Best Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
These Garlic Mashed Potatoes are simply heavenly! Creamy, flavorful and easy to make, they are the ultimate side dish to any meal. Easy enough for weeknight dinners, elegant enough for the holiday table.
How to Make the Best Best Garlic Mashed Potatoes
There’s something magical about a bowl of perfectly creamy, garlicky mashed potatoes. These garlic mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food—silky smooth, bursting with flavor, and incredibly easy to make. Whether you’re serving them alongside a weeknight roast chicken or bringing them to the holiday table, they’re guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
The secret to these dreamy mashed potatoes lies in a few simple techniques: using Yukon gold potatoes for their naturally buttery texture, saving some of that starchy potato water for the perfect consistency, and finishing with a generous amount of granulated garlic. The sour cream adds a subtle tang that balances beautifully with the rich butter.
For an extra-special touch, fold in some roasted garlic cloves—their mellow, caramelized sweetness takes these potatoes to the next level. Don’t skip the fresh chives on top; they add a pop of color and a mild oniony freshness that complements every bite.
Best Garlic Mashed Potatoes
These Garlic Mashed Potatoes are simply heavenly! Creamy, flavorful and easy to make, they are the ultimate side dish to any meal. Easy enough for weeknight dinners, elegant enough for the holiday table.
Ingredients
Mashed Potatoes
Optional Additions
Garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Potatoes
- Cut potatoes in half (or quarter them if they're larger). The smaller you cut them, the faster they will cook.
- Place in a large pot, cover with 2 inches of water, and add two teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Cover and lower heat to medium-low, simmering until fork-tender, roughly 15 minutes depending on size. Drain, saving 1 cup of hot potato water.
Make the Mashed Potatoes
- Place the drained potatoes back into the pot. Add butter, sour cream, half the potato water, salt, pepper, and granulated garlic.
- Mash well using a potato masher. Whisk the potatoes with the masher until light and fluffy.
- Add more hot potato water to loosen to your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper to your liking. Add horseradish if desired.
- If adding whole roasted garlic cloves, mash half of them and whisk them in, saving some whole for garnish.
Serve
- When ready to serve, give a good stir. Sprinkle with pepper, chives, and an optional drizzle of melted butter and roasted garlic cloves.
Notes
- When preparing for large crowds, a good rule of thumb is 1/3 to 1/2 pound of potatoes per person.
- If you forget to save the potato water, you can substitute milk instead.
- For extra creaminess, try using crème fraîche or creamy goat cheese instead of sour cream.
- These can be made vegan by using vegan butter and vegan sour cream.
