The Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe

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Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish for meat or poultry. This recipe is creamy, buttery and oh so good. This easy potato recipe is a great Thanksgiving side dish too. 

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We are coming down to the wire with the Thanksgiving preparations. The final planning, cooking, and baking for the big turkey day are officially underway. For my family, it’s not Thanksgiving without a helping of mashed potatoes nestled right in between the turkey and stuffing.

Now, it’s totally ok with me if you think otherwise. Just know, that if you happen to stop by our home on Thanksgiving, a big old helping of mashed potatoes will be waiting for you.

Try This Easy Vegetable Side Dish

How To Make Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes rank right up there as one of my favorite side dishes. While I don’t think I could ever survive as a vegetarian (this girl loves her beef and chicken), I could definitely survive on potatoes.

The perfect mashed potato recipe has the right blend of butter, milk and my secret ingredient — cream cheese.

Here are a few tips for perfecting the perfect mashed potatoes:

• Dice the potatoes into even sizes.
• Add cold water to the pot to boil. This way the potatoes will cook evenly.
• Don’t overcook, the potatoes should be fork-tender.
• Make sure you thoroughly drain the water once the potatoes are finished cooking. Let them sit for 30 seconds in a colander.

I like to use a hand mixer to mash the potatoes. You can also use an old-fashioned hand-masher too which I sometimes use when I don’t feel like breaking out the hand mixer. I start by mixing the butter and cream cheese in first. Then, I add the milk in thirds. This way, if you feel the potatoes are creamy enough, you don’t have to add any more milk.

Jazz up your potatoes. Ways To Take Your Mashed Potatoes To The Next Level. Try These Mashed Potato Add Ins.

Garlic  – Mix in some roasted garlic with the potatoes. To roast garlic, slice off the top off garlic head to expose some of the cloves inside. Place on a piece of foil. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap in the foil. Roast about 30 minutes.

Loaded  – Add 1 cup cheddar cheese, chopped bacon, and substitute 1/2 cup sour cream for the cream cheese. Top with fresh chopped chives.

Cheesy  – Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese, or your favorite kind of cheese and mix together.

Make Ahead  – Prepare any of these recipes 1-2 days in advance. Cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, drizzle with melted butter. Back at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

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Yield: 6 servings

The Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

It's the creamiest, it's the dreamiest, it's the Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe and you are going to love it! Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish and they are so easy to make.

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Ingredients

• 4 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and diced evenly
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Peel and cut potatoes into small cubes. Place in a pot of cold water. Bring to a boil.
2. Boil until fork tender; about 15 minutes.
3. Drain potatoes completely, making sure all water is drained.
4. Pour potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Add butter and cream cheese. Beat with an electric mixer to incorporate. 
5. Add in milk gradually until potatoes are smooth and creamy.

Notes

Ways To Take Your Mashed Potatoes To The Next Level

Garlic Mashed Potatoes - Mix in some roasted garlic with the potatoes. To roast garlic, slice off the top off garlic head to expose some of the cloves inside. Place on a piece of foil. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap in the foil. Roast about 30 minutes.

Loaded Mashed Potatoes - Add 1 cup cheddar cheese, chopped bacon, and substitute 1/2 cup sour cream for the cream cheese. Top with fresh chopped chives.

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes - Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese, or your favorite kind of cheese and mix together.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes - Prepare any of these recipes 1-2 days in advance. Cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, drizzle with melted butter. Back at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

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