Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs, Quick Prep Recipes may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. This comes at no additional cost to you, and all the prices and availability are accurate at the time of publishing.
These garlic mashed potatoes are the absolute best you will ever taste. They’re creamy, dreamy, and just the right amount of garlicky – simple enough for weeknight dinners yet special enough for your holiday celebrations. With its perfect balance of fluffy potatoes, rich butter, creamy milk, and aromatic garlic, you won’t want mashed potatoes any other way ever again.
We all need the perfect mashed potato recipe in our life. After years of searching, I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing compares to my mom’s garlic mashed potatoes. They’re melt-in-your-mouth smooth with a pop of garlic goodness that I’ve always loved. She often made them for our family dinners when I was younger, and they remain a classic holiday staple in our home. I’m so excited to share the recipe with you today!
I’d eat these creamy, comforting garlic mashed potatoes everyday if I could because they go with practically everything. They make a great side dish for any occasion you can think of, from casual lunches and comfort food nights to potlucks, backyard barbecues, and holiday feasts. Make it once, and you won’t be able to stop.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and simple: Make a mind blowingly-good side dish with minimal effort and a few pantry basics. No fancy tools or ingredients needed here!
- Comfort food upgraded: A wholesome, tasty spin on classic mashed potatoes with rich, creamy texture and the perfect touch of garlic flavor.
- Holiday-worthy: Simple yet indulgent, these garlic mashed potatoes will shine wherever holiday spread you put them in.
- Guaranteed crowd-pleaser: These mashed potatoes will have everyone coming back for seconds, or thirds.
- Incredibly versatile: If there’s a little black dress of side dishes, it’s definitely mashed potatoes. Dress them up or down, depending on the occasion.
How to Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes
From cutting to boiling to mashing to serving, you can make these flavorful garlic mashed potatoes in less than half an hour. If you’ve never made mashed potatoes before, this is the perfect recipe to start with. I’ll show you how easy it is to take mashed potatoes from meh to memorable!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Potatoes: I often use Yukon gold potatoes for that fluffy, cloud-like consistency, but red potatoes are also good.
- Garlic: Freshly-peeled garlic is best – no jarred garlic in this recipe, please!
- Butter: I use unsalted butter. Cutting the butter into smaller pieces helps it melt more quickly.
- Milk: I use whole milk, but you can use any milk of your choice. I don’t recommend almond or soy, though, because their flavor might throw off the recipe.
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
Step-By-Step Instructions
Can you believe that these buttery, fluffy garlic mashed potatoes are made in just 2 simple steps? They’re so easy to whip up that you’ll want to make them every chance you get. Follow the instructions below and you can’t go wrong.
Step 1: Boil
First, place the potatoes in a medium pot. Add cold water until the potatoes are covered by 1-inch. Bring to a boil – cook for about 10 minutes, until you can easily pierce the potatoes with a knife.
Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the butter and stir until it’s melted.
Step 2: Mash
Next, add the milk then mash the potatoes using a potato masher until smooth. No potato masher? Use a wooden spoon instead. Finally, season with salt and pepper.
Serve and enjoy!
Substitutions
6 simple, everyday ingredients are all you need to make this amazing side dish. If you’re missing some or prefer to use an alternative ingredient, try these substitutions:
- Butter: Swap out the butter for a drizzle of olive oil if you want the recipe to be dairy-free.
- Milk: Want thicker mashed potatoes? Substitute the milk with half and half, full-fat Greek yogurt, or sour cream. For a dairy-free alternative, use chicken broth.
Variations
What’s better than garlic mashed potatoes? Garlic mashed potatoes with your favorite mix-ins or toppings, of course! While this version is foolproof delicious, these fun variations offer different flavors and textures to suit your tastes or complement your meal!
- Cheesy, garlicky mashed potatoes are something else. Mix in shredded cheddar, parmesan, Gouda, or any melty cheese of your choice. Top with more cheese and broil for a crispy, golden finish.
- Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or chives go so well with mashed potatoes. Stir them into the mashed potatoes right before serving.
- Add candied bacon bits for extra texture and smoky flavor. You can also drizzle some of the bacon grease into the potatoes. Yum!
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the mash for a spicy kick that pairs perfectly with the savory garlic.
- Mix in a little bit of truffle butter or drizzle truffle oil for a luxurious upgrade. Perfect for special occasions!
Expert Tips
- Skip the peeling: I recommend peeling the potatoes, but if you’re short on time or prefer a rustic mash, leave the skins on. These mashed potatoes taste great either way.
- Rinse the potatoes: Once peeled and sliced, rinse the potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch.
- Don’t overmash: Mash the potatoes just until smooth. Overmixing can make them gummy. Use a potato masher or a ricer for the best texture.
- Season gradually: Taste and adjust the seasoning as you go. Start with a small amount of salt and pepper, then add more to taste.
- Load them up: Garlic mashed potatoes are amazing as is, but adding extras will give you varied flavors and textures to make your meals more exciting.
How to Store This Recipe
Place garlic mashed potatoes in an airtight storage container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend storing them in the freezer because mashed potatoes tend to be mealy once thawed.
Reheat smaller servings on a buttered skillet or saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until heated through. I like to add a few splashes of milk to keep them from drying out.
What to Serve with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
There are endless ways to serve these creamy garlic mashed potatoes! Go classic and serve them with fried chicken and gravy, go light and enjoy them with a salad, or go hearty and pair them with steak, grilled meat, or your favorite salmon dish – basically any protein main you can think of.
For special occasions like Christmas and Thanksgiving, enjoy garlic mashed potatoes with turkey, ham, or roast beef, and with other delicious sides like green bean casserole, stuffing, or roasted vegetables.
If you make these garlic mashed potatoes, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and review comment!
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds potatoes peeled and cut into 1.5-inch pieces
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the potatoes in a medium pot. Add cold water until the potatoes are covered by 1-inch. Bring to a boil. Cook for about 10 minutes, until you can easily pierce the potatoes with a knife
- Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the butter and stir until melted.
- Add the milk and garlic. Mash with a potato masher until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Notes
- If you’re short on time or prefer to leave the potato skins on, leave them on. These mashed potatoes taste great either way.
- Once peeled and sliced, rinse the potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch.
- Mash the potatoes just until smooth. Overmixing can make them gummy. Use a potato masher or a ricer for the best texture.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as you go. Start with a small amount of salt and pepper, then add more to taste.
- Garlic mashed potatoes are amazing as is, but adding extras will give you varied flavors and textures to make your meals more exciting.
