We all know mashed potatoes are a staple for most holidays. A few years back I threw a batch together, brought them to a holiday gathering, and since my family continues to rave about them so I keep bringing them back! And just to prove I’m not tooting my own horn, here is a text message I got from my brother from Thanksgiving, sent 6 hours after we ate!
This is a text message my brother sent me 6 hours after we ate – still thinking about how good the mashed potatoes were!
Up until now, I’ve only kept the recipe in my secret recipe box – in my head. But today folks, I’m releasing the magic out to the public and sharing my secrets.
These creamy garlic mashed potatoes are always such a hit at my family gatherings! Don’t be surprised if you don’t have any leftovers. The heavy whipping cream and the sour cream mix together with the potatoes to make a creamy mashed crock pot full of heaven topped off with the sweetness of butter. What more could an empty stomach ask for?
Now I’ll fore-warn you that these aren’t the healthiest potatoes. On the other hand, once a person adds butter and tops theirs off with cheese, sour cream, etc. it’s really the same as standard potatoes. But with my recipe, you won’t need the side dish of butter – all the flavor and creaminess is taken care of already.
Also, I typically never measure my spices, including salt and pepper. So the measurements below are an estimation and like any cooking you do, you should season and taste as you go to ensure it’s just right. But also don’t be shy – in my opinion most people under-season so there’s typically room for adding more.
In terms of potato selection, I’ve read a lot that you should use this or that type, and that Yukon Golds are the gold standard, etc. In my experience, a good ‘ole russet potato works perfect – and they are typically the most cost effective potato as well.
I’ve always used russet potatoes for my garlic mashed potatoes and people rave over them!
Also, I make these in a large batch for two reasons: I bring them to a gathering of 20+ people, and they are so well liked that people will eat seconds and thirds of them – guaranteed. For that reason, I use a 7 quart crock pot which is the perfect size to hold all of the mashed goodness.
Lastly, because it’s such a large batch, give your self 1 to 1 1/2 hours to prepare the this recipe. It takes a while to peel the potatoes and the boiling takes a while too…
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes - the magical kind
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After bringing these potatoes to Thanksgiving one year with my family, I sealed my fate as for what dish to bring every year there after. My family fell in love with these and they are requested again and again. It's a pretty fool-proof recipe of creamy mashed potato goodness! Enjoy!
After bringing these potatoes to Thanksgiving one year with my family, I sealed my fate as for what dish to bring every year there after. My family fell in love with these and they are requested again and again. It's a pretty fool-proof recipe of creamy mashed potato goodness! Enjoy!
Fill a large stock pots about 1/2 way full of water and bring to a boil. I find it best to use two stock pots as there are a lot of potatoes here… And I do suggest starting this rather early – it takes a while to get the big pots up to full boil.
Wash and peel the potatoes.
Cut the potatoes into quarters to create smaller chunks that will soften while boiling quicker.
Add a bit of salt to the boiling water to add flavor while the potatoes boil.
Add potatoes to the boiling water. Let boil for about 10 to 15 minutes. Adding the potatoes will cool the water and slow down the boiling process, so it’ll take a while to get back to full boil.
Boil the potatoes for roughly 15 minutes. You’ll know the potatoes are done when the get a bit mushy and the edges of them are rounded off and soft. Don’t over-boil to the point that they completely fall apart however.
Turn the crock pot on low to begin warming the pot so it’s warm when you add the mashed potatoes in a few minutes.
Warm a small skillet on the stove and add a bit of olive oil. When the pan is warm, toss in the garlic and sauté until the edges just start to brown – you don’t want to burn the garlic. Sautéing it will take out some of the harshness of the garlic and unlock it’s sweet flavors. Once ready, immediately remove the garlic from the pan to stop the cooking process.
Remove the potatoes from the water, placing them in a large mixing bowl.
Mash the potatoes. I prefer to use a KitchenAid stand mixer with the mixing blade to mash and mix at once. Else a standard potato masher will do the trick just fine, but you’ll get your workout mixing everything together.
Add the garlic, sour cream, heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper and about 1 1/2 sticks of butter to the potatoes. Mix the potatoes thoroughly.
Transfer the potatoes to the crock pot. Depending on how quickly you will be serving the mashed potatoes adjust the heat as needed. They are already warm, so you don't need to cook them. Typically setting it on low will have the potatoes piping hot and ready to eat in about 2-3 hours.
About 1 hour prior to serving, sprinkle with more salt and pepper. Then give the potatoes a good stir. Cut the remaining butter into small pats and distribute across the top of the potatoes so they melt and incorporate throughout. Lastly, sprinkle the top of the potatoes with paprika for both flavor and looks.
Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
It's up to you if you want to peel the potatoes or not. I typically do and it will help to make them creamier, but I do like mashed potatoes with the skins on from time to time... If you do leave the skins on be sure to wash them well first.
When adding the potatoes to the boiling water, I suggest using a large slotted spoon to lower them in to prevent splashing and burning.
If you are making the full recipe, there are a LOT of potatoes and you may not have a bowl large enough to accommodate them all at once. Do the mashing and mixing in batches of 1/2 or 1/3 and transfer each batch into the crock pot as you go
When I see a problem, I just want to fix it. And when my mind is set on something I get obsessive about focusing on that task until it is one. Since my early days in front of a computer I have been building websites, graphics, and multimedia presentations that are designed with the end user in mind to ensure that they are easy to use, understand, and fun. If what I'm working on doesn't enlighten someone, then I've done something wrong.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing right”
- Hunter S. Thompson
“If it could be done, it should be done.”
- Brian Prom
Yes, I just quoted my self. This quote is both my saving grace and my achilles heel. At times this leads me to recreating something that someone else created. But the journey it takes to accomplish the task is packed full of exploration and learning opportunities, and that's what makes the effort worth it.
At the end of the day, I’m a light hearted soul that likes to put a smile on the faces of others - because we all need to smile from time to time and let out a little laugh once in a while. It’s good for the heart, mind, body, and soul.
