Mashed potatoes are a crowd-pleasing side everyone can love, but they are not meant to be eaten alone. Try one of these 30 recipes to make your mashed potatoes a meal!
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like mashed potatoes. This delicious dish is a comfort food staple, versatile enough to be dressed up or down to anyone’s taste, and served as part of just about every special occasion.
While mashed potatoes probably should not be enjoyed as an entire meal in themselves, they are a great addition to many other meals.
Mashed potatoes can be enjoyed alongside roasted or smoked meats, underneath a saucy curry, or side by side with some beef stew. Any hearty meal is made complete with the addition of some buttery spuds.
If you, like me, have a deep love for mashed potatoes and are looking for more ways to incorporate them into your weekly meals, I’ve got you covered!
FAQs
This question leads to a never-ending debate. Most experts would agree that russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes make the best-mashed potatoes, but there is a strong argument for Yukon gold or even red potatoes. Some would even say a mixture of different kinds of potatoes is the best way to go.
Mashed potatoes are one of those dishes that everyone has their own secret recipe for and to be honest, there is no wrong answer.
Russet potatoes have a high starch content. This means when they are mashed they don’t become too gluey but retain a fluffy texture.
Yukon gold potatoes also have a high starch content and a naturally buttery, slightly sweet flavor.
Red potatoes are naturally creamy and mix very well with cream cheese and milk. With red potatoes, you do need to be careful not to overmix as red potatoes have a tendency to become gluey. Some recipes call for a mixture of red potatoes and russet potatoes to take advantage of the fluffy texture of russet potatoes but the creamy flavor of the red.
Fresh mashed potatoes can be a time-consuming dish (unless you make these super easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes) but mashed potatoes can easily be made ahead of time and reheated to enjoy later.
To make mashed potatoes ahead of time, prepare them as usual up to three days in advance. Cover with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container, and put them in the fridge or freezer.
Simply thaw and reheat with a bit of warm milk to serve.
I’ve seen many people mash potatoes with an electric mixer but my favorite tool for mashing potatoes is a good old-fashioned potato masher.
If you use an electric mixer you risk over-mixing your mashed potatoes which activates the starch in the potatoes and can lead to a gluey mixture.
A simple, handheld potato masher lets you feel the texture of your potatoes as you mash, to ensure they are not over-mixed.
A potato ricer works in the same way and may also be worth checking out for a slightly finer mash. Some people prefer a more creamy texture that the potato ricer provides.
Yes! If you make your mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot, you can put them on the Keep Warm setting for several hours to keep the potatoes warm.
You can do the same in a crock pot or slow cooker. Set the crockpot to Warm or Low and your creamy mashed potatoes should stay perfectly warm for hours.
The answer to ridiculously creamy, rich mashed potatoes is very simple. Cream and butter. Many restaurants load up their mashed potatoes with these two ingredients. The result is a dish full of fat and carbs but with a flavor that is so, so good.
Perfectly fluffy mashed potatoes can take some time to master. Here are a few tips:
Use russet potatoes. Russet potatoes have a high starch content which keeps the molecules from sticking together and becoming gluey.
Mash by hand. Electric mixers easily overmix mashed potatoes and lead to a texture that is less than desirable. Mash and then mix gently.
Butter first. Butter is important for the flavor of the potatoes but the fat in butter also gives it an excellent texture.
Use milk. Milk, rather than heavy cream, will keep the mixture light.
You don’t have to cut your potatoes before you boil them for mashed potatoes but if you are working with large potatoes, cutting them will help them boil more evenly.
Most mashed potato recipes are not vegan as they call for butter and milk. You can easily make this classic dish vegan by substituting vegetable stock or soy milk and olive oil or avocado oil.
Favorite Recipes
- My Mashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot are a family favorite for quick, easy mashed potatoes any day of the week.
- These Garlic Redskin Mashed Potatoes require no peeling for an easy and garlicky dinner.
- These Horseradish Mashed Potatoes are perfect for serving alongside a juicy steak or prime rib!
Expert Tips
- Place your potatoes into cold water to begin the boiling process. This ensures the potatoes cook evenly, rather than the outside boiling quickly and the interior remaining crunchy.
- Don’t settle for dry mashed potatoes! Be sure and keep plenty of chicken stock, beef broth, or milk nearby to add to your potatoes as you mash.
- It’s best to make sure your milk or stock is warm when you add them. This helps the potatoes to soak in the liquid and keeps the dish nice and warm for serving.
What to Eat With Mashed Potatoes
Main Course: Fried chicken, roasted chicken breast, roasted turkey breast, roast beef, pork chops, beef wellington, chicken cordon bleu, beef bourguignon, fish cakes, vegan mushroom stew, pork roast, shepherd’s pie
On Top: Gravy, butter, garlic salt, beef stew, green onions, cheese, black pepper, parmesan cheese, herb butter, bread crumbs
Mix in: Butter, cream, collard greens, garlic, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, salt, little sour cream
Side dishes: Peas, corn, broccoli, roasted brussels sprouts, green beans, cranberry sauce
Recipes to Serve with Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon
Plokkfiskur
Irish Stew Recipe
Sukuma Wiki
Creamed Peas Recipe
Creamed Corn
Chicken Paprikash Recipe
Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts
Stoemp
Easy Cranberry Sauce
Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
Instant Pot Chicken Marsala
Slow Cooker Osso Buco
This Slow Cooker Osso Buco recipe is super flavorful and tender. Serve it over noodles, creamy polenta, or mashed potatoes for the most delicious and amazing dinner.
Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Apple Skillet
This Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Apple Skillet is glazed in maple and whole mustard with thyme and a splash of cider vinegar. There are peeled and quartered shallots in it too! It is fancy enough for company but easy enough for a weeknight!
Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Ribs
Guinness Beef Ribs (aka beef short ribs) are one of the easiest dishes to make in your slow cooker. No slow cooker? No problem you can make these delicious fall off-the-bone short ribs in a crock pot, dutch oven on the stove or in your oven in a covered roasting pan.
Meatloaf Muffins
These delicious little Meatloaf Muffins capture all that homestyle, old-fashioned meatloaf flavor your family loves, in a quick-baking mini! Prep them ahead for a super-fast, comforting dinner on busy nights!
Air Fryer Steak
Perfectly cooked steaks, all done in the air fryer. This is our favorite way to cook steak! Seared on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside, this Air Fryer Steak recipe is easy and full of flavor. Hands off cooking and ready in just 10 minutes.
Meatball Recipe
Making meatballs from scratch is so much easier than you might think. This meatball recipe has only a handful of ingredients and bakes in the oven for very minimal cleanup. Whether you’re making a batch of homemade meatballs for Sunday spaghetti or a crockpot recipe with a sweet sticky sauce, here’s an easy and versatile recipe everyone can use!
Crispy Chicken Goujons
Juicy, tender, and crispy baked chicken goujons. All the flavour of fried chicken, but baked instead for minimal effort and is much healthier too. Crunchy chicken strips will be popular with adults and kids alike. They’re so easy to make, you will never need to buy frozen chicken goujons again.
Chicken Scarpariello
Chicken Scarpariello is a hearty, Italian-American, one-pot, dinner recipe of braised chicken, sausage, and peppers. If you have ever been far from home and homesick for a comforting home-cooked meal, chicken scarpariello is the cure for such matters of the heart. Juicy braised chicken thighs, spicy Italian sausages, and zesty red vinegar and wine sauce create a satisfying meal that just tastes like home. If this ain’t comfort food, then I don’t know what it is.
Authentic Italian Sausage and Peppers
Pan-seared Salmon with Almond Basil Pesto
This pan-seared salmon with almond basil pesto is a restaurant-quality dish that is easy and fast to make at home.
Honey Dijon Pork Tenderloin
Honey Dijon Pork Tenderloin – juicy and delicious pork tenderloin is roasted in the oven with an irresistible honey dijon glaze. This is so easy to make and is perfect for a weeknight dinner, or a special occasion, too!
Air Fryer Salmon
In under 20 minutes, you can get your hands on this tender, flaky, and flavorful Air Fryer Salmon with Honey Garlic flavor! This simple weeknight salmon is deliciously healthy and super easy to throw together!
Crockpot Mississippi Pot Roast
Mississippi Pot Roast is the most delicious and easiest pot roast you will ever make! It’s hard to believe that a recipe with only 5 ingredients could be this good but it is!
Air Fryer Green Beans
Air Fryer Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish perfect to pair with all of your favorite mains! Green beans are coated in simple seasonings and then cooked until tender and crispy. Try this healthy recipe for a delicious way to eat more nutrients!
Cajun Catfish
Initially when I made my migration from the Canadian depths of winter to Virginia, I wanted to learn more about Southern cuisine. I am by no means an expert and really only touched the surface of my learning but a few solid recipes I taught myself were shrimp and grits, and this cajun catfish. What I love about this recipe is that it is so simple, easy, the fish is flakey, delicious, and gets such a nice crisp because you broil it!
Onion Burger Mini Meatloaf
Chestnut and Pepper Crusted Salmon Fillet
The colours and flavours make for a wonderfully festive dish that will happily serve six, and the refreshing, mild flavours of the sockeye salmon fillet are beautifully complemented by a delicate chestnut crust.
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