Creamy Mashed Potatoes (2024)

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The best Creamy Mashed Potatoes consists of perfectly cooked russet potatoes, melted butter, heavy cream and a touch of tartness like crème fraîche. They reheat like a dream and will be a family favorite. Serve them with my stuffing muffins, pot roast and homemade apple pie.

Ingredients for creamy mashed potatoes

1. Russet Potatoes – I love russets because they’re easy to find and have the perfect amount of body to them.
2. Butter – This is an absolute must for delicious creamy mashed potatoes.
3. Heavy Cream – This adds to the richness of the perfect potatoes.
4. Crème Fraîche – I love adding something tart so it cuts some of the richness. In this case, I love using crème fraîche.
5. Chives – These add a touch of freshness when added to the top that is much needed with an otherwise rich dish.

For the rest of the ingredients, please see the recipe card below.

What Makes Up The Best Mashed Potatoes

1. Potato type (my preference!) – Russet Potatoes. I tried Yukon Golds and they were pretty tasty but they definitely have more body to them and took way longer to break down. My vote is for russets all the way!
2. Processing method (masher vs. potato ricer) – Potato Ricer. This was a super easy call. Back in the 90s when I used to help my mom in the kitchen, I use to help her use the masher but as I grew up and started loving this food-lyfe, I quickly switched to the potato ricer. It is the ONLY way to go.
3. Milk vs. Cream Cheese vs. Cream – Warm Heavy Cream. I’ve tried mashed potatoes with milk (I used to do this); it’s solid. I love heavy cream and I like to warm it. It combines beautifully and when you mix it up, it adds a nice airiness to the potatoes.
4. Melted butter vs. Cold cubes of butter vs. Room temperature cubes of Butter – Melted Butter. A lot of people claim cubes of cold butter is the way to go; I tried it with cold cubes of butter and found NO difference. At all. I also love using melted butter because for this recipe, I simply combine the heavy cream and butter and warm them up together. It makes it a bit easier and is less fussy.
5. Something tart – Crème Fraîche. I like to add a tangy element. Some people love adding buttermilk. But I prefer the creaminess and flavor of crème fraîche. Sour cream will work, too!

How to Make The Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes

1. Wash and peel the potatoes. And then cube them up into a uniform size. This helps with even cooking. Add them to a pot and cover them with cold water and add a few liberal pinches of salt.
2. Bring them to a boil and cook them for about 18 to 20 minutes. You want them fork tender; not overly cooked! Pour them in a colander and allow them to dry out.
3. Meanwhile, warm up your butter and heavy cream over low heat. And then add in a few smashed garlic cloves to steep.
4. Add a few spoonfuls of potatoes to a food ricer and squeeze the potatoes back into the pot. Continue until you work your way through all of the potatoes
5. Pour in the warm butter and heavy cream mixture (being sure to discard the garlic cloves). Add a few pinches of salt and the creme fraiche or sour cream. Mix it up until all cohesive and combined. It might seem like a lot of liquid at first but keep going, it’ll come together.
6. Warm up the potatoes over low flame (if needed). Serve them with gravy or more melted butter, black pepper and/or freshly minced chives.

What to Serve with These Creamy Mashed Potatoes

• Butter Pecan Pie
• Easy Apple Cobbler
• Sheet Pan Turkey
• Cozy Beef Stew

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