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You’ve got to try these garlic mashed potatoes—they’re the ultimate comfort food! Ready in less than 30 minutes, they’re smooth, creamy, and packed with buttery garlic goodness that will elevate any meal. Made with Yukon gold potatoes and garlic, these mashed potatoes taste like they came straight from a fancy restaurant. Seriously, once you take a bite, you won’t be able to resist going back for more! I can guarantee everyone will be asking you to pass the potatoes again and again because they’re just that delicious!
Indulge in creamy garlic mashed potatoes, the ultimate comfort food. Perfectly buttery and flavorful, this recipe will elevate any meal.
Enjoy the humble spud? Maybe also try some garlic parmesan baby potatoes, these garlic butter fondant potatoes, or red-skinned mashed potatoes.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: Forget about using boxed potato flakes because it’s so simple to prepare your own garlic mashed potatoes and they taste so much nicer.
They go with everything: Whether you’re making beef, chicken, pork, some kind of savory pie or even meatloaf, you’ll find garlic mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish.
So rich and creamy: There’s plenty of dairy in these mashed potatoes – butter, sour cream and milk – so you just know they’re going to be super-creamy.
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Yukon Gold potatoes: Yukon Gold potatoes are the best potatoes for mashing because of their high starch content.
Garlic: Using both garlic powder and minced fresh garlic cloves ensures this is a garlic-rich dish!
Unsalted butter: Bring it to room temperature first so mashing it in doesn’t make your mashed potatoes go cold too quickly.
Whole milk: Helps make them creamy.
Sour cream: For a creamy texture and a tasty tang.
Fresh herbs: Optional but good. Chopped fresh chives or parsley are nice sprinkled on top of the best mashed potatoes.
How to Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the potatoes: Peel and chop the potatoes and then cook in a pot of water until fork tender. Drain them and put them in a bowl.
Mash them: Add the butter, milk, sour cream, minced garlic, and seasonings to the potatoes and mash them.
Garnish and serve: Serve the garlic mashed potatoes immediately, garnished with chopped fresh herbs if liked.
Substitutions and Variations
Sour cream: Substitute heavy cream or Greek yogurt for creamy mashed potatoes.
Yukon Gold potatoes: Russet potatoes are also good for mashing or any other high-starch potato.
Garlic cloves: You can change how much garlic you’re adding. Use more minced fresh garlic or another pinch of garlic powder for a more garlicky result. You can use roasted garlic instead of fresh garlic if you want.
Garnish: Fresh herbs make a nice garnish or you could drizzle melted butter or olive oil on top (just a little) for an absolutely delicious result.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Kick off dinnertime with dirty martini shrimp.
The main course: Garlic mashed potatoes would be great with honey mustard pork chops or one of these chicken leg recipes.
Desserts: Still hungry? Enjoy strawberry mousse tartlets or homemade Twix bites.
How to Store Mashed Potatoes
Store: Keep leftover mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 or 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze the mashed potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave, adding more butter, a splash of olive oil or a little cream if needed.
Top Tips
Prepping the potatoes: Peel the potatoes and cut them into even-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
Room temperature ingredients: Put the butter, milk and sour cream on the counter to warm up before you start the recipe, so when mashing into the potatoes they don’t make them cold like chilled ingredients would. Melt the butter and warm the milk in the microwave if needed.
Mashed potatoes consistency: You can leave a few little chunks in for texture or mash it more until smooth if you prefer it, adding a splash more milk if you need to.
Easy Garlic Mashed Potatoes FAQs
No, if you want to leave the potato skins in, just make sure you give the potatoes a good scrub before chopping and cooking them, to remove any bits of soil or dirt.
Sure! If you don’t have a masher, a fork will work just as well. Another option is a potato ricer (I have this one and love it!)
The Best Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- Pot Large
Ingredients
- 3 Pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 6 Cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ Cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 8 Ounces sour cream, at room temperature
- ¼ Cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- ¼ Teaspoon black pepper
To Garnish:
- chives or parsley, fresh chopped, optional
Instructions
- Put the potatoes in a large pot and add water until they’re completely submerged.
- Bring it to a boil and then turn the heat down and simmer the potatoes for 12 to 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain the water and put the potatoes in a bowl.
- Add the butter, milk, sour cream, minced garlic, and seasonings to the potatoes and mash until the consistency is as you like it.
- Taste and add more salt and/or pepper if needed, and serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh herbs.
Notes
Room temperature ingredients: Put the butter, milk and sour cream on the counter to warm up before you start the recipe, so when mashing into the potatoes they don’t make them cold like chilled ingredients would. Melt the butter and warm the milk in the microwave if needed.
Mashed potatoes consistency: You can leave a few little chunks in for texture or mash it more until smooth if you prefer it, adding a splash more milk if you need to.
Nutrition
Whip up the best ever creamy garlic mashed potatoes and pair them with any kind of meat, poultry or fish main course. These fluffy mashed potatoes are really delicious with plenty of yummy garlic flavor in every mouthful. You will find making garlic mashed potatoes very easy. Once you’ve cooked and drained the potatoes, simply mash in all the other ingredients for perfect mashed potatoes!
Other Potato Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These were so creamy and buttery! Everyone went for seconds (and maybe thirds).