This is the creamy mashed potato you’ve seen smothered in sauces and gravies in hundreds of recipes on my site. Easy, buttery, perfectly seasoned, and impossible to resist eating it straight out of the pot, homemade mashed potato was never so simple to make and totally mouthwatering!
Serve with everything.
Mashed Potato
This is the mashed potato you’ve seen smothered in sauces and gravies in hundreds of recipes on my site.
It’s made an appearance alongside roasts and uncountable chicken recipes. It’s nestled on the side of plates with huge steaks dripping with garlic butter, it’s buried under a mound of meatballs drowning in delectable sauces.
You’ve seen fleeting glimpses of it in recipe videos, from grand holiday centrepieces like Roast Turkey, to quick midweek meals like Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin and slow cooked comfort foods like the Fall Apart Beef Stroganoff Stew from last week.
I make it a lot, I eat it a lot and it makes an appearance at everything from midweek meals to holiday gatherings!
What goes in homemade mashed potato
All you need is potatoes, salt, butter and milk OR cream (for a more luxurious finish). You don’t need to fuss with extra ingredients if you use the right technique for cooking!
The Potatoes
Floury and all rounder potatoes work best to achieve a fluffy yet creamy mash without fussing with potato ricers and other gadgets (this is, after all, the everyday mash you’re going to make all the time!)
-
Australia – the cheap dirt-brushed potatoes sold “everywhere” (called Sebago) are terrific all rounders to use for mashed potato
-
US: Russet
-
UK: Maris Piper
How to make the BEST homemade mashed potato!
It’s straightforward but there are are a few specific tips and steps:
-
Cut potato into equal pieces;
-
Boil in SALTED water – this will season the potatoes all the way through – until potato is very, very soft. It should virtually crumble when you jab it with a fork;
-
Drain, return into pot and mash with butter and milk or cream;
-
Mash until creamy and fluffy;
-
Transfer to serving bowl and make swirls across the top….
-
So you can drizzle with butter to take the mash totally over the top!!
Other flavours you can add to mashed potato
-
Cream cheese or sour cream – adds a bit of tang to the mash which isn’t to my personal taste, but feel free to add a dollop if you wish!
-
Garlic – mince one or two cloves and cook with melted butter before pouring into the mash
-
BACON bits – no further explanation needed!
-
Green onions – finely chop or slice
I always like to garnish with a bit of chopped parsley or chives, and drizzle with extra melted butter.
What to serve with mashed potato
Well, everything. Anything!
Mash is made to be smothered in sauces and served alongside your favourite steak, roast chicken, a magnificent standing rib roast or a slow roasted pork with insane crackling.
It also loves to have a Salisbury Steak nestled on it before drowning in Mushroom Gravy, or to have a tumble of juicy Swedish Meatballs drowning in creamy gravy.
Here are some suggestions for more dishes that’s just crying out for a side of Mashed Potato!
Some easy midweek meals to serve with mash
Enjoy! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Creamy Mashed Potato
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg / 3 lb potatoes, peeled and cut into 2.5cm/1” cubes (Preferably Sebago, Russet or Maris Piper, Note 1)
- 1 tbsp salt (for cooking)
Flavourings:
- 60g / 4 tbsp unsalted butter , chopped
- 1/3 cup milk , preferably warmed
- 1/2 tsp salt
Garnish:
- Extra melted butter
- Chives or parsley , chopped
Instructions
- Place in a large pot with 1 tbsp salt. Add water so it’s 10cm / 4” above potatoes.
- Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce heat so it’s simmering rapidly. Cook 15 minutes or until potatoes are very soft (jab with fork to test, they should fall apart).
- Drain well, return into pot. Leave for 1 minute, shaking pot every now and then, to encourage evaporation of water.
- Add Flavourings then mash well, using milk to make it looser if desired.
- DO NOT use: a beater, stick blender, food processor or blender. You can pulse with a stand mixer or handheld mixer but be cautious, stop as soon as it's creamy (potatoes will quickly go from perfect to gluey using appliances).
- Transfer to serving bowl, make pretty swirls across the top and drizzle over butter. Sprinkle with chives then serve!
MAKE AHEAD / KEEPING WARM - choose:
- 30 minutes or less - Cover bowl tightly with cling wrap and keep in a warm place (like near the stove), will stay warm for 30 min. Gently stir before serving.
- Up to 2 hours, over hot water - place bowl with mash over a pot of boiling hot water (turn stove on every now and then to keep water hot) or keep about 3 cm / 1" water gently simmering. Bowl should not touch water.
- Up to 4 hours, slow cooker warm seeting - press baking paper/parchment paper onto potato surface, then cover tightly with foil. Keep in slow cooker on WARM setting (60C/140F or less).
- Day before - use this recipe for Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes (uses a restaurant trick!)
Recipe Notes:
- Australia - the cheap dirt-brushed potatoes sold “everywhere” (called Sebago) are terrific all rounders
- US: Russet ideal
- UK: Maris Piper
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
I was calling and calling him and he didn’t come…..then I turned around and saw THIS:
Made this for Christmas Eve dinner and it was one of the favourites! Thanks Nagi!
Great recipe!
This is really the best mashed potato recipe I’ve ever made! I thought they 1/3 cup of milk wouldn’t be enough but it’s the perfect amount. Such a hit for my family.
Fantastic recipe. So easy to follow. Best mashed potatoes I’ve ever made. Will make again and again. Thank you.
Magi I’m doing this mash with beef burgundy yr recipe n it tastes delicious from test spoon
Hi Nagi , I loved the recipes and can’t wait to try a few but just a question about butter, not sure what brands are tasty for cooking or eating, can u please recommend any?
This is simply yummy!
So delicious! I used this recipe for the mashed potato portion of shepherds pie and it worked out great (though I think I added more butter than I was supposed to — oops ;-). Prior to seeing your recipe I had made mashed potatoes with an electric mixer and couldn’t understand why it turned to glue! Your recipe nicely describes the reason. A question-what is the difference between using cold water versus hot water when you place the uncooked potato in the water? Thanks.
These were delicious, easy, and had great texture. I have tried many mashed potato recipes, but I think I may stick with this one from now on.
I have just tried it and its AMAZING i love it
Another hit – delicious and easy to make! Good to know why potatoes would turn gluey when mixer was used.
Thanks for helping me overcome my gluey potato flops, Nagi. Your recipe Is simple and delicious.
Thank you very much for simple recipe. It was very yummy yummy taste! I cooked for my huby and he enjoyed alot.
I’ve made many versions of mashed potatoes over the years but this is the best. Keeps an excellent texture and potato flavor. I’ve made this recipe a handful of times and does not disappoint. Delicious!
Hubby says it’s the best he’s had!
I’ve been cooking for a long time now and just recently i read add a splash of olive oil to the mash it makes a huge improvement to the mash. give it a go
Made this tonight paired it with your Braised Beef short Ribs in Wine Sauce. Deliciously sinful…my kids loved it
The best mash potatoes was made, I also bought a potato river cause you said something about using a sleeve and I thought about a ricer, glad I did it made a huge difference.Thanks Nagi.
It makes life SO much easier doesn’t it Leslie! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe ❤️
Making this with Greek grilled chicken sounds like a very easy recipe especially when I’m fairly new to cooking for a 21 year old hahaha
You’ve got this Joe!!!
The secret to great mash is a potato ricer. Not the most versatile piece of kitchen equipment but gets plenty of use anyway. I use Royal Blue potatoes which work well.
Totally agree Andrew (and loads of butter 😉 ) N x
Just how I make everyday mash too, although since I started using half & half at Thansgiving I really can’t go back to plain old 1%. Sorry waistline! Sometimes I will throw a couple of cloves of garlic into the water as I am cooking the potatoes to give it a little something. They blend right in when you mash!
I don’t know why it says 4 stars, this is 5 stars for sure!
Yum! Sounds divine Julie! N x