Best Mashed Potatoes

This Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe is a simple and cheesy side dish that is guaranteed to make fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes every time! Never pasty or gluey, we are sure you will LOVE this Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe! 

Why This Is Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Today I want to share my Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe because, at my house, mashed potatoes are revered as the utmost decadent comfort food.

Since they are so rich, I don’t make them often. So when I do, I take careful precautions to make sure my potatoes are just right. 

I’m sure we’ve all had the experience of sitting down to a highly anticipated meal with a heaping portion of creamy potatoes, only to find them gummy and lackluster. What a waste of potatoes and butter!

We believe the best mashed potatoes always include cheese and garlic, and always have a fluffy texture.

These cheesy mashed potatoes are rich, herbaceous, and inviting.

You can make garlic mashed potatoes on the stovetop alone, or pop them in the oven so they puff into potato clouds.

Ready to get started?

With just a few tips, you too, can make perfect buttery fluffy potatoes every time.

Ingredients You Need

• Yukon gold potatoes – or russet potatoes
• Garlic cloves – to infuse some flavor into the potatoes while boiling
• Unsalted butter – and lots of it!
• Half & half – for extra creamy mashed potatoes
• Fontina cheese – Can’t find fontina cheese? Use any easy-melting cheese you like!
• Salt and pepper – to taste
• Chives – for garnishing

Equipment You Will Need

• Large Pot
• Peeler 
• Knife 
• Colander 
• Potato Masher (Or Electric Mixer)
• Microwave-Safe Bowl
• Spoon

Pro Tip: If you want to bake the mashed potatoes, you will need a large sauté pan (like a cast iron skillet) or ceramic baking dish to place in the oven.

How To Make The BEST Mashed Potatoes

Set out the cold ingredients to bring them to room temperature. Set a large pot of cold water on the stovetop. Peel the potatoes and cut into 1-inch cubes. Add them to the cold water immediately, so that they do not brown. Add the garlic and 1 tablespoon of salt to the water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 10-14 minutes, until you can easily cut the potatoes with a butter knife.

Drain the potatoes and immediately mash. Do this with a potato masher, a ricer, or by placing them in a bowl of an electric mixer and beating. Mash the potatoes until almost completely smooth. Do not over-mash!

Place the butter and half & half in a microwave-safe bowl and warm so that the butter melts into the half & half. Or, gently warm them up in a small saucepan.

Once the potatoes are mashed, add the butter mixture to the potatoes and mix to incorporate. Then stir in the cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Serve the hot, fluffy mashed potatoes as-is or bake. Baking makes them even better!

To Bake: For a crispy top, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Scoop the mashed potatoes into a large oven-safe sauté pan or casserole dish. Sprinkle an additional 1/2 cup of shredded fontina cheese, and bake for 20 minutes. Once out of the oven, sprinkle with chopped chives and serve warm!

Serving Suggestions

Mashed potatoes go with nearly everything, right? That is what makes them a seriously amazing dish dish option. You can simply throw some steamed veggies and rotisserie chicken on top of a bed of these creamy mashed potatoes, and you will have an amazing meal! If you are looking for some other options to pair here, try some of my own personal favorites:

• Oven Fried Turkey Breast
• Turkey Gravy
• Saucy Greek Lemon Meatballs
• Roasted Rainbow Vegetable Salad
• Grilled Salmon
• Maple Mustard Grilled Chicken
• Caesar Salad
• Stuffed Flank Steak
• Grilled Blackened Mahi Mahi
• Smoked Meatloaf
• Steak Fingers with Country Gravy

Check Out The Recipe Card Below For How To Make Mashed Potatoes + Video. Enjoy!

Tips & Tricks for the Best Mashed Potatoes

1. Use the right kind of potatoes. The best potatoes for mashed potatoes is a starchy buttery-flavored potato like Yukon Golds. Using potatoes with less starch will create less fluffy potatoes.
2. Peel and dunk. Once you’ve peeled your potatoes, don’t let them sit out on the counter and brown. Immediately place them in water in a large bowl so they don’t oxidate.
3. Use cold water. Placing the potatoes in hot water creates uneven cooking. Even though it might take a few minutes longer to boil, always start with cold water.
4. Infuse flavor. Adding salt and garlic while the potatoes are cooking is a great way to get flavor down deep into the potatoes. Toss them in the pot when you turn on the burner.
5. Don’t overcook the potatoes. The moment a butter knife slices easily through a potato chunk, (proving it is nice and tender) remove the pot from the heat and drain. You don’t want the potatoes to absorb too much water.
6. Don’t over-mash the potatoes. The starch in the potatoes is a good thing, but will cause the potatoes to turn gummy if you mash them to death. Before adding anything to the potatoes, mash them well with a potato masher, a potato ricer (for the smoothest potatoes,) or by beating them in an electric mixer. The moment they are smooth… STOP MASHING. If using a mixer, be extra careful about over-mixing! *In my opinion, a POTATO RICER makes the smoothest, fluffiest potatoes.
7. Add warm ingredients. Don’t add cold butter, cream, or cheese to the mashed potatoes. They mix in best when they are warm or at least room temperature. I like to warm the cream and butter prior to pouring them into the potatoes for a nice smooth finish.
8. Get cheesy. You don’t have to add cheese to mashed potatoes, but why wouldn’t you?! Cheese offers so much flavor and richness. Plus, if you decide to bake them, it offers extra lifting power!
9. Season at the end. You added salt to the water at the beginning of the potato cooking process, but don’t forget to taste and season them again with salt and pepper once they are otherwise completely done.
10. To bake or not to bake, that is the question. If you have time, always bake your mashed potatoes. For the lightest fluffiest mashed potatoes recipe with garlic… Add cheese and bake so that the potatoes puff up and form a crispy top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for More Holiday Side Dish Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

• Perfect Creamed Corn
• Mushroom Rice Pilaf
• Pressure Cooker Spiced Apples
• Maple Prosciutto Wrapped Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Brussels Sprout Gratin
• Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
• Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Stuffing
• Tortellini Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
• Braised Brussels Sprouts with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Check the printable recipe below for nutritional information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, fiber, and vitamin c percentages.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Swiss Diamond Cookware. All opinions are our own.

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