Fail-proof, perfectly creamy, and oh-so buttery, this is hands-down the Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe. Adding cream cheese makes them extra delicious!
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My go-to mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving.
You know how when you find a recipe online that you want to make for a holiday, you feel like you need to take it on a test run because you want to make absolutely sure it turns out on the big day?
Well, you can rest assured that I have made this recipe (and variations of it, like my Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and Crockpot Mashed Potatoes) time and time again—which is why I can confidently say this is the BEST mashed potatoes recipe!
- I use Yukon gold potatoes for their richer, buttery flavor (I also use them in Twice Baked Potato Casserole), but you can also make these mashed potatoes with Russet potatoes if you prefer fluffier results. Or split the difference and use both!
- One of the reasons these are the best mashed potatoes is because they’re flavorful enough to stand up on their own without any accompaniments. Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make gravy—you should definitely make a batch of Ham Gravy, Turkey Gravy, or Mushroom Gravy for pouring on these creamy, dreamy potatoes.
These mashed potatoes are a tried-and-true favorite perfect for Thanksgiving or any day of the week!
5 Star Review
“I just made these and they’re perfect! Delicious and decadent without being heavy and I love the addition of cream cheese and sour cream. Will be my go to recipe from now on. Thank you so much!”
— Ash —
Key Ingredients
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Yukon Gold Potatoes. Or Russet potatoes, if you prefer. I don’t recommend any other variety; they’re better for making Roasted Fingerling Potatoes or Roasted Red Potatoes.
- Kosher Salt. You’ll need quite a bit, but don’t worry—most of it will get poured down the drain with the water. Using well-salted water seasons the potatoes from the inside, making them extra delicious.
- Unsalted Butter. If there was ever a time to spring for the fancy European butter, it’s when making the best mashed potatoes recipe.
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth. This adds more depth than using milk alone. To make vegetarian mashed potatoes, swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
- Milk. I use 1%, but you can use whole milk or half-and-half if you prefer.
- Reduced-Fat Cream Cheese. The kind that comes in a block, not a tub.
- Plain Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream. You can use full-fat or reduced-fat yogurt or sour cream, but I don’t recommend fat-free.
- Seasoned Salt. A little secret that adds more flavor than plain salt.
- Ground Black Pepper. If you like your mashed potatoes peppery, feel free to add more!
How to Make the Best Mashed Potatoes
Prep the Potatoes. Scrub and peel the potatoes, then cut them into uniform chunks (this cooks more evenly than boiled whole potatoes).
Start the Potatoes. Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with an inch of water. Add the salt and bring to a boil.
Simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender and easily pierced.
Drain. Drain the potatoes into a colander, then rinse with warm water.
Warm the Broth and Dairy Ingredients. Heat the butter, broth, and milk in a saucepan until the butter melts. Stir in the cream cheese.
Mash the Potatoes. Pass the potatoes through a potato ricer or food mill into a large bowl.
Finish. Add the seasoned salt, Greek yogurt, and warmed butter mixture. Stir to combine (don’t overmix! that is how mashed potatoes get gluey!), then season the mashed potatoes to taste. ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes. You can prepare these potatoes with whole cloves of garlic, as in my Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or for a more mellow garlic flavor, mix in mashed Roasted Garlic.
- Mashed Potatoes With Skin. If you want to keep the skin on the mashed potatoes, you’ll need to mash them with a potato masher. You can leave all of the potatoes unpeeled, or peel half of them.
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes. Ater you’ve stirred everything for this recipe together, fold in freshly grated Parmesan, aged cheddar, or another flavorful cheese.
How to Make Mashed Potatoes in Advance
Yes, you can make mashed potatoes ahead! (For more holiday planning, download the Well Plated Thanksgiving guide.)
- Up to 1 day in advance, prepare the mashed potatoes as directed, then let cool and refrigerate.
- Reheat on the stove: Store the potatoes in a large heatproof bowl When ready to serve, let the potatoes come to room temperature, then place the bowl over a pan of simmering water to warm (do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water), adding broth or milk about ¼ cup at a time to thin the potatoes as needed.
- Or, reheat in the oven: Spread the mashed potatoes into a baking dish to refrigerate. To warm, dot butter over the top, cover with foil, and heat in a 350°F oven.
What to Serve with Mashed Potatoes
- Turkey. Because you just can’t have Thanksgiving Turkey (or Air Fryer Turkey Breast!) without mashed potatoes. You can free up your oven with Crockpot Turkey Breast.
- Chicken. The best mashed potatoes pair perfectly with Chicken Fricassée, Air Fryer Whole Chicken, and Smoked Chicken Thighs.
- Pork. Plate these mashed potatoes with Crock Pot Pork Chops or Baked Pork Tenderloin.
- Beef. I love serving mashed potatoes with Braised Short Ribs, Beef Bourguignon, or Braised Beef for a hearty dinner.
- Other Thanksgiving Favorites. Crockpot Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry Orange Relish, Chestnut Stuffing, Sweet Potato Casserole, and all those holiday must-haves.
Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe
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Ingredients
- 5 pounds Yukon gold potatoes or russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt for cooking the potatoes
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup milk (I used 1%) use whole milk or half and half for more decadence
- 6 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream reduced fat is fine, but do not use fat free
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt* plus additional to taste (I used Lawry's)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Scrub and peel the potatoes. Cut into biggish 2-or-so-inch chunks that are all similar in size so they cook evenly (for small/medium Yukon gold potatoes, you will likely be cutting them in half. Very small ones can be left whole). Place in a large pot and cover with cool water by 1 inch.
- Add the kosher salt and bring the potatoes to a boil over high. Reduce heat and simmer gently until potatoes are tender and pierce easily with a fork, but are not falling apart, 20 to 30 minutes depending upon how large you cut the potatoes.
- Drain the potatoes into a large colander, then briefly rinse them with warm water to remove any excess starch. Set aside while you prepare the warm milk mixture. Keep the potatoes handy.
- To a medium saucepan, add the butter, broth, and milk. Heat over medium until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and add the softened cubes of cream cheese.
- While the potatoes are still warm (do NOT let them cool or they will be gummy), pass the potatoes through a potato ricer or food mill into a large bowl. If you don’t have a potato ricer, use a potato masher to mash them in the pot until they are about halfway mashed.
- Sprinkle the potatoes with the seasoned salt and top with the Greek yogurt. Pour the warmed butter mixture over the top. If you’ve riced the potatoes, stir gently until everything is smoothly combined. If you are using a potato masher, continue mashing and stirring until the potatoes are as smooth as you like (don’t overwork the potatoes, or they will be gummy). Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired. Depending upon your seasoned salt or chicken broth, you may need to add more. Enjoy warm, or cool to room temperature and reheat for later (see notes).
Notes
- TO MAKE AHEAD: Up to 1 day in advance, fully prepare the recipe as directed. Let cool completely, place in a large heatproof bowl, cover, and refrigerator. When ready to serve, remove from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Warm over a pan of simmering water (do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water), adding broth or milk about ¼ cup at a time to thin the potatoes as needed. You can also spread them into a baking dish, dot butter over the top, cover with foil and then rewarm them in a 350°F oven.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate mashed potatoes in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- Adapted from my Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
I just made these and they’re perfect! Delicious and decadent without being heavy and I love the addition of cream cheese and sour cream. Will be my go to recipe from now on. Thank you so much!!!
YUM Ash! So glad you enjoyed the mashed potatoes so much!
Turned out really yummy! Didn’t have cream cheese so I mixed in some grated mild cheddar instead. Also added garlic cloves and crushed that into the mixture.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review, Martha!
My best mashed potatoes ever! I did have to make them dairy free due to an allergy, so I used Oatmilk and Kite Hill cream cheese. Very Tasty!!
I made this recipe for Thanksgiving with half Russet and half gold potatoes. I left the skins on the gold. It turned out great! Such a good flavor and texture. Will definitely make it again!
Love the mix Chantal!
I prepared these mashed potatoes EXACTLY as written and they were incredibly tasty and creamy. I made them early in the day and kept them warm in my slow cooker until dinner time.
Thanks for sharing Martina, so glad to hear it!
Best mashed potato recipe ever! My new go to recipe for the holiday”s.
Thank you so much Audrey!
These potatoes were so good! I made them in advance for Christmas and wanted to eat them all before the holiday! They are so easy to make. I had a little problem with making them smooth with the potato ricer but that is 100% user error. We’re reheating them so I think by Monday they’ll be fine. Thanks for the awesome recipe, Erin!
So glad you enjoyed it, Liz! Thank you!
Freakin’ awesome!
Glad you enjoyed it, Andrea!
The mashed potatoes worked perfectly with baked chicken thighs and steamed broccoli (with shaved Parmesan)
Thank you Ian!
Wow, these were so good! I made these mashed potatoes for Sunday dinner and they turned out amazing! The texture was perfectly creamy without being too heavy, and the buttery flavor was just right. I tossed a few crushed garlic cloves in the water with the potatoes because my family loves it, and it really took the flavor up a notch. I will definitely make this again for Thanksgiving.
So happy to hear, Tiffany! Thank you!
I love mashed potatoes but finding a good recipe was difficult. I always just did the regular mashed potatoes recipe but then found this one. Really simple to make. Just really enjoy the easy step-by-step directions for the recipe. Thank you so much.
Great to hear! Thank you Bernadette!
These mashed potatoes were a hit! I usually struggle to get the consistency right, but this recipe made it so easy to follow. They came out fluffy, smooth, and perfectly seasoned. I served them with a roast, and my husband went back for seconds! I didn’t even have to tweak anything; it was perfect as-is. Highly recommend giving this one a try.
Yay! Makes me so happy to hear, Becky! Thank you!
These are very good and easy. I think next time a bit less yogurt.
Glad you enjoyed them, Mary!
I was Leary about using the yogurt and cream cheese, but it gave the potatoes a great flavor and smooth texture. I also added to the potato’s 3 large cloves of garlic chop fine and 2 teaspoon of rosemary powder. If you don’t have rosemary powder you take a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and tie them together and put them in with the potatoes. My guest raved about how delicious they were. They all went home with the recipe. Thanks.
Yay! Makes me so happy to hear, Kathleen! Thank you!
I made these for Thanksgiving for a group of 14 and they received rave reviews from all! I’m not a big mashed potato person myself but these came out incredible and now I’m going to be just because of these. I even needed to travel an hour with them, but I kept them on warm in a slow cooker for a couple hours before leaving and then for almost an hour once getting there and it all worked out very well!
Yay! So glad to hear, Nicole! Thank you!