Easy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
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Everyone’s going to ask to please pass the potatoes over and over again over these buttery, fluffy, creamy, truly DIVINE Garlic Mashed Potatoes!
For more mashed potatoes recipes, head on over to my popular posts for Garlic Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, and Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
Here’s How You Make It
Would you believe that the creamiest garlic mashed potatoes of all time are also super simple and easy to make? Seriously it’s a breeze! I’ll walk you through it.
- Cook the potatoes (see below for two different methods) and drain.
- Combine the hot, drained potatoes, butter, milk (or heavy cream for even richer flavor!), sour cream, garlic, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Use a hand mixer or a potato masher to mash up the potatoes and all the other ingredients until just combined. The potatoes can be a little lumpy, that’s okay! You don’t want to over-mix.
- Salt and pepper to taste, serve and enjoy!
Why This Recipe Works
Let me convince you why these mashed potatoes are the BEST you will ever try.
- Red potatoes — Although you can use any potato in this recipe, I very much prefer red (or even yellow) over a russet. The skins are soft, so no need to peel them. They cook up fast, and whip up so creamy you’ll never want to use another potato!
- Garlic — Minced, powdered, roasted, diced, any way you like it, you must add it to these potatoes. It takes them from meh to marvelous! Trust me on this one.
- Dairy — The secret to creamy, smooth, silky mashed potatoes is using both sour cream and milk when you whip them up. Don’t worry, I promise 8 ounces of sour cream isn’t as much as you think and it will blend in just fine along with the ½ cup of whole milk. You won’t want to skimp on these ingredients.
- Easy — There just isn’t an easier, more flavorful recipe for garlic mashed potatoes out there. From cutting to cooking to mashing to table, all in under an hour.
One of my most favorite side dishes ever is potatoes. I could really eat them any style – roasted, smashed, diced, shredded… but these garlic mashed potatoes with sour cream are my absolute favorite! The combination of red potatoes, butter, sour cream, plus minced garlic is just divine. Plus, I like to add a little extra kick of garlic with some garlic powder and just a pinch of salt and cracked black pepper to round it all out.
And if your oven and stove are already jam-packed with other holiday goodies, no need to panic, because I’ve also included directions for making these mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot!
Cooking Potatoes on the Stovetop
- Chop the potatoes into quarters, then place them in a large pot and cover with water just to 1 inch above the potatoes.
- Bring them to a boil over HIGH heat, then reduce heat to medium-high.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes until potatoes are easily pierced to the center by a fork.
- Drain the water and transfer potatoes to a large bowl.
Cooking Potatoes in the Instant Pot
- Place the metal rack in the bottom of your pressure cooker.
- Add 1 cup water, then place whole potatoes on a metal rack.
- Cover, and set vent to SEAL position, then set to PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL for 8 minutes.
- Once cook time is up, quick release by turning knob to the VENT position.
- Once the float valve has dropped, remove the lid, drain the pot, and transfer potatoes to a large bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good rule is to make about a half a pound of potatoes per person. So for this recipe, I use 3 pounds, which works out to 6 servings.
Expert Tips
- Use red potatoes (or yukon gold potatoes) if at all possible. And don’t peel the potatoes. Together, the two parts of these potatoes make the best mashed potatoes ever! This is the way my mother always made mashed potatoes and I absolutely love them. The red skins are so soft and delicious, and there’s no need to peel them. However, if you just can’t get past the skins go ahead and peel them first, either way this recipe is amazing!
- For an even stronger garlic flavor, up the garlic powder to 1 ½ -2 ½ teaspoons or use smashed whole garlic cloves.
- Are you potatoes incomplete without gravy? Mine too! For the best gravy to go with mashed potatoes, try my famous Beef Broth Brown Gravy — so simple and goes great over these garlic mashed potatoes.
- Cut the red potatoes into equal pieces (halves should suffice) so that they all cook evenly in the pot.
More Recipes to Try
- Easy Chicken Gravy
- Beef Broth Brown Gravy
- Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Best Baked Potato Wedges
- Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey
- Braised Beef Short Ribs
Did you make these super creamy garlic mashed potatoes? WOOHOO – please rate the recipe below!
Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds red potatoes, peeled if desired (see note)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces sour cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1-2 teaspoons garlic powder, to taste
- 1-2 teaspoons salt, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper, or 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the potatoes (see directions for stovetop or Instant Pot methods below).
- In a large bowl combine hot (drained) potatoes, butter, milk, sour cream, garlic, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Use a potato masher OR use your hand mixer (my favorite method!) to mix your potatoes just until all ingredients are combined – your potatoes should still have a few lumps, do not over-mix!
- Taste, add salt and pepper if needed. Serve and enjoy!
Potatoes – Stovetop Method
- Cut the potatoes into quarters. Place in a large pot and cover with water (water should come 1 inch above potatoes. Bring to a boil over HIGH heat, once boiling reduce heat to medium-high. Boil for 10-12 minutes until potatoes are easily pierced to the center by a fork. Drain the water and transfer potatoes to a large bowl.
Potatoes – Instant Pot Method
- Place metal rack in the bottom of your pressure cooker. Add 1 cup water, then place potatoes on metal rack. Cover, set vent to SEAL position. Set to PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL for 8 minutes. Once cook time is up, quick release by turning knob to the VENT position. Once float valve has dropped, remove lid, drain pot, and transfer potatoes to a large bowl.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can you pre-made and freeze for later? If so do I fully cook then freeze or freeze after mixing all ingredients
I’ve never tried to freeze these particular mashed potatoes but I have with a difference mash potato recipe and they turned out well. I would recommend the same thing, cook completely then freeze. Make sure they’re in an air tight bag or container. They can last up to 10 months!
I’m having a dinner party and want to make the potatoes ahead of time. What is the best way to heat them up before serving?
They’re better fresh but to reheat you can either reheat on the stovetop, stirring until creamy and warmed through (you can add a splash of milk and or butter to help them not dry out.) Or you can heat them in the oven covered at 350, also with some butter and milk. Cook for about 15-20 minutes or so. Or if you don’t have a lot of time you can always throw them in the microwave! Haha good luck! 🙂
I thought I had the perfect garlic mashed but your recipe put a smile on my mother-in-laws face! Keep the recipes coming Tiffany 🙂
That’s great! I’m glad you were both able to enjoy them 🙂
Hi / I prefer no peel on my mashed potatoes should I peel them before cooking them or aftrt they are cooked
Before! It will be much easier while they are hard and firm to peel them.
Hi Tiffany, Definitely before you boil them. Remember to put them in a bowl of water while you peel to keep them from browning and the peeling time is less than the time it’ll take without water.
Best potatoes I’ve had in years – I loved them! Made them for Easter dinner – they were a huge hit!!
What attachment was used on your stand mixer? Thanks
Strip beaters, or the standard attachment
Super easy and soooo tasty! I went on the higher side of garlic and they ended up really garlicy (which I like).
Can you sub the sour cream for anything? Don’t have any on hand..
You can substitute Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or buttermilk
Hi! Can I use almond milk instead of regular milk?
I have not tried that so I can’t say for sure, but it should probably be ok. It may turn out a tad less creamy, but I think they’ll still be good!
because of this recipe, i have become the family mashed potato maker for whenever mashed potatoes are on the menu. they are the best and so easy to prepare!
Yesss! I am so happy to hear that!! Thanks for your feedback, Nannette!
Can these be made in advance if so how may days? How would you reheat them?
I would also like to know if you can make these in advance and if so how do you reheat them.
To answer both of you, I would make these a day or two ahead of time but they’re better fresh. To reheat, you can either reheat on the stovetop, stirring until creamy and warmed through (you can add a splash of milk and or butter to help them not dry out.) Or you can heat them in the oven covered at 350, also with some butter and milk. Cook for about 15-20 minutes or so. Or if you don’t have a lot of time you can always through them in the microwave! Haha good luck! 🙂