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Southern Cravings

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The Best Homemade Mashed Potatoes!

September 20, 2020 · Anna Kate

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There’s nothing more American than homemade mashed potatoes! Rich and creamy, this recipe is easy to make and perfect for your holiday table or smothered by a stew or pot roast.

Mashed potato with spoon, in a copper pot

No Thanksgiving is complete without these on the table! I consider this recipe an essential for a holiday feast! These are a breeze to make using a stand-mixer and can easily be made ahead of time and kept warm in a slow cooker.

But mashed potatoes aren’t complete without gravy, right? If you are hosting the holiday meal and need a short cut for gravy, use Williams-Sonoma Turkey Gravy Base. Follow the directions but use vegetable broth instead of milk.

I use this gravy every Thanksgiving and it takes the stress out of making finnicky gravy! I’m sure there is a Southern ancestor clutching her pearls right about now, but I have no shame when it comes to this secret!

Jars of Williams Sonoma Gravy Base
Image Credit: Williams Sonoma

I make this ahead of time and keep in a smaller slow cooker until we are ready to serve. One less thing to worry about!

How Many Mashed Potatoes Per Person?

Most recipes will tell you to use about a half a pound of potatoes per person. That means, if you are making potatoes for 10 people, use 5 pounds of potatoes.

When you have other things on the plate, like green beans, turkey, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce and other side dishes…that seems like a lot of potatoes! I usually account for half of a potato per person, especially during with large holiday meals.

Ingredients for Mashed Potatoes

Here’s your shopping list!

  • Potatoes – I use regular baking potatoes for this recipe. It’s just what I’ve always used, but you could use any variety of potato.
  • Milk – Make sure you have full fat milk! It provides creamier flavors than its counterparts.
  • Butter – Need I say more? Again, full fat is best here for maximum flavor. I prefer stick butter to margarine or spreads.
  • Sour Cream – Full fat again! You want to max out the creaminess of this recipe. And I love the bite that comes with the sour cream.
  • Mayonnaise – Mayo gives it another layer of tang. You can leave this out of the recipe if you prefer, but you will never know it’s in there!
  • Garlic – I love the flavor garlic gives to the potatoes. It’s delicious and gives it a subtle flavor boost!

Variations

In addition to the ideas below, any type of potato will do!

  • Garlic Mashed Potatoes – Amp up the garlic and double or triple the amount from this recipe.
  • Loaded Mashed Potatoes – Your favorite kind of baked potato, but mashed! Load it up with cheese, bacon bits, chives, etc.!
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes – Swap baking potatoes for sweet potatoes and omit the sour cream and mayo for a healthier take on mashed potatoes!
  • Mashed Red potatoes – If you prefer red potatoes, this recipe would be delicious with all red new potatoes.

How to Make Creamy Mashed Potatoes

First, I peel and quarter potatoes. This speeds up the cooking process and is easier to manage.

peeled and halved potatoes on a cutting board

Place the potatoes in a large pot with room for the water and fill until the potatoes are covered. Bring to a boil, then turn down to medium and cover.

peeled Potatoes in a pot

The potatoes are done when you can easily pierce the larger pieces with a fork – about 30 minutes or so. Some of the potatoes may fall apart, but that’s ok…we are mashing them up anyway! 

When the potatoes are done cooking, carefully strain them into a colander. Then, add them to a large bowl (or return to the pot) and mash with a potato masher, or with a handheld beater or place on a stand mixer.

Step by step. Preparing American style creamy mashed potatoes  with kitchen mixer.

Then, add in the butter, milk, mayo, and sour cream, and mix until well-combined.

Step by step. Preparing American style creamy mashed potatoes with kitchen mixer.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Make Ahead Tips

If you are making these ahead of time, follow the recipe, then transfer them to a slow cooker. Place on warm until you are ready to serve. Occasionally, you will need to give them a stir (to avoid sticking to the sides). Add a little milk if they begin to look dry.

Recipe

Mashed potato with spoon, in a copper pot

Homemade Mashed Potatoes

There’s nothing more American than homemade mashed potatoes! Rich and creamy, this recipe is easy to make and perfect for your holiday table or smothered by a stew or pot roast.
Servings: 10
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Mixing Time 10 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Print Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 5 lbs. Baking Potatoes
  • 3 tbsp Butter
  • ¼ cup Milk
  • ½ cup Mayonnaise
  • ½ cup Sour Cream
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE INFORMATION, DETAILS, TIPS, AND MORE IN THE BLOG POST ABOVE.

Instructions
 

  • Wash, peel and quarter potatoes.
  • Place the potatoes in a large pot with room for the water. Then, fill the pot with water until all of the potatoes are covered.
  • Place on the stove on high heat until boiling, then turn down to medium and cover for 30 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork.
  • When the potatoes are done cooking, carefully strain them into a colander. Then, add them to a large bowl and mash with a potato masher, handheld beater, or stand mixer.
  • Then, add in the butter, milk, sour cream, mayo, and garlic cloves. Mix well to combine.

Notes

If you are preparing these potatoes for a crowd, save your arm strength and use a stand mixer to whip these up a little quicker.
If you are opposed to mayo, you can leave it out. But the mayo makes the mashed potatoes light and fluffy on the taste buds!
If you are making these ahead of time, follow the recipe, then transfer them to a slow cooker. Place on warm until you are ready to serve. Occasionally, you will need to give them a stir (to avoid sticking to the sides). Add a little milk if they begin to look dry.
Keyword Christmas, potatoes, sides, Thanksgiving

Holiday Recipes

Homemade baked chicken with lemon and rosemary on table

How to Cook the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles (Soft & Chewy!)

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

Classic Deviled Eggs [with Easy Peel Eggs!]

Frozen Peppermint Mocha

Basic Frozen Mocha Recipe with Peppermint

White Christmas Cocktail (Or Mocktail!)

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Comments

  1. Susie says

    October 23, 2019 at 12:06 pm

    Okay!!!! I am definitely going to have to try these. I love mayonnaise but never thought of putting them in my mashed potatoes. Great idea!

    Reply
  2. Emily Bruno says

    November 1, 2019 at 12:52 pm

    Comfort food at its finest!

    Reply
  3. Gerald Woodham says

    January 2, 2020 at 10:51 am

    How do I cut down the ingredients if I’m only making it for 5 people

    Reply
    • Anna Kate says

      January 2, 2020 at 12:55 pm

      Hi Gerald,

      To cut the servings down to 5 people, just use half of the ingredients listed in the recipe above. I hope this helps!

      Reply

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My name is Anna Kate and you can find me dishing up delicious, Southern recipes your family will love.

 

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