16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (2024)

Whether you're making them for your holiday spread or just for dinner on a typical weeknight, mashed potatoes are a crowd-pleaser with the right consistency. Recipes for the velvety side dish range from simple to fancy, classic to reinvented. No matter how much you make, the best mashed potatoes will do the quickest vanishing act at the table. Here we've gathered our best mashed potato recipes to suit whatever kind of meal you're planning, from a luxe potato puree to a gussied-up casserole with sage and Fontina.

01of 16

Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (1)

These mashed potatoes are a speedy, nearly effortless dish thanks to a flavor-packed special ingredient: a garlic-and-herb-flecked spreadable cheese (such as Boursin). For a colorful twist, use purple Peruvian potatoes instead of Yukon Golds to make purple mashed potatoes.

Get the Recipe

02of 16

Rich and Creamy Mashed Potatoes

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (2)

A foolproof and perfect make-ahead dish, the secret to these velvety mashed potatoes is mayonnaise.

Get the Recipe

03of 16

Red Skin Potato Mash

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (3)

Chopped scallions bring freshness to this rich potato mash. Leaving the skin on these potatoes gives this fluffy, creamy dish a nice added crunch, too.

Get the Recipe

04of 16

Mashed Potatoes, Kind of Robuchon-Style

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (4)

Chef Joël Robuchon is famous worldwide for his super-silky, super-rich, super-light and buttery mashed potatoes. This is Anthony Bourdain's version of those potatoes.

05of 16

Harissa Mashed Potatoes

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (5)

Smoky harissa and tangy labneh give these spicy mashed potatoes gorgeous color and flavor.

Get the Recipe

06of 16

Herb-Scented Mashed Potatoes

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (6)

To make these next-level potatoes, F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple first steeps fresh rosemary, sage, and garlic in a combination of milk and cream, then folds that fragrant mixture into boiled and riced potatoes. To make them even more irresistible, he brushes the mashed potatoes with butter and broils them before serving, creating a deliciously light and crispy potato crust on top.

Get the Recipe

07of 16

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (7)

Mashed potatoes get an elegant upgrade with this combination of Yukon Gold potatoes and cauliflower. Cauliflower lightens the mash, emulsifies beautifully into the potatoes, and keeps the mixture from turning gummy.The lightly browned butter infused with thyme, sage, and rosemary brings in nutty and subtle herbaceous notes; don't forget to save some for the garnish.

Get the Recipe

08of 16

Pommes Puree

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (8)

These sublime buttery, creamy potatoes are based on the version made famous by French culinary legend Joël Robuchon.

Get the Recipe

09of 16

Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (9)

Chef Michael Symon's four-ingredient potatoes get plenty of flavor from browned butter and crème fraîche. Reserve a little browned butter to drizzle on the potatoes just before serving.

Get the Recipe

10of 16

Chantilly Potatoes with a Parmesan Crust

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (10)

The late cookbook editor Maria Guarnaschelli liked to joke that when you cook French food on a regular basis, you need a cow in the backyard to provide enough butter and cream. This dairy-rich recipe calls for whipped cream and cheese.

Get the Recipe

11of 16

Mashed Potato Casserole with Sage and Fontina

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (11)

To take mashed potatoes up a few notches, cookbook author Melissa Clark mashes them with a creamy, tangy mix of crème fraîche, butter, parsley, and sage, then tops them with cheesy breadcrumbs and bakes until crisp.

Get the Recipe

12of 16

Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Shallots

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (12)

For ultrafluffy potatoes, we press them through a ricer. To achieve a similar texture, pass the potatoes through a food mill or a fine-mesh sieve. If you choose to mash them by hand, be gentle; otherwise, the potatoes will turn gluey.

Get the Recipe

13of 16

Sweet Potatoes with Apple Butter

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (13)

Apple butter adds even more natural sweetness to Marcia Kiesel's fluffy sweet potatoes.

Get the Recipe

14of 16

Mashed Potatoes with Butternut Squash

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (14)

Equal amounts of roasted butternut squash and Yukon Gold potatoes boiled with garlic are combined with half-and-half and butter for a golden, subtly sweet take on classic mashed potatoes.

Get the Recipe

15of 16

Mashed Potatoes with Manchego and Olive Oil

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (15)

Instead of using butter, chef José Andrés prefers to add richness with olive oil and Manchego cheese. His tip: "Add the olive oil slowly to the potatoes because if you dump it in all at once, you'll get streaks of oil."

Get the Recipe

16of 16

Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (16)

These potatoes from chef Thomas Keller have a wonderfully fluffy texture because they're passed through a ricer or food mill to make them especially airy. But they're also nicely rich, thanks to generous amounts of butter and heavy cream.

Get the Recipe

16 Creamy, Buttery Mashed Potato Recipes for a Side That Steals the Show (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put vinegar in mashed potatoes? ›

The addition of a mildly acidic vinegar to a starchy veggie like potatoes not only deepens the flavor profile, but it also helps to tenderize the tubers.

Is sour cream or cream cheese better in mashed potatoes? ›

Cream cheese: Use full-fat for a rich, luxurious texture. Sour cream: Adds a subtle tanginess and creamy texture. Butter or margarine: Softened to work easily into the potatoes without overmixing. Milk: Adds moisture and helps thin the potatoes for a perfect consistency when baked.

What is the difference between creamy mashed potatoes and regular mashed potatoes? ›

Mashed potatoes can have butter and perhaps a bit of milk. Creamed (or whipped) potatoes are beaten with an electric mixer -- or one of those old-time hand-held manual mixers -- and they have lots of butter and cream to create a smoother texture.

What does Rachael Ray use to mash potatoes? ›

Mash potatoes with half-and-half or milk using a potato masher. Add in the cream cheese and smash until the cheese melts into the potatoes. Add chives or scallions. Season with salt and pepper, to your taste.

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Garlic and herbs are added to boost flavor

Instead of boiling a few potatoes and mashing them plain, a lot of restaurant chefs like to apply a little more finesse. Garlic and herbs infused in butter and cream add a flavor boost without overpowering.

Why add baking soda to mashed potatoes? ›

Directions. Throw just a pinch of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda into potatoes while mashing to make them fluffier.

What is the purpose of putting an egg in mashed potatoes? ›

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

Why do people add sour cream to mashed potatoes? ›

Sour cream adds a little bit of tangy flavor and a boost of richness to mashed potatoes. It's a fun change from the standard milk or cream and butter combo usually flavoring mashed taters. You can even try your hand at making homemade sour cream from heavy cream!

What adds flavor to mashed potatoes? ›

Garlic – For savory depth of flavor. Unsalted butter – For richness and buttery flavor. Milk – It smooths the starchy potatoes into an incredibly creamy mash. Use whole milk for the creamiest results.

Do you put hot or cold milk in mashed potatoes? ›

For the very best result every time, always gently warm the butter and milk before adding to the potatoes, rather than adding cold dairy straight from the fridge. Here's why: Warm dairy is absorbed faster and more easily, with less stirring than its cold counterpart.

Which potato is best mashed? ›

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are a starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes are best for mashed potatoes because they have a fluffy, almost airy texture that breaks down easily.

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream in mashed potatoes? ›

The best Creamy Mashed Potatoes consists of perfectly cooked russet potatoes, melted butter, heavy cream and a touch of tartness like crème fraîche.

Is a russet potato better than a white potato for mashed potatoes? ›

Using the wrong type of potatoes

Choose higher starch potatoes like Russets or Yukon Golds for the fluffiest, smoothest and most flavor-packed mash.

How does Gordon Ramsay make smashed potatoes? ›

Gordon Ramsay's Smashed Potatoes are made with baby potatoes, olive oil, herbs like rosemary or thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper this dish serves 8 and takes about 1 hour, including boiling and roasting for a crispy exterior.

Why do people put an egg in their mashed potatoes? ›

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

What does Gordon Ramsay use to cook with? ›

See for Yourself

Try HexClad and see why Gordan Ramsay loves it — and you'll love it too. If you're a home cook worth your salt, you deserve the latest innovation in cookware. Try our revolutionary cookware for your next big meal, or start with a few of your favorite cookware items to stock your cabinets slowly.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Last Updated:

Views: 5285

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Birthday: 1994-06-25

Address: Suite 153 582 Lubowitz Walks, Port Alfredoborough, IN 72879-2838

Phone: +128413562823324

Job: IT Strategist

Hobby: Video gaming, Basketball, Web surfing, Book restoration, Jogging, Shooting, Fishing

Introduction: My name is Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner, I am a zany, graceful, talented, witty, determined, shiny, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.