Description
Mashed potatoes are such a classic holiday side dish, and today I’m sharing my recipe for the best Creamy Mashed Potatoes. You don’t need tons of fancy ingredients, just butter, milk, salt and pepper, to make this cozy holiday side dish. These easy mashed potatoes can be prepped ahead of time, and even frozen, until ready to use. Enjoy for a holiday side dish or just for a regular dinner side.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6-8 medium sized russet potatoes (about 8 cups once peeled and diced)
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup room temperature buttermilk, depending on what texture you prefer
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh herbs for topping, if desired
Instructions
- Wash and peel potatoes and then dice them into bite sized pieces. It doesn’t matter what size they are, you just want them to all be about the same size, so that they all have the same cooking time. You can leave the peels on, if you prefer.
- Add diced potatoes to a large pot and then cover with cold water. Add a big pinch of salt to the water and place the pot over medium-high heat. Bring water to a boil (takes about 12-15 minutes) and let potatoes cook until fork tender, about 20 minutes once water is up to a boil.
- Drain potatoes well and then let them sit for a few minutes to allow any excess water to evaporate. Then, you can either add them back to the pot and mash them well with a potato masher OR you can run them through a potato ricer, for super smooth mashed potatoes. I like to use a potato ricer because it makes the mashed potatoes super smooth and it also helps drain out any extra liquid. If using a potato ricer, you may want to hold it over the sink when you first press down on it, just in case any water comes out first.
- Turn the heat on low and add in the melted butter. Mix the potatoes with the butter until potatoes are smooth. Next, pour in the buttermilk and mix again until desired consistency is reached. If you want your mashed potatoes to be extra loose, you can add in more milk. Lastly, season well with salt and black pepper, to taste.
- Mashed potatoes can be enjoyed immediately, or you can set them aside until ready to eat. To re-heat mashed potatoes, either add them to a baking dish, wrap with foil and bake until heated through, or heat them in a pot on the stovetop. You may need to add extra liquid when re-heating them, as they can get a little stiff when cooled down.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Side, Vegetarian
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
