or warmth them in a pot on the stovetop. It’s possible you’ll want so as to add further liquid when reheating them, as they will get a bit of stiff when cooled.

Recipe Ceaselessly Requested Questions

This recipe is already gluten-free.
Make these mashed potatoes vegan through the use of vegan butter and milk.
Ought to milk or buttermilk be used to make mashed potatoes? You’ll be able to actually use whichever one you like. Milk will do the job properly, however buttermilk is creamier and provides a tangy taste that some folks get pleasure from.
Can mashed potatoes be made forward of time? Sure, you may simply make them forward of time. Retailer mashed potatoes in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 4 days. Re-heat within the oven or on the stovetop. It’s possible you’ll want so as to add further liquid when re-heating.
Are mashed potatoes freezer-friendly? Sure, they’re freezer-friendly. Enable them to chill utterly, then retailer in a freezer-friendly, hermetic container for as much as 3 months. They could not retain their super-creamy texture as soon as thawed, however they need to nonetheless have a wonderful buttery style.
Can further flavors be added? Sure, you might be welcome so as to add any further flavors you want to those mashed potatoes. Garlic is a superb addition for further taste, as is mustard or horseradish sauce.
Do it’s worthwhile to use a potato ricer to make mashed potatoes? No, it’s positively not required to make mashed potatoes, however it does assist make them tremendous creamy. Should you don’t have a potato ricer, I like to recommend urgent the cooked potatoes by means of a mesh strainer to keep away from lumps. In any other case, a potato masher will work simply as properly.

Have a query I didn’t reply? Ask me within the remark part under, and I’ll get again to you ASAP!

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