These fluffy mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish recipe to just about any main course, and they are easy to make. Only a few simple ingredients are needed for this simple mashed potato recipe.
If you ask anyone to name a side dish, almost everyone you ask will say mashed potatoes. It’s just such an iconic side dish. Over the course of our lives, there’s no telling how many servings of these soft, fluffy potatoes we’ve had. They’re paired with chicken, beef, and pork of almost every kind. I’ve been a fan of mashed potatoes for as long as I can remember, and when I became a mom, mashed potatoes were one of the first solid foods that I gave my kids. Of course, they’re huge fans of this tasty side dish, too! If you’re a fan, then you’re going to flip over these mashed potatoes. They’re the ultimate fluffy, buttery, rich side, and they’re always perfect with any dish.
Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes aren’t the classic ones we all know. Of course, those are delicious. Don’t get me wrong. That being said, these mashed potatoes are just about the most amazing thing you’ll ever have, and that’s thanks to 2 secret ingredients – cream cheese and evaporated milk. Most people add sour cream, but I’ve found that cream cheese makes this classic potato side so much richer, and the evaporated milk helps the potatoes stay fluffier because they don’t weigh them down as much. It’s also an incredibly easy recipe to make, as most mashed potato recipes are.
Why You’ll Love These Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
- They’re creamy and super easy to make.
- You’ll only need a handful of ingredients.
- It’s a family favorite side dish that’s great with gravy, butter, or piles of pot roast or creamy chicken on top.
Fluffy Mashed Potatoes Ingredients
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe, and they’re all staples at your local grocery store.
- Russet potatoes, (Costco® size potatoes)
- Butter
- Evaporated milk
- Cream cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
Making this recipe is just as easy as any other mashed potatoes. You’ll be in and out of the kitchen in no time!
Step 1: Cook the Potatoes
Boil the potatoes over medium heat until fork tender. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
Step 2: Mash the Potatoes
Add the butter, evaporated milk, and cream cheese. Then, mash the potatoes to your desired creaminess. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t cook the potatoes past fork tender. You want them to cream easily but not be mush and waterlogged.
- To make mashing the potatoes easier, bring your cream cheese to room temperature. This also keeps the potatoes from cooling down too much.
- Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are the best for mashed potatoes.
Variations
- Try adding diced green onions, chives, or scallions to the potatoes.
- Use sour cream instead of cream cheese for a different flavor.
- Add roasted garlic to make garlic mashed potatoes.
What to Serve with Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
Serve this classic side with all of your favorite classic dishes like:
- Pot roast
- Pork roast
- Roasted or baked chicken
- Fried chicken
- Turkey
- Steak
- Pork chops
Recipe FAQ
Using Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes and cooking them until very tender are the two keys to fluffy mashed potatoes.
Russet and Yukon Gold are the absolute best potatoes for mashing. Their low starch content makes them light and fluffy when mashed rather than gummy.
Butter adds richness to the potatoes and eliminates the “cling” of the starch, allowing them to be fluffy rather than gummy.
Milk adds flavor and richness to the potatoes.
There’s more than one thing to do to get really good mashed potatoes.
Use Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes.
Boil your potatoes until fork tender and no further.
Keep your potatoes hot.
Add the butter first.
How to Store and Reheat Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
Store these potatoes in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat mashed potatoes, place them in a small saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
Try This Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe Today
These fluffy mashed potatoes are rich, buttery, light, and so delicious. They make the perfect side dish for almost anything, and everyone will love their fluffy texture and amazing flavor. Give these a try, and I know they’ll become your new favorite mashed potato recipe.
More Delicious Potato Recipes You’ll Enjoy
These Cheesy Garlic Scalloped Potatoes are another delicious potato recipe you can find on the blog that makes the perfect side dish for beef, chicken, pork and fish.
Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes, peel and cut into 1½ inch cubes (Costco® size potatoes)
- ½ cup butter, one stick
- ¾ cup evaporated milk, add more if desired
- 4 oz cream cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot or saucepan, add potatoes, cover with cold water.
- Cook potatoes over medium heat until fork tender..
- Drain water and put potatoes back in the pan.
- Add butter, evaporated milk, and cream cheese.
- Mash potatoes to desired creaminess.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards on Pinterest. Also, you can follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
