A side of some delicious creamy garlic mashed potatoes is a timeless side dish that will continue to exist, even when the robots take over. They can elevate the simplest plate of food, whether it’s during a holiday dinner, a Sunday roast, or a weeknight dinner when it’s time to unwind. They have a silky texture, and the mellow, aromatic garlic flavor is always a welcome addition.
While the ingredients are potatoes, garlic, butter, and cream, the method is what makes this dish extraordinary. It starts with the basics, like boiling the garlic with the potatoes. It also includes the addition of pre-heating the dairy in a separate bowl before combining and allowing the potatoes to steam after draining.
In this recipe, you will find step-by-step processes that will allow you to achieve the perfect creamy garlic mashed potatoes every time. You will also find some storage tips that will enable you to prepare some in advance without compromising on flavor or texture.
Best Potatoes for Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
For delectable, creamy mashed potatoes, picking the right type of potatoes is the first and most important step.
- Yukon Gold potatoes have a naturally buttery texture and a medium starch content, which allows them to become smooth and creamy without absorbing too much liquid.
- Russet potatoes have a high starch content, which may result in fluffier mash; however, these potatoes may become grainy if overmixed.
For this recipe, Yukon potatoes are recommended because of their distinct taste and creamy texture.
How to Prepare Garlic for the Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Garlic enhances the taste of the dish. Balancing garlic’s pungent profile is an art. For this dish, the garlic cloves are boiled alongside the potatoes, which softens and sweetens the garlic. This allows the delicate garlic to blend into the mash instead of clashing with the potatoes.
This ensures that no pungent, raw garlic is present. Hence, only a mild garlic flavor is present to bolster the taste of the potatoes.
Delicious Variations for Garlic Mashed Potatoes
For those looking to boost the taste to another level, you can add:
- Parmesan cheese: Sprinkle half a cup of freshly grated Parmesan to add nutty and savory richness.
- Sour cream: Provides creaminess and a slight tang. You can substitute 1/4 cup of cream with sour cream.
- Roasted garlic purée: For a stronger garlic flavor, blend roasted garlic with the potatoes before mashing
Best Ways to Serve Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes with garlic go perfectly with brown gravy, roasted meats, and grilled vegetables. They also make an excellent base for a vegetable stew. If it’s a special occasion, you can finely chop fresh chives or parsley to add a pop of color and freshness to the garnish.
If you’re cooking for a large gathering, you can hold the potatoes for up to an hour by keeping them in a heatproof bowl set over simmering water. Stir occasionally and partially cover with foil to prevent a skin from forming.
How to Store and Reheat Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Using the proper methods to prepare and store, stuffed mashed potatoes can be made in advance and stored without losing quality.
Refrigeration
- Ensure the stuffed mashed potatoes have cooled completely before storing.
- Place in an airtight container
- They can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheating:
- Place the mashed potatoes in a saucepan with a splash of cream.
- Heat gently over low heat, stirring.
- Alternatively, use a microwave set to medium power, and pause every minute to stir until thoroughly heated.
Freezing
- Because of the cream and butter, the fat content in mashed potatoes makes them freeze well.
- Let them cool completely.
- Transfer to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
- Best consumed within two months.
To Reheat After Freezing:
- Leave in the refrigerator overnight for defrosting.
- Heat gently and add cream or butter for that extra flavor.
Fixing Problems with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Out of shape: to fix the shape, put the dish in warm or hot water for a few seconds.
- Too Creamy: To balance the taste, add some mashed potato flakes to the mix slowly.
- Gluey texture: This happens when the potatoes are overworked. Electric mixers or blenders produce the worst texture. The best results are achieved when using a masher or ricer.
🛒 Grocery List — Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Shop online using our lists below!
Yukon Gold Potatoes – 2 lbs
Garlic – 6 large cloves, peeled
Heavy Cream – 1 cup
Half-and-Half – optional substitute for cream
Salt – 1 teaspoon, plus more to taste
Unsalted Butter – 4 tablespoons
Sour Cream – optional, ¼ cup
Recommended Cookware & Tools (Amazon US)
- Cuisinart 6-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot – For even cooking and preventing potatoes from sticking.
- OXO Good Grips 5-Quart Stainless Steel Colander – Essential for draining and steaming potatoes after boiling.
- OXO Good Grips Potato Ricer / KitchenAid Stainless Steel Potato Masher – For achieving the ideal texture, a ricer gives ultra-smooth potatoes, while a masher creates a more rustic finish.
- All-Clad 1-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan – For gently heating cream and butter before mixing.
- Pyrex 4-Quart Glass Mixing Bowl – A heatproof bowl to mash and mix the potatoes.
- Di Oro Seamless Silicone Spatula – For folding in ingredients without overmixing.
- Rubbermaid Brilliance BPA-Free Airtight Food Storage Containers – For refrigerating or freezing leftovers while maintaining freshness.
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How to Make the Best Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Enjoy!
To completely polish off the dish, the warm butter can be drizzled over the surface after the mash has been spooned into the dish and gentle swirls are made. The addition of fresh herbs just before serving can make the dish more fragrant and beautiful.
Creamy, luxurious mashed potatoes that can be served at fine-dining restaurants, yet simple enough to be enjoyed on a weeknight dinner. Follow this simple tip, and it will be ready in no time.
Ingredients
Instructions
Cooking the Potatoes and Garlic
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Peeling the potatoes and slicing them into 1-inch or golf ball-sized pieces is the first step. The potatoes need to be uniformly sized to ensure they cook evenly.
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Add the potatoes and peeled garlic cloves to a large pot, then fill it with cold water until the water level is about an inch above the potatoes.
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Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water to ensure that the potatoes absorb the salt while they cook.
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Bring to a boil while maintaining medium-high heat. Once boiling, lower to a gentle simmer for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes can be forked easily.
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Draining and Steaming
After the potatoes are tender, drain them thoroughly in a colander to remove all excess water. Return the drained potatoes to the warm pot, then place the pot back on the stove over low heat for 1–2 minutes. This gentle heat will allow any remaining moisture to evaporate, ensuring your mashed potatoes stay rich and creamy instead of watery.
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Heating the Cream and Butter
Cold butter and cream will cause the starches in the potatoes to seize, creating a gluey texture. To prevent this, the heavy cream and butter should be placed in a separate small saucepan and kept over low heat until the butter is fully melted.
Gentle warming is best and should not be boiled. This step helps the dairy incorporate smoothly, preserving a light and creamy mouthfeel.
Mashing the Potatoes
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Return the warm garlic and potatoes to the pot. Alternatively, these two ingredients can be mixed in a large bowl.
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Smooth the garlic and potato mixture using a potato masher to the desired consistency. For an ultra-smooth finish, a potato ricer can be utilized to achieve a velvety texture.
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Gradually stream in the warm cream and butter mixture while continuing to mash the potatoes. Care must be taken to avoid turning the mash too thin.
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Gently stir the mixture and combine. Adjust the flavor by adding salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.