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So here’s the thing, dear reader.
You know and I know, that mashed potato making can take up a lot of time, use up a lot of pans and send a person into a sweaty panic just before a beautiful meal is served. Am I right? Now if you are just having a relaxing night at home and happened to cook a lovely pot roast or something…mashed potatoes are no big deal. But on a big grand kind of day like Thanksgiving or Christmas when you are cooking up a festive storm and have all kinds of recipes being made at once while greeting guests, carving large turkeys and taking the curlers out of your hair, it’s nice to have a few dishes in your repertoire that can be made ahead of time.
Keep these Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes in mind, won’t you? They are absolutely delicious, can be made up to 2 days in advance and then reheated either in the oven or in your crock pot. My family loved them and claimed they were the best mashed potatoes I have ever made.
Fancy that.
Should have tried them sooner. 🙂
1. Wash and peel 8 large russet potatoes.
2. Slice each one in half, down the center.
3. Cut each half into two slices.
3. Chop each of the slices into chunks that are roughly the same size. Don’t get a ruler out or anything like that. 🙂 Just watch that they are similar.
4. Place the potato chunks into a large pot and fill it up with hot water. Be sure the potatoes are covered by at least an inch of water.
5. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium high and cook the potatoes until they are fork tender. Should take about 15 minutes.
6. Drain the water from the pot and pour the hot potatoes into your stand mixer. If you don’t have a stand mixer, just leave them in the cooking pot and mix them with hand beaters.
7. Add 1/2 cup sour cream,
1/2 cup butter,
8 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup of milk and salt and pepper to taste. Mix it on slow speed until all ingredients are combined and the potatoes are smooth and delightful. If the potatoes are too thick add some more milk and mix until your desired consistency is reached. Be sure and taste them and add more salt and pepper if you like.
8. Spread the potatoes out into a large casserole dish or into your crock pot, cover the dish and store it in your fridge.
9. When you are ready to use the mashed potatoes, remove them from the fridge and let them rest on the counter for 30 minutes. If you are planning to bake them in the oven, bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until heated through. If you are using your crock pot cook them on low for 1 1/2-2 hours (depending on how hot your crock pot cooks things) or until they are heated throughout.
10. Pour 4 tablespoons of melted butter over the hot potatoes. Stir it in with a nice wooden spoon until well incorporated.
Serve and Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 8 large russet potatoes
- 1/2 C sour cream
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 C butter, softened
- 1/2 C milk
- salt and pepper
- 4 T butter, melted
Instructions
1. Wash and peel 8 large russet potatoes.
2. Slice each one in half, down the center.
3. Cut each half into two slices.
4. Chop each of the slices into chunks that are roughly the same size. Don't get a ruler out or anything like that. 🙂 Just watch that they are similar.
5. Place the potato chunks into a large pot and fill it up with hot water. Be sure the potatoes are covered by at least an inch of water.
6. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium high and cook the potatoes until they are fork tender. Should take about 15 minutes.
7. Drain the water from the pot and pour the hot potatoes into your stand mixer. If you don't have a stand mixer, just leave them in the cooking pot and mix them with hand beaters.
8. Add 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup butter, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup of milk and salt and pepper to taste. Mix it on slow speed until all ingredients are combined and the potatoes are smooth and delightful. If the potatoes are too thick add some more milk and mix until your desired consistency is reached. Be sure and taste them and add more salt and pepper if you like.
9. Spread the potatoes out into a large casserole dish or into your crock pot, cover the dish and store it in your fridge.
10. When you are ready to use the mashed potatoes, remove them from the fridge and let them rest on the counter for 30 minutes. If you are planning to bake them in the oven, bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until heated through. If you are using your crock pot cook them on low for 1 1/2-2 hours (depending on how hot your crock pot cooks things) or until they are heated throughout.
11. Pour 4 tablespoons of melted butter over the hot potatoes. Stir it in with a nice wooden spoon until well incorporated.
Serve and Enjoy!
Recipe from my mom, Pam Willahan
I’m bringing the mashed potatoes to Thanksgiving this year and I love that I can make them ahead… I’m just wondering if you have an approximate weight of the potatoes. My potatoes are on the smaller side and I’m not sure how many I’ll need to make this recipe and have it turn out as it should. Thanks!
I have been doing potatoes ahead time for years now. I do about 10 pounds. This is such a time saver. One thing I add to my mashed potatoes is roasted garlic. I roast a whole garlic bulb.
when warming in oven do you put a cover on them or not..
when warming in oven do you put a cover on them or not..this the first time I’m making these potatoes and never asked this question before
Hi Sue,
Yes, put a cover over them if you are reheating in the oven.
Best of luck!
~Jamie
This recipe is great! I used it at Christmas and was happy with the results. My concern was that they might end up on the dry side but they were nice and creamy. I made them the day before and put the crock pot liner in the fridge so then cooked them longer – on low for 2-3 hours.
Excellent instructions. Delicious potatoes! I leave out the sour cream and add shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon after I mash taters. My DH keeps in the sour cream. Either way these are the best!
How much salt do you use for this recipe?
Could I use Yukon gold potatoes and not peel them instead of the peeled Russets? Would it work for the reheat?
I love this recipe and have brought it to many Thanksgiving feasts over the years. Just wondering if you can take a guess at how many pounds of potatoes instead of the number? Sometimes my potatoes are small and I want to make sure the measurements are right. Thank you!