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This homemade mashed potatoes recipe can be used to make mashed potatoes for a weeknight dinner or doubled to feed a crowd at a holiday get-together.
Mashed potatoes are just one of those side dishes you have to learn how to make from scratch. There is no box out there that will ever come close to homemade.
Not only is this recipe incredibly simple to make but it is also deliciously nutritious.
What you need to make homemade mashed potatoes
Making mashed potatoes at home is one of the easiest recipes to make. All you need for mashed potatoes is russet potatoes, butter, and a bit of heavy cream.
How to make mashed potatoes without heavy cream
If you don’t have heavy whipping cream on hand, don’t worry. You can substitute regular milk, half and half, or sour cream for the heavy cream in this recipe just fine.
The heavy whipping cream will make the mashed potatoes be a bit more creamy in taste but milk can definitely work in a pinch. Also, a good substitute in this recipe for heavy whipping cream is sour cream. You can also substitute half and half for heavy whipping cream as well in this recipe.
Cooking Tip! Any sort of liquid can be used when mashing homemade mashed potatoes like chicken broth, milk, half and half, sour cream, and heavy whipping cream. You just need a little bit of liquid to help get a creamy consistency to smashed potatoes.
The secret to deliciously creamy mashed potatoes
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a lot of upper body strength to be mashing potatoes by hand. I’ve never physically mashed potatoes. In my family we have always used an electric hand mixer to whip our mashed potatoes into a creamy consistency.
When I got a KitchenAid stand mixer, I ditched the electric hand mixer and began making my mashed potatoes in the mixer itself just using the basic paddle attachment. Both the hand mixer and stand mixer yield creamy, delicious mashed potatoes every time.
How to make creamy mashed potatoes
The process of making homemade mashed potatoes is really quite simple. In just a few steps you can make creamy mashed potatoes.
- Wash & Cut Potatoes: using russet potatoes, clean the skins thoroughly under water, peel if desired, and cut into cubes.
- Boil potatoes in Salted Water: place all of the cubed potatoes into a large stockpot, cover the potatoes with water, add some salt, and bring to a boil.
- Drain and Mash: after potatoes are fork tender, remove from heat and drain, allow to drain for several minutes before transferring back into the pot to mash with a potato masher or whip using a hand mixer.
How to make mashed potatoes with skin
This recipe can be used to make mashed potatoes with or without the skin left on the potatoes. The benefit of leaving the skin on the potatoes not only makes the process of making homemade mashed potatoes a lot quicker but the skin of the potato also makes the finished mashed potatoes have a bit more nutrients.
So, if you don’t feel like peeling the potatoes before making mashed potatoes. No problem! Just wash the potatoes really well, cut into cubes, and make according to the recipe below.
Equipment Recommendations for whipped potatoes
- Electric Hand Mixer: this little gadget is a must have for any kitchen. This electric hand mixer helps to make the creamiest mashed potatoes with ease.
- Hand Potato Masher: these types of potato masher are also great if you like your mashed potatoes to be a little chunkier. You can get creamy mashed potatoes with these but it takes a little bit more time and effort.
- Potato Peeler: a good potato peeler is a must in any kitchen. Not only can it be used to peel potatoes but also is good for peeling other vegetables like carrots and fruits as well.
- Kitchenaid Peel, Core, and Slice Spiralizer Attachment: if you are doing a lot of peeling for large gatherings I think this spiralizer attachment from Kitchenaid is worth the investment
How to store mashed potatoes in the fridge
Place leftover mashed potatoes in a glass container with a lid and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Leftover mashed potatoes can be reheated in the microwave by transferring cold mashed potatoes to a microwave safe bowl. Add a splash of milk to mashed potatoes before microwaving on high for 1-2 minutes. Remove from microwave and stir. Microwave for another minute and then stir again. Repeat that process until leftover mashed potatoes are heated through.
The easiest way to peel a bunch of potatoes
Depending on how many people you are planning to feed, there is a pretty good chance that you might be peeling a lot of potatoes at once. For example this recipe calls for 10 small to medium sized potatoes. That is a lot of potatoes to peel. So how do you make this task easier?
For one, get a good peeler if you are going to be doing this task by hand. If you plan on peeling a lot more potatoes or make mashed potatoes frequently, I think the peeler attachment for the KitchenAid mixer is worth the investment.
The Best Homemade Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 small-medium Russet Potatoes peeled, cubed
- water
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1 stick salted butter
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- (optional) parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Fill pot with water until you just barely cover the potatoes.
- Place pot onto the stove and turn on high. Wait until water begins to boil.
- Once boiling reduce heat to medium-low. Allow to cook 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes can be cut easily with a fork. The length of cooking time will depend on how big your cubes of potatoes are.
- Once potatoes are cooked thoroughly. Remove from heat and strain in a colandar in the sink. Let potatoes sit in the colandar undisturbed for 5 minutes to allow all excess water to drain away.
- After 5 minutes, place potatoes into a large mixing bowl. This could be a mixing bowl attachment for your stand mixer or just a regular glass mixing bowl.
- Add 5 tbsp of butter to the potatoes and heaving whipping cream.
- With the paddle attachment on your stand mixer mix the potatoes until smooth on low speed. Scrape the sides every so often to get rid of any lumps.Alternatively, if you do not have a stand mixer, you can use a hand mixer to mix the potatoes, butter, and heavy whipping cream in the same manner.
- Mix in any additional salt or pepper to your preferred taste.
- Transfer mashed potatoes to a serving dish. Top with remaining 3 tbsp of butter and garnish with dried parsley (optional).
Notes
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Haven’t made any potato dish for the longest time! My daughter would love this, and she would enjoy trying out your recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Such an easy and delicious recipe! Love mashed potatoes, but gotta try this creamy version ?.
My husband loves mashed potatoes big time. I would love to make this for him. Looks good!
These look so good – I want to dive into them and eat my way out. I like the idea of the whipping cream.
Mashed potatoes are only good to me if they’re homemade. And boy are the homemade ones SO good.
This is very similar to the mashed potatoes I already make.
Mashed potatoes is always a hit in out house! This one is a must make recipe!
My husband loves mashed potato. I’ve not made it in ages. Not tried it with whipping cream before. That sounds great.
These mashed potatoes look really good and creamy! I like a little bit more texture to mine but I’d definitely give this recipe a try!
Oh my! This looks absolutely delicious and tasty! Can’t wait to try this recipe! My family would love this for sure!
We love making homemade mashed potatoes. Haven’t tried putting whipping cream though. Will do that next time!
It looks like you have explained one of the easiest ways of mashing potatoes. Thanks for this.
Nothing is more comforting to eat than a big pile of mashed potatoes! I love how simple this recipe is too. I normally use red potatoes so I’d like to switch it up and try Russets!
This cooler weather has me thinking about comfort food lately! I would love to make a big batch of this. Perfect time to have leftovers on hand.
Oh man, there’s nothing better than great homemade mashed potatoes. Perfect for fall!
Thank you for this! I will try it out. The last recipe I tried had barely any flavor.
My son loves mash potatoes. I will have him make this recipe soon.