Creamy Mashed Potatoes – Brown Eyed Baker

Say whats up to essentially the most splendidly creamy mashed potatoes, aka the longer term star of each single vacation dinner for the remainder of your life. A mixture of the fitting potatoes and an excellent easy method makes all of the distinction – get excellent do-it-yourself mashed potatoes every time (plus numerous requests for the recipe any time you make them!).

Overhead photo of pink rustic bowl full of mashed potatoes sprinkled with chopped chives and a wooden spoon nestled inside.

What are you MOST excited to eat on Thanksgiving?

I sometimes gloss over the turkey, accepting a small piece of darkish meat, and cargo up on all of these aspect dishes, however the one which will get me starry-eyed each time is the mashed potatoes.

It took a while to nail down the method for actually magnificent potatoes, however as soon as I uncovered it, I’ve by no means made mashed potatoes one other approach! These are extremely simple and require only some components, which means there may be completely no motive to depart them off of your menu, whether or not it’s a vacation or a weeknight dinner.

I like that these are tremendous creamy however nonetheless retain little bit of texture and a few chunkiness – the perfect of each worlds in relation to mashed potatoes.

The Finest Potatoes to Use

These mashed potatoes depend on Yukon gold potatoes to present them the creamiest, dreamiest texture!

Yukon gold potatoes are the perfect of each worlds: they aren’t thought of full-on waxy potatoes like purple potatoes, which implies they break down somewhat bit simpler (necessary for mashing and creaming!), they usually additionally aren’t thought of full-on starchy potatoes like russet potatoes, which implies they aren’t as fluffy and lightweight (necessary for a creamy and dense texture!).

The semi-waxy and semi-starchy Yukon gold potatoes are mainly what mashed potato goals are product of!

Key Components and Strategies

Mashed potatoes are fairly primary, proper? Boil the potatoes, mash or beat in some liquid, season them, and voila! Potatoes! Besides… generally they’re not excellent, proper? Generally they end up gummy or dry or bland and gosh, isn’t that the worst?! Right here’s the way to make the all time mashed potatoes recipe:

  • Yukon Gold potatoes – As talked about above, the kind of potato is vital to the ultimate consistency.
  • Half-and-Half – I do know this isn’t available in all areas. You may substitute equal quantities of heavy cream and complete milk for the half-and-half on this recipe.
  • Heat butter and half and half – Prior to now, I’ve stirred in softened butter and milk from the fridge, or some variation thereof. As a substitute, right here we’re warming the butter and half and half on the range and mashing them into the potatoes, somewhat at a time. Including them heat permits them to extra simply take in into the potatoes, making for a lot smoother and creamier mashed potatoes.
  • Liberal Seasoning – Season greater than you assume it is best to! Severely, is there something worse than bland mashed potatoes? Chances are you’ll assume that the quantity of salt and pepper on this recipe is rather a lot, however I promise you that the potatoes style AMAZING and this isn’t an space you need to skimp!
Butter and half-and-half melted together in a small black saucepan.

Many individuals swear through the use of hand mixer to make their mashed potatoes, however I’ve all the time discovered a guide masher to supply a greater closing product. I feel it’s too simple to overbeat potatoes with an electrical mixer, which may result in gummy mashed potatoes.

Tips on how to Make Creamy Mashed Potatoes

The preparation doesn’t take lengthy in any respect and also you’ll be rewarded with essentially the most improbable mashed potatoes! Right here we go:

  1. Peel the potatoes and minimize them into even 1-inch cube. 
  2. Place in a big saucepan or stockpot and canopy with water, making certain that there’s an additional inch or so of water above the potatoes. Set them on excessive to boil.
  3. In the meantime, place the half-and-half and butter in a small saucepan over low warmth to heat and soften.
  4. Boil the potatoes till they’re fork-tender and drain them in a big colander (I like this over-the-sink colander!).
  5. Return them to the unique pot and provides them a fast mash together with your favorite potato masher (I don’t suggest utilizing a ricer; whereas potato ricers can create fluffy and lightweight mashed potatoes, I just like the creamier, thicker texture achieved with a standard masher).
  6. Add the warmed butter combination a ladleful at a time, mashing the liquid into the potatoes till it’s included earlier than including extra. 
  7. Give it yet another good closing stir, then combine within the salt and pepper! Serve them up together with your favourite dinner and a drizzle of gravy if in case you have it!
Side by side photos of potatoes in a large pot and then being mashed up in the pot with a potato masher.
Side by side photos - on left, melted butter and cream stirred into coarsely mashed potatoes; on right, creamy mashed potatoes being stirred with wooden spoon.

Taste Variations

I very a lot desire a pile of creamy mashed potatoes which are merely seasoned with salt and pepper, nonetheless you possibly can create one million totally different taste profiles with this easy base. In the event you’d like so as to add some additional flavors, under are some concepts:

  • Garlic – For a mellower taste that isn’t too overwhelming, attempt going the roasted-garlic route.
  • Tang – To get somewhat little bit of a tang, attempt stirring in a dollop or two of cream cheese or bitter cream.
  • Onions – They will impart nice taste; I’d counsel caramelized onions or shallots for a light taste.
  • Contemporary Herbs – Relying on what you’re serving, you may need to garnish with a little bit of contemporary rosemary or thyme; chives could be fairly impartial and an incredible garnishment it doesn’t matter what else you’re serving.
  • Bacon – Be at liberty to stir in some cooked, chopped bacon!
  • Dairy-Free – Whereas the style will differ, you possibly can substitute margarine or vegan butter on this recipe.

Make-Forward Mashed Potatoes

Years in the past, as a brand new mother of two-under-two, I grew uninterested in making an attempt to time my potatoes with the turkey being achieved and carved on Thanksgiving, so I began making them early within the day and preserving them within the gradual cooker on heat. It labored like a appeal!

Now I make them within the morning earlier than anybody will get right here they usually’re piping scorching once we sit all the way down to eat.

How-To: Merely make the potatoes as directed, then splash somewhat heavy cream into the underside of a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker and switch the completed mashed potatoes into the gradual cooker. Drizzle somewhat heavy cream on prime, cowl, and set to heat. Stir each half-hour or so and add a splash extra cream if the potatoes appear dry at any level. Serve when prepared!

Close up photo of mashed potatoes in a serving bowl, sprinkled with minced chives, and a wooden spoon resting in the bowl.

What To Serve with Mashed Potatoes

Watch the Recipe Video

In the event you make these mashed potatoes and love them, bear in mind to cease again and provides it a 5-star ranking – it helps others discover the recipe! ❤️️

A close-up photo of mashed potatoes swirled in a bowl with a wooden spoon.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

An excellent easy method makes all of the distinction – get splendidly creamy mashed potatoes every time.

  • 2 kilos Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and minimize into giant chunks
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) half-and-half
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
  • Put the potatoes in a big pot and canopy with chilly water.

  • Convey to a boil and cook dinner till the potatoes are very tender.

  • In the meantime, warmth the butter and half-and-half in a small saucepan over low warmth.

  • Drain the potatoes and return to the pot. Mash up the potatoes somewhat with a potato masher. Add the melted butter combination somewhat at a time and use the potato masher to mix. As soon as it has all been added, use a picket spoon or spatula to present it just a few stirs to mix fully. Stir within the salt and pepper and stir to mix. Serve instantly.

  • Gear: Potato Masher
  • Half-and-Half: I do know this isn’t available in all areas. You may substitute equal quantities of heavy cream and complete milk for the half-and-half on this recipe.
  • Seasoning: These are very effectively seasoned (there’s nothing worse than bland mashed potatoes!); if you happen to’re watching your salt consumption, you could need to in the reduction of on the salt to begin after which add extra to style.
  • Taste Variations: Create totally different flavors from this base recipe by including issues like roasted garlic, caramelized onions or shallots, contemporary herbs, bacon, cream cheese, or bitter cream.
  • Dairy-Free – Whereas the style will differ, you possibly can substitute margarine or vegan butter on this recipe.
  • Make-Forward: You may hold these mashed potatoes heat in a slow cooker if making them for a vacation dinner. Splash some cream on the underside of the gradual cooker, add the mashed potatoes, after which a splash of heavy cream on prime. Preserve the gradual cooker on heat and stir sometimes. If the potatoes appear dry at any level, then simply stir in some further cream.
  • Storage: Preserve leftover mashed potatoes in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.

Dietary values are primarily based on one serving

Energy: 394kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 7g, Fats: 28g, Saturated Fats: 17g, Ldl cholesterol: 77mg, Sodium: 1207mg, Potassium: 995mg, Fiber: 5g, Vitamin A: 870IU, Vitamin C: 26.2mg, Calcium: 123mg, Iron: 7.3mg

This recipe was initially revealed in November 2011.

Pictures by Ari of Well Seasoned