These cozy mashed potato recipes will help you elevate your holiday table with fun twists on a classic side dish!
Roasted turkey is all well and good, but if we're being honest: Thanksgiving is really about the sides. And mashed potatoes? That's the can't-miss side dish we need on our holiday tables.
Below, you'll find some of our favorite twists on classic mashed potatoes: From cheesy upgrades to foolproof flavor boosters to time-saving tips. We've curated a collection of the best mashed potato recipes from our own archives, plus a few fantastic additions from some friends around the web! These recipes are elegant enough for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but simple enough for a cozy side dish on weeknights.
Mashed Potatoes 101
When it comes to mashed potatoes, we've tried everything (and we mean EVERYTHING). This in-depth guide is a great starting point for homemade mashed potatoes. It covers our team's BEST tips from years of catering and recipe development experience, including:
- The best type of potatoes to use
- Side-by-side comparisons of different mashing methods (like a hand masher, potato ricer, electric mixer, and more!)
- Results from our blind taste testing
Our Favorite Base Recipe
Our ultimate mashed potato recipe is light, fluffy, and foolproof: If you're new to homemade mashed potatoes, this easy recipe is the perfect place to start! Boil your potatoes in a large pot until fork-tender, drain in a colander, then mash with a bit of unsalted butter and half and half for a rich, creamy, fluffy consistency. Top this classic recipe with chives and a drizzle of melted butter for a beautiful presentation.
The best mashed potato recipes
Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes
Shredded smoked gouda cheese adds incredible flavor to these creamy mashed potatoes. Made with red potatoes.
Cheddar Greek Yogurt Mashed Potatoes
These easy, fluffy mashed potatoes get a burst of flavor (and extra protein!) from tangy Greek yogurt and sharp cheddar cheese.
Rosemary Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes
These elegant mashed potatoes feature fresh rosemary and plenty of nutty browned butter.
Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes
Stir mascarpone cheese into these mashed potatoes for a creamy, silky texture that's perfect for holidays.
Photo & Recipe: Ahead of Thyme
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
These garlic mashed potatoes are rich, garlicky and oh so creamy. They will pair well with a hearty beef dish and a big glass of red wine!
Photo & Recipe: Midwest Foodie
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Easy, fluffy mashed potatoes made with cauliflower puree and yukon gold potatoes. Vegan and dairy-free!
Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes
This is a perfect make-ahead recipe: Make the mashed potatoes on the stove with sour cream and cheddar cheese, then transfer to a casserole dish. Bake right away, or cool and store in the fridge up to 3 days. A crispy top layer adds amazing texture.
Photo & Recipe: Ahead of Thyme
Boursin Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Shallots
Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes are whipped with rich, herby Boursin cheese and sweet caramelized shallots for a restaurant-quality side dish.
Photo & Recipe: Sweet Tea & Thyme
Cacio e Pepe Mashed Potatoes
These creamy mashed potatoes feature grated parmesan and plenty of fresh cracked black pepper, plus a dash of sour cream!
Photo & Recipe: A Duck's Oven
White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes with Mushroom Guinness Gravy
This simple vegetarian mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy recipe gets a flavorful boost from a splash of Guinness.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Instant pot mashed potatoes are the quickest and easiest mashed potatoes you’ll make in under 20 minutes (including prep!) in the pressure cooker.
Photo & Recipe: Ahead of Thyme
Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
Red skin mashed potatoes are rich, buttery, and loaded with garlic. They have a subtle Cajun kick and are ready in 30 minutes. No peeling required!
Photo & Recipe: Lauren from Scratch
Three tips for perfect mashed potatoes
- Season them properly. Mashed potato recipes tend to use simple ingredients, which means proper seasoning is extra important! Generously salt the water you boil your potatoes in, and add another pinch of salt before mashing. Taste as you go, and add seasoning as needed to help the flavors pop.
- Don't overwork the potatoes. Too much mashing or stirring can turn potatoes gummy. For light and fluffy potatoes, try to work them as little as possible.
- Start with COLD water. If you add potatoes directly to boiling water, the outside layers will cook more quickly and you'll end up with uneven texture. For best results and even cooking, cover potatoes in COLD water, add salt, then bring the pot to a boil.
FAQs
In our Mashed Potato testing, our blind taste testers agreed that yukon gold potatoes yield the creamiest consistency and overall best mashed potatoes for a perfect side dish! Still, you can make great mashed potatoes with just about any variety:
Yellow potatoes (also called yukon gold or butter potatoes) give you a creamy texture and the silkiest mash.
Use red potatoes when you want a hearty, rustic mash with a bit of texture.
Russet potatoes have plenty of starches and a drier texture that's great for absorbing other ingredients (use these when you want to load your potatoes up with plenty of butter, whole milk, cream, or cheeses).
Let mashed potatoes cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat them as-is, or repurpose the leftovers into mashed potato gnocchi or a savory mashed potato pie. Mashed potatoes also freeze very well!
Yes! Converting a stovetop mashed potato recipe to work well in a crockpot or pressure cooker can be tricky, so we recommend using a recipe that's specifically developed and written for your appliance. Try this recipe for Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or this easy slow cooker mashed potato recipe!
To keep leftover mashed potatoes light and creamy, it helps to add a splash of liquid (like chicken, vegetable, or turkey stock); dairy (half and half, heavy cream, or a splash of milk); water; or melted butter to keep them moist. You can reheat mashed potatoes on the stovetop, in the oven, or in the microwave! Learn more: How to reheat leftover mashed potatoes.
We hope you loved this guide to gourmet mashed potatoes! For more holiday menu ideas, visit our full Thanksgiving recipe guide.
More Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Dried Cranberries and Goat Cheese
- Thanksgiving Cheese Board
- Crusty Cranberry Pecan Bread (No Kneading)
- Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce (Video)
- Pumpernickel, Apple, and Sausage Stuffing
- Arugula Pear Salad with Toasted Pecans
- Salted Dinner Rolls (With Video!)
- Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Comments
No Comments