Fast And Delicious Mashed Potatoes Recipe
This mashed potatoes recipe is a perfect addition to any meal. It also comes together super fast and requires nothing special in the way of equipment or kitchen skillset.
The potatoes are creamy, well flavored, and ready in less than 30 minutes. There are even ways to get it down to 10 to 15 minutes if you’re in a hurry.
Quick mashed potatoes that don’t skimp on flavor? Yes, thank you!
This mashed potatoes recipe is also perfect for those budding cooks out there.
You can use this simple mashed potatoes recipe to build on other dishes that involve additional ingredients such as garlic, cheeses, bacon, etc., to elevate this humble dish to mind-melting goodness.
Tips And Variations
- Want to make them more decadent? Adding half a cup of parmesan cheese or romano cheese while mashing your potatoes is fabulous. You could also use heavy cream instead of milk (yes!).
- Want them extra creamy, add more milk and heavy cream to nail that creamy texture you’re looking for. Better yet, use a potato ricer!
- Want a more robust flavor, roasted garlic added will totally give you that. You could even just toss in a few cloves of garlic during the cooking process to add a subtle garlic flavor.
Don’t Sweat The Recipe is supported by its readers. We may earn a commission if you purchase through a link on our site. Learn more.
Mashed Potatoes Ingredients
The ingredients of this dish are about as basic as you can get. You will need the following:
- Russet Potatoes (Yukon Gold potatoes are good as well)
- Milk
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chives or parsley for garnish (optional)
How To Make Simple And Delicious Mashed Potatoes
1. Peel And Cut The Potatoes
Peel the russet potatoes. Using a sharp knife, quarter them by cutting them in half and then cutting those pieces in half.
Boiling these potatoes will take approximately 15 minutes. To speed up the process, you can dice these potatoes into approximately 1 1/2 inch pieces and boil them that way. This will cut your time in the boiling water by half.
2. Boil The Potatoes
Add the cut potatoes to cold water in a large pot. Salt the water with 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring the water to boil over high heat and allow them to cook for approximately 15 minutes.
To test the doneness, insert a fork into a piece. If they’re fork tender, the potatoes are done.
3. Warm The Milk And Melt The Butter
While the potatoes are cooking, add 1/2 cup of 4 tablespoons of butter to a small saucepan. Set the heat to low and warm the milk and melt the butter. Stir occasionally.
Do not bring it to a boil. We only want to warm the milk to blend better with the potatoes. When the butter has melted, reduce to warm.
4. Drain The Potatoes
When the potatoes are done, remove them from the heat and drain. Return the potatoes to the warm pan.
5. Mash The Potatoes
Using a potato masher or hand mixer, begin to mash the potatoes. Add half of your milk butter mixture to the pan and continue to mash.
When it’s incorporated, add the remaining milk butter mixture and continue to combine using the potato masher or hand mixer.
Pro Tip
You can’t beat using a potato ricer if you want super-duper creamy potatoes. Using this removes the need for a hand mixer or masher completely.
Just run the potatoes through the ricer, then add half your butter and milk mixer. Fold it in, then add the rest. Fold that in as well, and you are ready to go!
6. Season The Potatoes To Taste
Using a spoon or fork, give the potatoes a taste and add salt and pepper to your liking. We always add an additional teaspoon of salt or two to ours.
7. Serve
To serve, transfer to a serving bowl and optionally garnish with some chopped parsley or chives.
This recipe makes some decent mashed potatoes and is meant to give people the amounts needed to bang out a quick, tasty side dish.
If you want to step it up a notch, you can add additional garnishes such as sour cream or perhaps a sprinkle or two of bacon.
The point is, you can keep it simple and put smiles on everybody’s faces. Or you can ramp it up with flavor until it becomes the best mashed potatoes you have ever had.
This homemade mashed potatoes recipe will give you the extremely tasty creamy mashed potatoes you’re looking for.
FAQ
1. Start with cold water when boiling your potatoes.
2. Do not add all your butter and milk mixture all at once. Add some, incorporate it, then add the rest.
3. Taste the potatoes and season to taste.
Whole milk is the baseline. Use half-and-half or heavy cream if you want a more decadent mashed potatoes dish.
Sage, thyme, and parsley go well with mashed potatoes. Of course, salt and pepper … always.
Fast And Delicious Mashed Potato Recipe
Equipment
- Hand Mixer or
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Russet potatoes
- 1/2 cup Whole milk
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 2 tsp Salt
Optional
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
- Peel the russet potatoes. Using a sharp knife quarter them by first cutting them in half the cutting those pieces in half as well.
- Add the cut potatoes to cold water in a large pot. Salt the water with 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring the water to boil over high heat and allow them to cook for approximately 15 minutes.
- While the potatoes are cooking, add 1/2 cup of 4 tablespoons of butter to a small saucepan. Set the heat to low and warm the milk and melt the butter. Stir occasionally.
- When the butter has melted, reduce to warm.
- When the potatoes are done, remove from the heat and drain. Return the potatoes to the warm pan.
- Using a potato masher or hand mixer begin to mash the potatoes. Add half of your milk butter mixture to the pan and continue to mash.
- When it’s incorporated, add the remaining milk butter mixture and continue to combine using the potato masher or hand mixer.
- Using a spoon or fork, give the potatoes a taste and add salt and pepper to your liking.
- To serve, transfer to a serving bowl and optionally garnish with some chopped parsley or chives.