The recipe for my grandma's best mashed potatoes with heavy cream. (2024)

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Three key ingredients make up these rich and creamy mashed potatoes. You’ll never make mashed potatoes another way again. They’re also a great slow cooker mashed potato recipe.

It’s perfect rich and creamy mashed potato weather. Warm sunshine on my shoulders. Brilliant shades of red and orange falling from the trees. Ohio weather gets a lot of flack and I’ll be dishing it out as well when it is bitter cold in March. But right now? I’m singing the praises of my little Buckeye state.

With this warmish fall weather, it’s hard to keep in mind that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. The cool weather can stay away, but bring on the homemade rolls, Grandma’s stuffing and pumpkin pie.

And another must-have Thanksgiving side dish to go with your turkey? Mashed Potatoes and gravy. Rich and creamy mashed potatoes.

The recipe for my grandma's best mashed potatoes with heavy cream. (1)

Why this is the Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe:

  • It’s my grandma’s creamy mashed potatoes recipe. And grandma’s know best, right?
  • Uses Russet potatoes for the ultimate in fluffy texture.
  • Options to rice the potatoes for perfectly smooth potatoes or use a traditional potato masher.
  • Heavy cream and cream cheese give the best creamy texture.

Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese

I never used to follow a recipe when I made mashed potatoes. I knew I liked folding meltedbutter and milk in with the potatoes to make them super soft.

But I’ll never forget one time when we visited my Grandma’s house. Her mashed potatoes tasted amazing and it was because she added cream cheese to the mashed potatoes. Being an avid cream cheese lover, I knew she had hit on something brilliant.

What makes our mashed potatoes creamy?

  1. Butter. Real, sweet cream butter. I use salted butter nearly 100% of the time.
  2. Cream Cheese. Full-fat, please. Yes, you could use ⅓ fat or fat-free, but know that it is not going to be as rich and creamy if you do.
  3. Heavy Cream. I know many of you cringed when you read that ingredient. We’re not talking health food here. We’re talking Thanksgiving comfort food. And to get the potatoes super creamy and rich, you should definitely use heavy whipping cream.
The recipe for my grandma's best mashed potatoes with heavy cream. (2)
The recipe for my grandma's best mashed potatoes with heavy cream. (3)
The recipe for my grandma's best mashed potatoes with heavy cream. (4)
The recipe for my grandma's best mashed potatoes with heavy cream. (5)

What are the best potatoes for mashed potatoes?

Choosing the right kind of potato is important, too.There’s waxy potatoes, starchy potatoes and some in between. For perfectly textured mashed potatoes, you’re going to want to choose a starchy potato such as Russets. They may also be called Idaho or bakers. These potatoes will fall apart when you bake them, but whip up fluffy, drinking in all of that wonderful butter and milk.

Don’t have Russets? Try Yukon Gold potatoes. They have a natural buttery flavor so they are excellent in mashed potatoes.

How to make fluffy mashed potatoes?

There’s no need to pull out a blender, food processor or electric hand mixer to make potatoes. I used to make my potatoes that way, but a chef in Columbus, Ohio, told me that over-mixing the potatoes brings out the starch which can make them gummy.

For the fluffiest mashed potatoes, you’ll want to use a potato ricer or food mill. If you don’t have a potato ricer, use a handheld potato masher. It’s still possible to get them perfectly creamy with this.

Optional Mashed Potato Add-ins

  • Fresh herbs are a great way to add flavor to mashed potatoes, or just to sprinkle on top for serving. Try fresh parsley, chives, rosemary, pepper, green onions, thyme, or minced garlic cloves.
  • Don’t like cream cheese? Try adding in sour cream instead. It will change the flavor slightly and make the potatoes have a little more “tang”, but they’ll still be creamy.

Looking for a healthier version? Try our low carb mashed cauliflower!

Rich and Creamy Mashed Potatoes

4.68 from 56 votes

Three key ingredients make up these rich and creamy mashed potatoes. You'll never make mashed potatoes another way again. Great for the slow cooker, too.

Servings 12

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Print RecipeSave Recipe

Ingredients

  • 5 pounds Russet potatoes about 7 large potatoes
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup salted butter melted
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

  • Wash, peel and cut the potatoes into large cubes.

  • Place the cut potatoes in a large pot and fill the pot with cold water, leaving about 2 inches at the top of the pan.

  • Place the pan on the stovetop on medium-high heat.

  • Allow the water to come to a boil, then turn the water down to medium heat.

  • Boil the potatoes for 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.

  • Drain the water from the potatoes.

  • Put potatoes through a food mill or potato ricer for the fluffiest texture. Or you can mash them with a potato masher.

  • Stir in the cream cheese, butter, heavy cream and salt.

  • Gently fold the potatoes using a rubber spatula until they are smooth and creamy. Be careful not to mix too hard because want to keep the potato fluffiness that ricing the potatoes give.

  • Serve warm.

  • You can top with butter, salt, chives or parsley.

Notes

If you don’t have time to rice the potatoes, simply use a handheld potato masher or a hand mixer on low speed to blend the ingredients.

Slow Cooker Potatoes

If desired, you can place the finished mashed potatoes in a slow cooker and turn it on low for 2-3 hours. I love the potatoes slow cooked this way. The edges get slightly browned and taste delicious! If you don’t want the mashed potatoes to brown at all, be sure to stir the potatoes often, scraping the sides as you stir.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 401mg | Potassium: 808mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 10.8mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1.7mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Calories 283

Keyword creamy mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, potatoes side dish

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Other Mashed Potato Recipes

Love potatoes? We do, too! Try one of our mashed potato recipes:

The recipe for my grandma's best mashed potatoes with heavy cream. (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream in mashed potatoes? ›

The best Creamy Mashed Potatoes consists of perfectly cooked russet potatoes, melted butter, heavy cream and a touch of tartness like crème fraîche.

How does Gordon Ramsay make their mashed potatoes creamy? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mashed potatoes are known for their richness and flavor. He typically adds butter, heavy cream, and sometimes crème fraîche to his mashed potatoes for a creamy and indulgent texture.

Is cream cheese or sour cream better in mashed potatoes? ›

The Secret To The Creamiest Mashed Potatoes

Sour Cream: The sour cream helps keep the mashed potatoes fluffy. Cream Cheese: Adding the cream cheese creates smoothness. Type of Whisk: Using the whisk attachment for your mixer is key to getting the creamiest mashed potatoes.

Can you use heavy whipping cream instead of milk in instant mashed potatoes? ›

Heavy cream can make instant mashed potatoes taste indulgent. Half and half or even regular milk (whole is better than skim, but 2% will do) adds extra creaminess. To give your mashed potatoes a light tanginess, go with buttermilk or sour cream.

Is heavy cream and heavy whipping cream the same thing? ›

Is Heavy Cream the Same as Heavy Whipping Cream? Yes, heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are the exact same thing. The confusion lies in the fact that they're sold by different brands under two different names.

What is the trick to thicken mashed potatoes? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

How to make mashed potatoes Rachael Ray? ›

directions
  1. Boil potatoes until tender, 15 minutes. ...
  2. When the potatoes are tender, drain them and return them to the hot pot to let them dry out a bit.
  3. Mash potatoes with half-and-half or milk using a potato masher.
  4. Add in the cream cheese and smash until the cheese melts into the potatoes.
  5. Add chives or scallions.

What do professional chefs use to mash potatoes? ›

The secret weapon, a good potato ricer (affiliate). This pushes the potatoes into strings, which helps them soak up every bit of the cream and achieve maximum fluffliness.

Why add baking soda to mashed potatoes? ›

Directions. Throw just a pinch of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda into potatoes while mashing to make them fluffier.

What adds flavor to mashed potatoes? ›

Garlic – For savory depth of flavor. Unsalted butter – For richness and buttery flavor. Milk – It smooths the starchy potatoes into an incredibly creamy mash. Use whole milk for the creamiest results.

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Garlic and herbs are added to boost flavor

Instead of boiling a few potatoes and mashing them plain, a lot of restaurant chefs like to apply a little more finesse. Garlic and herbs infused in butter and cream add a flavor boost without overpowering.

How long do potatoes need to boil for mashed potatoes? ›

Once boiling, reduce heat, adjusting as needed to maintain a simmer. Cook potatoes until they offer no resistance when pierced: 10–12 minutes for baby potatoes, 15–20 minutes for small potatoes, or 30–40 minutes for large cubed potatoes. Drain potatoes in a colander and let cool 10 minutes.

Which is better for mashed potatoes heavy whipping cream or half-and-half? ›

So, if you're cooking something forgiving like soup or mashed potatoes, heavy cream and half-and-half are virtually interchangeable in equal amounts, yes—both will give you that creamy texture we all love and crave. Just be mindful that heavy cream contains more fat, so it will taste much richer.

What happens if you add too much milk to mashed potatoes? ›

Runny potatoes can happen for a few different reasons. Too much liquid: This is the most common reason. In the mashing process you may have added too much milk or broth. Boiled too long: Boiling your potatoes for too long can make them water-logged, which (you guessed it) can contribute to runny mashed potatoes.

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream? ›

Full-fat dairy products such as heavy whipping cream contain more of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K than low-fat or nonfat dairy. Also, your body absorbs fat-soluble vitamins better when you consume them with fat.

How do you make mashed potatoes not sticky creamy? ›

Throwing in a cold stick of butter and a splash of milk straight from the refrigerator will immediately cool down some of the spuds, which will prevent a creamy, smooth mash. If you take the time to slowly heat milk or heavy cream and butter in a small saucepan on the stove, you'll have much better results.

Why are my mashed potatoes not creamy? ›

When too much starch gets released, the potatoes become gummy, gluey, and unappetizing. Overworking the potatoes can happen in a couple ways: either by simply handling them too much, or by using a food processor, blender, or similar tool, which mixes the potatoes too aggressively.

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