The Ultimate Guide to Making Perfectly Creamy Homemade Mashed Potatoes
There’s nothing quite like a generous serving of perfectly smooth, rich, and delicious homemade mashed potatoes, especially when generously topped with melted butter and an optional drizzle of savory gravy. This classic side dish evokes feelings of warmth, comfort, and celebration, making it an absolute must-have for holiday feasts like Thanksgiving and Christmas, or simply for any evening you crave truly satisfying comfort food. Forget dry, bland, or lumpy versions – this recipe is designed to deliver consistently exceptional results, ensuring your mashed potatoes are the star of any meal.
Why You’ll Adore This Mashed Potato Recipe
For many, the mere thought of digging a fork into a fluffy pile of homemade mashed potatoes instantly brings to mind joyous holiday gatherings and abundant family feasts. It’s one of those quintessential side dishes that earns anticipation and admiration from everyone at the table. Its universal appeal lies in its comforting texture and ability to perfectly complement almost any main course.
These incredibly creamy mashed potatoes are the ideal companion to hearty main dishes. Imagine them alongside my succulent Crockpot Roast Beef, absorbing all the delicious juices. It’s a match made in culinary heaven that promises a truly satisfying meal.
While we certainly appreciate the convenience and deliciousness of an easy crockpot mashed potato recipe, these traditional, ultra-creamy mashed potatoes truly hit that nostalgic comfort spot. The classic method often yields a superior texture and flavor profile that’s hard to beat. If you’re looking to explore other fantastic potato options, don’t miss our brown butter mashed potatoes for a nutty twist, the traditional Irish colcannon mashed potatoes, or our perfectly crunchy crispy roast potatoes!
What sets this particular recipe apart is its secret to achieving unparalleled creaminess. We harness the rich indulgence of full-fat half and half, the subtle tang and body of cream cheese, and, of course, a generous amount of rich, delicious butter. These ingredients work in harmony to create a luxurious texture that is smooth, velvety, and utterly irresistible, without ever becoming heavy or greasy.
Choosing The Perfect Potatoes for Mashing
The foundation of any great mashed potato dish begins with selecting the right potato variety. For consistently smooth and creamy homemade mashed potatoes, **Yukon Golds are unequivocally the best choice**. This beloved potato variety is celebrated for its naturally buttery flavor, moist texture, and relatively low starch content compared to a russet, which helps it mash into an incredibly smooth mixture without becoming gummy. Their beautiful golden color is an added bonus, contributing to the inviting appearance of the finished dish.
While peeling your potatoes is always an option for a pristine, uniformly smooth mash, you can certainly opt for a more rustic, home-style dish by leaving the skins on. If you decide to keep the skins, it’s absolutely essential to scrub the potatoes very thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt or impurities. Additionally, make sure to cut off any rough spots, eyes, or green areas that might impact the flavor or texture.
When preparing the potatoes for cooking, precision in cutting isn’t paramount since they will all be mashed eventually. For even cooking, simply cut medium-sized potatoes in half, and quarter any particularly large ones. The goal is to ensure all pieces are roughly similar in size so they cook through at the same rate. Avoid cutting them into very small pieces, as this can lead to them absorbing too much water and becoming waterlogged.
**Why not other potato varieties for this recipe?** While other potatoes can be mashed, they yield different results. Russet potatoes, for instance, are high in starch and produce a fluffy, somewhat drier mash, which is excellent for a different style of mashed potato. Waxy potatoes like red bliss or new potatoes, on the other hand, have low starch and high moisture, making them prone to becoming gluey or gummy when mashed extensively due to their cell structure. For the ultimate creamy and smooth mashed potatoes, Yukon Golds strike the perfect balance.
Essential Ingredients for Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Gathering your ingredients before you start cooking ensures a smooth and enjoyable preparation process. This recipe calls for a handful of simple, wholesome components that come together to create a truly spectacular side dish. You’ll need fresh Yukon Gold potatoes, rich unsalted butter, creamy half-and-half (or a substitute like heavy cream), a block of regular cream cheese, Kosher salt for seasoning the water and the final dish, fresh ground black pepper, and your favorite seasoning mix. An optional turkey or brown gravy is also highly recommended for serving.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
How to Make Perfectly Creamy Homemade Mashed Potatoes
These step-by-step photos and instructions are designed to help you visualize each stage of making this delicious recipe. For a convenient printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and comprehensive instructions, simply Jump to Recipe to find the full recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- **Prepare the Potatoes:** Begin by thoroughly washing your Yukon Gold potatoes. If desired, you can peel them for an extra smooth mash, or leave the skins on for a more rustic texture after scrubbing well and removing any blemishes. Cut the potatoes into roughly even-sized pieces; halves for medium potatoes, and quarters for larger ones. This ensures consistent cooking.
- **Boil the Potatoes:** Fill a large Dutch oven or a spacious soup pot about 3/4 full with cold water. Add 1 tablespoon of Kosher salt to the water – this seasons the potatoes from the inside out and helps prevent them from becoming bland. Carefully add your prepared potatoes to the pot. Place the pot on the stovetop over high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for approximately 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are completely fork-tender. You should be able to easily pierce them with a fork without resistance.
- **Drain and Steam:** Once the potatoes are tender, carefully drain them in a colander. It’s crucial to allow them to steam for a few moments (about 2-3 minutes) in the colander. This step helps evaporate excess moisture, preventing your mashed potatoes from becoming watery or gummy. After steaming, return the dry, hot potatoes to the empty pot.
- **Add Richness:** To the hot, drained potatoes in the pot, add the unsalted butter (cut into pats) and the regular cream cheese. Ensure both are at room temperature for easier incorporation and a smoother result. The residual heat from the potatoes will help melt these ingredients.
- **Mash to Perfection:** Using a handheld electric mixer (or a potato masher for a slightly chunkier texture), begin to combine the butter, cream cheese, and cooked potatoes. Start on a low speed to break down the potatoes, gradually increasing as the mixture smooths out. Mix until the potatoes are mostly mashed and the dairy is well incorporated, but be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a gluey texture.
- **Final Touches:** Pour in the half and half. Then, sprinkle in your chosen seasoning mix (like Lawry’s Seasoning Salt or an all-purpose seasoning) and the fresh ground black pepper. Continue to mix briefly until everything is just combined and the potatoes reach your desired creamy consistency. Taste the mashed potatoes and adjust the seasonings as needed, adding more salt or pepper to suit your preference.
- **Serve and Enjoy:** At this stage, your creamy homemade mashed potatoes are ready to be served! You can dollop additional pats of butter directly on top for extra richness as it melts. For an authentic touch, generously ladle optional savory gravy over them. Feel free to add more salt and pepper to taste directly in the Dutch oven if serving family style, or garnish individual portions after transferring them to a serving bowl. Enjoy this ultimate comfort food!
Tips for Achieving the Perfect Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Crafting the ideal batch of creamy mashed potatoes isn’t complicated, but a few key tips can elevate your results from good to absolutely outstanding:
- Don’t Over-mash: This is perhaps the most crucial tip. Over-mashing potatoes, especially with a high-speed mixer, can break down too many starch cells, releasing excess starch and resulting in a gummy, unappetizing texture. Mash until just smooth, with perhaps a few tiny lumps if you prefer. A potato ricer or a hand masher can also help achieve a superior texture with less risk of over-mashing.
- Warm Your Dairy: Always add warm half-and-half (or milk/cream) and softened butter/cream cheese. Cold dairy can cool down your potatoes, making them harder to incorporate smoothly and affecting the overall temperature of your dish. Gently warm your half-and-half on the stovetop or in the microwave before adding.
- Season Generously and Taste: Potatoes are notorious for needing a good amount of salt. Season the cooking water, and then liberally season the mash. Taste as you go, and adjust salt, pepper, and seasoning mix until the flavor is perfectly balanced. Don’t be shy!
- Embrace Room Temperature Ingredients: Butter and cream cheese at room temperature will blend into your hot potatoes much more effortlessly, contributing to that seamless, creamy consistency.
- Consider a Potato Ricer: For the silkiest, lump-free mashed potatoes, a potato ricer is a fantastic tool. It processes the potatoes without overworking them, ensuring a light and airy texture.
Serving Suggestions & Delightful Variations
These creamy mashed potatoes are incredibly versatile and can be customized to suit any meal or preference. Here are some ideas:
- Classic Gravy: A rich brown gravy or turkey gravy is the traditional pairing, creating a classic comfort meal that’s hard to beat.
- Fresh Herbs: Stir in finely chopped fresh chives, parsley, or rosemary for a burst of fresh flavor and vibrant color.
- Garlic Infusion: Roast a head of garlic until soft, then squeeze the cloves into your mashed potatoes for a deep, mellow garlic flavor. Alternatively, sauté minced garlic in butter before adding it to the potatoes.
- Cheese Please: Fold in shredded cheddar, Parmesan, or a blend of your favorite cheeses for extra savoriness.
- Crispy Toppings: Sprinkle with crispy bacon bits, fried onions, or toasted breadcrumbs for added texture.
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: For an extra tang and creamy boost, stir in a spoonful of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating Tips
These mashed potatoes are wonderfully forgiving and can be prepared in advance, making them perfect for busy holidays or meal prep:
- **Make Ahead (Up to 2 Days):** Prepare the mashed potatoes entirely, then transfer them into a heat-safe baking dish. Allow them to cool completely before covering tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerating for up to 2 days.
- **Reheating:** When ready to serve, take the dish out of the refrigerator about 1 hour before heating to bring it closer to room temperature. If the potatoes appear dry after refrigeration, splash a little extra half-and-half or milk over the top. Reheat in a preheated 350-degree F (175 C) oven for 20-30 minutes, or until thoroughly hot and bubbly. You can also gently reheat them on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently and adding more dairy as needed to restore creaminess.
- **Freezing:** Mashed potatoes can be frozen, though the texture might change slightly upon thawing. Freeze in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating gently.
- **Storing Leftovers:** Store any leftover mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
More Delicious Recipe Ideas
Looking for more amazing dishes to complete your meal or satisfy your cravings? Here are a few favorites that pair wonderfully with these creamy mashed potatoes, or offer another delightful potato experience:
For another incredibly easy and satisfying dinner side dish, my creamy crockpot macaroni and cheese is a winner. It conveniently starts with uncooked macaroni, meaning you just combine the milk, cheese, and seasonings in your slow cooker for a minimal-effort, maximum-flavor meal that everyone will adore!
And if you can’t get enough of potatoes, these Rosemary Garlic Roasted Potatoes offer a different, equally delicious profile. This versatile dish pairs beautifully with so many mains, but I especially love them as a flavorful side with poultry, thanks to that generous amount of aromatic rosemary and garlic. The crispy edges and tender insides are simply irresistible.
Speaking of main courses, if you’re looking for a truly comforting and satisfying centerpiece, this meatloaf is proclaimed by many as the BEST meatloaf recipe out there! Pair your creamy traditional mashed potatoes with this hearty, flavorful dish for a complete and utterly comforting meal that feels like a warm hug.
And lastly, if you’re preparing these incredible mashed potatoes for a festive holiday gathering, don’t forget the perfect beverage to complete the spread – my vibrant and delicious holiday punch! It’s refreshing, festive, and always a crowd-pleaser.
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Homemade Mashed Potatoes
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes halves and quarter the large ones, peeled (optional), rough parts removed
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature, 2 sticks. divided, cut 1 stick into pats of butter
- ¾ cup half and half (you can substitute the same amount heavy cream or a combination of both)
- 8 ounces regular cream cheese 1 block cream cheese. room temperature
- 1 tablespoon Kosher salt for salting the water for boiling the potatoes, plus more for seasoning and serving
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1/2-1 tsp. amount to taste
- ½ teaspoon seasoning mix 1/2-1 tsp. like Lawry’s Seasoning Salt, season all, you could do Italian seasoning, amount to taste
- 1 cup turkey gravy Brown or turkey gravy- for topping/serving, optional
Things You’ll Need
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Electric mixer
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Large soup pot
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Colander
Before You Begin
Instructions
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Fill a Dutch oven or large soup pot with water, add 1 tablespoon salt, add the prepared potatoes. Place on the stove top over high heat, bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, cooking for a total of 30 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
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Drain the potatoes in a colander, allow them to steam for a few moments and then return them to the pot.
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Add 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter and the 8 ounce block of regular cream cheese.
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Using a handheld electric mixer, combine the butter, cream cheese and cooked potatoes.
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Pour in the half and half, sprinkle in the seasoning mix and pepper and combine. Adjust flavors to taste.
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At this point you can top with the pats of butter, optional gravy, more salt and pepper to taste if you are serving right in the Dutch oven or add the toppings after you transfer it into a serving bowl. Enjoy!
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post originally appeared here on Nov 18, 2018.