46 Easy Mashed Potatoes To Help You Find the Ultimate Holiday Side
Classic mashed potatoes in 30 minutes. Boom!
The one side dish everyone can agree on? Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. Not only are they easy to make, but they're also insanely delicious and only require a few basic ingredients. Learn how to make the best mashed potatoes and you'll be set with a recipe you'll want to make over and over. At its most basic, they couldn't be easier: Simply boil some potatoes, mash with milk or cream (non-dairy milk alternatives work too!), add butter or olive oil and a big pinch of salt. Few ingredients, few steps — but, we all know that this no-frills version tastes anything but basic. Heavenly, decadent, rich and velvety are just a few words we'd use to describe 'em.
Here, we're dishing out our favorite ways to prepare the smashed spuds, whether you're pulling out all the stops for Thanksgiving dinner or pulling together a simple weeknight meal. You won’t be disappointed by our best creamy mashed potato recipes, including garlic mashed potatoes, spuds with cream cheese or sour cream, and, of course, cheesy potatoes!
Plus, we're mixing up the main vegetable — from parsnips to sweet potatoes to cauliflower — so you can sneak a few extra nutrients into everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish. We've also included a number of different cooking styles according to what you prefer, whether you like your mashed potatoes without milk or your mashed potatoes with heavy cream, we’ve got you covered. Do you prefer this epic side with skin or without? Any of these recipes can be adjusted according to what you love. The options are endless, and endlessly customizable!
Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
Parsnips add sweetness to your fave Thanksgiving side. And, with an extra veggie snuck in, you can eat seconds (and thirds).
Get the recipe for Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips »
RELATED: 50 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Steal the Show
Creamy One-Pot Garlic Creamy Mashed Potatoes
One pot, no problems (and fewer dishes to clean!). Here's an age-old wisdom that still rings true: A drizzle of melted butter makes everything better.
Get the recipe for Creamy One-Pot Garlic Creamy Mashed Potatoes »
RELATED: 58 Easy Potato Recipes For Weeknight Dinners, Thanksgiving and More
Creamy Roasted Squash Puree
Love sweet potato mash? Try thyme-roasted squash instead, which turns ultra creamy after a quick whirl in the food processor. A touch of maple syrup makes it even better!
Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Caper Gremolata
Smashed potatoes are the best of both worlds: the creaminess of mashed potatoes paired with the crispy edges of roasted potatoes. Win, win!
Get the recipe for Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Caper Gremolata »
Herbed Mashed Potatoes
Infuse milk with the flavors of fresh thyme and parsley to upgrade a crowd-favorite.
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Many swear that sour cream is secret to tangy-but-so-creamy mashed potatoes. Well, we say take that one step further and add cheddar!
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Cauliflower
If you're trying to keep it low-carb this Thanksgiving, swap your spuds for cauliflower. Once loaded with butter and roasted garlic, you won't even know the difference.
Get the recipe for Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Cauliflower »
RELATED: The 17 Best High-Protein, Low-Carb Foods to Fill You Up and Curb Cravings
Rosemary-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are an essential addition to any holiday table, and these super-smooth mashed spuds have an extra hint of sweetness, thanks to maple syrup.
Get the recipe for Rosemary-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes »
RELATED: 56 Best Sweet Potato Recipes That Are Perfect for Any Fall Occasion
Crispy Golden Smashed Potatoes
Sometimes doing less is actually more — short of creamy mashed, these smashed red potatoes are delightfully simple.
Classic Mashed Potatoes
Sometimes you just need a good old-fashioned basic. This triple-tested pick is a go-to for the Test Kitchen.
Buttermilk-Boursin Mashed Potatoes
One word: Boursin! The combination of tangy buttermilk and this fancy French cheese makes for an unforgettable dish. Leftovers? Forget about it.
Mashed Potatoes With Caramelized Fennel
Fennel lends a crisp sweetness to any dish — and, slowly caramelizing 'em (like onions) brings out their natural sugars to take the flavor to a whole new level.
Get the recipe for Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Fennel »
Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Mash
Swap out your regular spuds for a combo of nutritious sweet potatoes and fiber-filled cauliflower florets.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ina Garten (yes, the Barefoot Contessa) shared her recipe for silky smooth spuds and it's nothing short of delicious. There's a subtly-sweet garlic flavor that makes 'em extra amazing.
Stuffed Parmesan Potatoes
For a prettier presentation, serve up mashed spuds to each guest in their own roasted potato.
Mashed Potato Souffle With Cheese and Bacon
For a fancier and refreshingly different take on the classic side, turn mashed spuds into a cheesy, savory soufflé.
Get the recipe for Mashed Potato Souffle with Cheese and Bacon »
Kale and Horseradish Potatoes
To anyone still feeling the kale craze, these spuds are for you. Pro tip: Seek out fresh horseradish and grate it yourself. The difference in flavor will shock you.
Creamiest Mashed Potatoes
We like to follow one rule: The creamier, the better.
Veggie Trio on Sweet Mash
Adding kale, beans, and peppers to mashed sweet potatoes might be the tastiest way to sneak in extra nutrients and protein. Serve it as a side, or as a main.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.
75 Family Dinner Ideas for Any Day of the Week
48 Easy Breakfast Ideas to Start Your Day
15 Healthy, High-Protein Meal Prep Recipes
7 Healthy Mason Jar Salad Recipes
