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19 Best Mashed Potato Recipes

easy microwave mashed potatoes
Liz Andrew/Erin McDowell

It’s a must-have dish for family gatherings and reigns supreme in the comfort food stakes, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for improvement. Whether you're looking for a weeknight dinner side dish or something to put on a Thanksgiving menu, here are the 19 best mashed potato recipes we recommend serving. All of which feature surprising twists, decadent stir-ins and genius shortcuts.


make ahead mashed potatoes recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Less time cooking means more time for the important stuff (like mingling and wine).

mashed potato recipes potato fritters
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

2. Mashed Potato Fritters with Smoked Salmon and Chives

Mix mashed potatoes with cheese, shape them into patties and fry them into mashed potato fritters, the results are crispy and glorious.

mashed potato recipes shepherds pie
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

3. Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd's pie as a concept is pretty awesome: beef stew baked with a layer of mashed potatoes on top. It's worthy of being served at casual family meals and weekend dinner parties alike.

easy microwave mashed potatoes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. 15-Minute Microwave Mashed Potatoes

Need soft and creamy mashed potatoes immediately? You got it.

mashed potato recipes tex mex
Gimme Some Oven

5. Tex Mex Mashed Potatoes

Plain mashed potatoes? Boring. Enter this Tex-Mex twist with bell peppers, jalapeños, green chili and plenty of sharp cheddar cheese.

mashed potato recipes eggs and potatoes
LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

6. Eggs and Potatoes

In this recipe, we stir some bacon into the potatoes, divide the mixture into individual portions, crack eggs into each one and bake.

garlic ranch mashed potatoes
Damn Delicious

7. Garlic Ranch Mashed Potatoes

Totally worth the garlic breath, we promise.

crockpot three cheese mashed potatoes
Half Baked Harvest

8. Crock-Pot Three Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Oh hello, cheddar, Gruyère and Parmesan.

loaded mashed potato balls recipe
Damn Delicious

9. Loaded Mashed Potato Balls

Aka the best way to use up leftovers.

mashed potato recipes 20 minute potatoes
ERIN MCDOWELL

10. Quick Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream

Preparing an entire holiday meal takes a ton of time, so if there’s an opportunity to save a few precious minutes, we’ll take it. Enter this recipe for quick mashed potatoes.

mashed potatoes with sour cream2
Foodie Crush

11. BUTTERMILK BLUE CHEESE MASHED POTATOES

Adding milk and cheese is nothing new for mashed potatoes, but buttermilk and blue cheese? We’re in.

mashed potatoes recipe with cauliflower and mushroom gravy
Minimalist Baker

12. Mashed Potatoes with Cauliflower and Mushroom Gravy

Two veggies are better than one.

mashed potato recipes hummus mashed potatoes
Gimme Some Oven

13. Hummus Mashed Potatoes

Creamy and customizable to your favorite hummus flavor.

mashed potato recipes avocado potatoes
Darn Good Veggies

14. Avocado Butter Mashed Potatoes

Brighten up your Thanksgiving spread with this green-hued side dish.

leftover mashed potato samosa cakes recipe 10
Feed Me Pheobe

15. Samosa-Style Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes

Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside.

mashed potato recipes cauliflower
Spoon Fork Bacon

16. CAULIFLOWER, PARSNIP AND ROASTED GARLIC MASH

This lighter take on the classic holiday side swaps potatoes for mashed cauliflower and parsnip.

mashed potato recipes waffles
Half Baked Harvest

17. Turkey, avocado, cranberry, brie and mashed potato waffle melts

Is there anything a waffle iron can’t do?

mashed potato recipes bacon and potato pizza
Whitney Bond

18. Mashed Potato & Bacon Pizza

Creamy potatoes and crunchy bacon means this is guaranteed to be the star of the party.

mashed potato recipes rosemary potatoes
Oh My Veggies

19. Slow Cooker Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes

No peeling or chopping required.


Alexia Dellner profile shot v2

Executive Editor

  • Lifestyle editor focusing primarily on family, wellness and travel
  • Has more than 10 years experience writing and editing
  • Studied journalism at the University of Westminster in London, UK