Name: Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes (How to Make Mashed Potatoes)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 5 large Russet or Idaho potatoes - peeled and coarsely chopped; 1/2 tsp. salt; 4 Tbps. butter and extra (to taste); 1 cup of 1% low-fat milk, plus extra if needed; salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Jump to Recipe

Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes are light, fluffy, and creamy delicious! The secret to making the best creamy mashed potatoes is in our 4-ingredients and the way we mash them. Whether you need an extra side for the holiday table, or for a quick weekend dinner, this is the recipe on How to Make The BEST Creamy Mashed Potatoes! Super easy and one you cannot mess up!

A square black bowl filled with mashed potatoes topped with a slice of butter melting and some black pepper on top.

Why are these the best creamy mashed potatoes?

These mashed potatoes are guaranteed to be your favorite side dish to serve with your front-runner dishes.
Perfect side dish for any holiday, large gathering, or casual dinner party.
This recipe is very simple, no-fuss to make – and yet, it is loaded with a ton of flavor!
Best of all, no need for any extra dairy or ingredients to add additional calories and fat to this recipe.

A black square serving bowl filled with mashed potatoes with a slice of butter on top.

What makes these mashed potatoes better than other recipes?

Too many recipes for mashed potatoes are loaded with a ton of cream cheese, heavy cream, and buttermilk. Plus, all that “unnecessary” calories and fat only weigh it down. It’s just not healthy for anyone. Our recipe for mashed potatoes is both delicious and light for the entire family to enjoy!

How To Make Them?

For this recipe, there are 4 main ingredients, and some seasonings too. You can follow along with our step-by-step directions, or jump down to the bottom for our full recipe card!

Ingredients Needed

POTATOES: Choose either Russet, Idaho, or Yukon Gold Potatoes, and you will need approximately 5 large potatoes, or more.
BUTTER: you will need some butter for them to be extra creamy and delicious, and you will need at least 4 tablespoons.
MILK: Choose any milk, or 1% fat milk, and you will need about 1 cup.
SEASONINGS – Some salt and fresh cracked pepper are needed to flavor the these mashed potatoes.

Helpful Tip! For Dairy-Free?

Use chicken or vegetable broth in place of milk. Also, use vegan butter or olive oil in place of dairy butter.

How Many Potatoes Do We Need?

How many potatoes do we need? As a side dish, it’s best to count 1 large potato per person, per serving.
Then add one extra potato to make sure there is enough for those who adore mashed potatoes.

Directions To Make The Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes:

1. First, gather the potatoes needed. Then peel and coarsely chop the potatoes. (See my notes below).

2. Next, place the potatoes into a ( 4 or 5 quarts) medium-sized saucepot filled with water. Add some salt to the water, about 1/2 teaspoon. Bring to a boil and boil the potatoes for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until a fork can easily slide through the potato.

3. Drain the potatoes in a colander and transfer them back into the pot. Toss in the butter.

Chopped Potatoes in a pot of water, boiling, then drained.

4. Start to mash the potatoes with a potato masher and do this in the same pot. Pour in the milk (or broth for dairy-free) and continue to mash them until the milk gets completely absorbed into the potatoes.

5. Add in some salt and black pepper. Taste, and adjust the seasonings.

6. Final step, use a hand-held mixer and blend the potatoes on a medium speed until the potatoes are smooth and creamy about 2 to 3 minutes. You can use a hand-held immersion blender as well. Then transfer mashed potatoes to a serving dish or platter and serve.

Mashing the boiled potatoes with a masher, then blending them with an electric hand-held blender.

To Make Ahead…

Make the mashed potatoes, either in the morning, or a few hours before serving. Leave them in the pot, covered, and on the stove until you are ready to serve them.
When ready to serve, turn on the “lowest” heat, and stir the potatoes until they become warm enough to your liking.
If you prefer, you can stir in additional milk and (if you prefer) butter to your desired consistency.

An Easy Hack! Transfer your mashed potatoes to a Crock Pot, and keep it on a low setting, this will keep them warm for dinner.

Great Options for Leftovers…

We love leftovers and have many options to turn them into another delicious side or meal! Here are a few recipes you can make with leftover mashed potatoes:

Potato-Cauliflower Soup – allows you to use mashed potatoes to make a creamy soup quickly and easily!
Mashed Potato Cakes (Croquettes) – allows you to whip up these potato croquettes in minutes! Perfect little side, and freezes well too!
Mom’s Best Mashed Potato Pie – a delicious side dish that is baked into a small casserole with a few additional ingredients. It is divine!

A black bowl, square shaped - filled with mashed potatoes will slice of butter on top.

Serve and Enjoy!

These Creamy Mashed Potatoes are not only easy to make, but also very flavorful and fluffy. We bet these mashed potatoes will be the first side dish everyone will ask for seconds. Serve them alone or with our best brown beef gravy on top. They are SO GOOD!! You’ll just have to try them.

Finally, More Comfort Side Recipes…

Any questions? Ask away! Have you tried our Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes recipe? Let us know and leave a comment below and don’t forget to add five⭐ on the recipe card. We’d love to hear from you.

Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes (How to Make Mashed Potatoes)

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes are light, fluffy, and creamy-delicious. The secret to making the best creamy mashed potatoes is in our 4-ingredients and the way we mash them. A simple, easy, and healthy side dish to serve with your favorite entrees.

Ingredients

5 large Russet or Idaho potatoes - peeled and coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
4 Tbps. butter and extra (to taste)
1 cup of 1% low-fat milk, plus extra if needed
salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

Peel the potatoes and cut them into quarters or more. Toss the potatoes into a medium-size, or 3-quart pot. Fill with water just enough to be leveled or above the potatoes.
Toss in 1/2 teaspoon of salt into the water and bring water to a boil. Boil the potatoes for 8 to 10 minutes, or until a fork will go through the potatoes easily.
Drain the potatoes in a colander. Then return the potatoes back to the pot. Toss in the butter and begin to mash them with a potato masher. Mash them until well mashed.
Next, pour in the milk. You can warm the milk before adding them into the potatoes, or you can turn on the heat under the potatoes (on lowest heat) and continue to mash until the milk gets completely absorbed by the potatoes.
Taste the mashed potatoes and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Final step: Use a hand-held immersion blender or a hand-held mixer and blend the potatoes on medium speed for about 2 to 3 minutes, until they are perfectly smooth and creamy.
Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 to 6 servings Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 207Total Fat: 8.3gCarbohydrates: 29.9gFiber: 4.3gProtein: 4.4g

Stay Healthy and Happy Cooking!! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

xo Anna and Liz

Welcome! From Anna and Liz

We believe the kitchen is the center and the heart of the home. It is where we cook, eat, and unwind with family and friends, creating memorable traditions! Read more…

FREE EMAIL BONUS

Weeknight Dinners Made Easy

Tips & recipes for delicious meals . . . no matter your skill level!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form.kadence-form-acba8e-3e .kadence-blocks-form-field.kb-submit-field { display: none; }