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Everyone who has tried making this amazing Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe has excelled at it. It is so easy that you will never go wrong with it. The result is creamy, buttery, fluffy, and super yummy!
With 5 ingredients and one pot only, you can make a satisfying bowl of mashed potatoes that melt in your mouth. Prepare some potatoes, milk, butter, cream cheese, and salt, and let’s get started. It will come out perfectly creamy every time!
Buttery, Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Well-chosen side dishes like this creamy mashed potatoes recipe and many other delicious sides provide a balance of flavors, textures, and colors that can complement the main course and create a more satisfying meal. Some of my delicious sides you have to try are viral la scala chopped salad, layered hummus veggie dip recipe, muhammara (roasted red pepper and walnut dip), grilled corn with spicy cajun butter, and many other side recipes.
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview
Cuisine: Classic American
Cooking Method: Boiling and mashing
Skill Required: Easy, suitable for all levels
Signature Taste: Rich, buttery, and creamy with a hint of tang from cream cheese
Diet Info: Gluten-free
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Creamy Homemade Comfort: Creamy, buttery, and rich in flavor, these mashed potatoes bring feelings of warmth and satisfaction with every spoonful.
Simple Yet Delicious: With just a handful of basic ingredients and simple instructions, these mashed potatoes are incredibly easy to make. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you crave a comforting side dish without the fuss.
Versatile Side Dish: Whether served alongside a hearty roast dinner, a comforting stew, or as part of a festive holiday feast, these mashed potatoes complement a wide range of main and side dishes.
Creamy Dreamy Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Creamy Mashed Potatoes are not just comforting but they are good for the soul! This recipe is for classic mashed potatoes so there are no additions of cheeses or exotic spices.
You’ll never need another mashed potato recipe again! Here’s what you need.
Potatoes: The best kind for mashed potatoes is starchy potatoes. Russet or Idaho potato are perfect options.
Butter: Don’t skimp on butter for this recipe. Add real butter to your potatoes, and be generous to get an extra buttery texture. You can use salted or unsalted butter, they both work!
Heavy cream: I use heavy cream when there is an occasion and you really want to nail the recipe! You can also use whole milk if you have it on hand. It is better to heat the milk before adding it to the potatoes for best results.
Cream cheese: It adds a great creamy texture with a slight cheese taste.
Salt and pepper: These are simple ingredients that create harmony in your meal and enhance the flavors.
(Scroll down for recipe details.)
Mashed Potatoes Serving Suggestions
My kids love mashed potatoes. It’s one of their favorite dishes, and they always get excited when they see it on the table. Whether served as a side dish or the base for a hearty meal, mashed potatoes never fail to bring smiles to their faces.
Sometimes, I make them with ground beef and roasted vegetables on top, creating a complete meal that they enjoy. We use mashed potatoes in various recipes all year round.
I also serve my mashed potatoes with rich flavorful gravy to enhance their creamy texture and savory taste. The smooth, warm gravy complements the mashed potatoes perfectly, making each bite even more delicious and satisfying.
If I’m celebrating Thanksgiving or planning a holiday meal, I always enrich my dinner table with a large bowl of delicious mashed potatoes.
I serve it with a Beef Steak Fajita Bowl, Tender Slow Cooked Roast Beef, or Seasoned Air Fried Rotisserie Chicken and a bowl of Fattoush or TikTok’s Viral Green Goddess Salad. Yummy!
Perfection Every Time!
Customize your Mashed Potatoes Bowl
Creamy mashed potatoes are not only easy to make, but you can also add your own tweaks each time to get a super delicious bowl.
You can use any type of milk for this recipe, but the heavier the milk, the creamier the potatoes will be. For the milk, I prefer using half-and-half, regular milk, or heavy cream as they all enhance the flavor and texture. However, feel free to use any milk you like.
You can omit the cream cheese if you prefer, but it adds a wonderful creaminess and flavor. You can use regular cream cheese or whipped cream cheese.
For cheese fans, you can load your bowl of mashed potatoes with shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix of both.
You can mix some chopped chives or chopped green onions into your bowl or use them for garnish. They add extra color and flavor to your mashed potatoes.
You can boil a couple of garlic cloves with the potatoes or roast them in the oven. Then, mash them with the potatoes for an extra garlicky flavor.
If you like to add a spicy kick, you can add some sliced jalapenos or sprinkle some red chili pepper. Enjoy the heat!
If you are vegan or following a dairy free diet, you can use vegan butter, almond milk, and vegan cream cheese. How easy!
Winning Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Tips and Tricks
You can never go wrong with a mashed potato recipe. But here are some tips to perfect your meal.
If the potatoes are large, you can cut them into quarters before boiling them. Large potatoes may cook unevenly. To know if they are ready, just poke one with a fork or a knife. They are cooked when they get a tender texture.
For ultimate taste, it is better to use a hand masher for the creamiest potatoes. If you use a food processor or a stand mixer, it will break down the starches and their texture will not be the same.
Heat the dairy you use in a saucepan or the microwave before adding them to the potatoes. It will keep the potatoes hot and allow them to absorb better.
Add the heavy cream or whole milk a little at a time and mix till you get the perfect consistency.
Make Ahead, Store, and Freeze
A mashed potatoes dish is perfect any time. So, why not keep some ready to serve whenever you need something satisfying?
Well, you can prepare the mashed potatoes ahead of time. Then, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.
Do you want to keep it for longer? Allow them to cool completely, then scoop them into a zip lock or freezer bag and store them in the freezer for around a month. It is better to press flat the bags so they thaw quickly when needed.
When reheating mashed potatoes, add more milk because they tend to thicken in the refrigerator. You can also grease a saucepan and add the mashed potatoes along with a tablespoon of milk. Place the pan on the stove stirring occasionally until the potatoes heat through.
A quicker way is to reheat mashed potatoes in the microwave. Put the potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl with a tablespoon of milk, and stir once or twice during reheating for the best results.
It’s a Crowd Fave Indeed!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yukon gold works too but they’re more buttery and not quite as starchy.
If you are using Russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes, then you must peel them because they have tough skin. If you decide to use Yukon gold, you can keep the skin on for a bit of texture.
You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days and reheat them upon eating. You can mix them with some cheese, turn them into patties or balls, and fry them.
Well, yes you can. You will need less boiling time for the potatoes to be ready.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 8 large russet potatoes, peeled
- 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk
- ½ stick butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and cut them in half. Then, place them in a large pot filled with salted water.
- Place the pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil. Cover the pan, and then reduce the heat to medium.
- Cook the potatoes until they are fork-tender, about 20-25 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes, then place them back into the empty pot and mash well.
- Add in the softened butter, heavy cream or milk, cream cheese, salt and black pepper over medium-low heat as you continue mashing until whipped. Turn heat off.
- Taste and adjust the salt to your liking. If the mash is not as creamy, add ¼ cup more heavy cream and mash over low heat until creamy. Serve warm with homemade gravy.
Notes
- If the potatoes are large, you can cut them into quarters before boiling them. Large potatoes may cook unevenly. To know if they are ready, just poke one with a fork or a knife. They are cooked when they get a tender texture.
- For ultimate taste, it is better to use a hand masher for the creamiest potatoes. If you use a food processor or a stand mixer, it will break down the starches and their texture will not be the same.
- Heat the dairy you use in a saucepan or the microwave before adding it to the potatoes. It will keep the potatoes hot and allow them to absorb better.
- Add the heavy cream or whole milk a little at a time and mix till you get the perfect consistency.
Thank you for sharing your tips for great mashed potatoes! I made this and got lots of compliments! It was very silky, creamy, and fluffy.
I followed your recipe and the result was ah-Mazing!! Best homemade mashed potatoes recipe! I recommend 👍
So happy to hear that!! 🙂
I made your recipe today and the texture was wonderful. The best mashed potatoes i’ve ever tasted
So exciting to hear! 😉