These Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes are our twist on a classic holiday dish. The parmesan and roasted garlic add the perfect touch of flavor without being overpowering. If you're lucky, you'll have enough for leftovers the next day!

What is a holiday meal without perfect mashed potatoes? They're rich, creamy, and taste amazing with every bite on your Thanksgiving plate. While most homemade mashed potato recipes are labor intensive and involve a lot of hand mashing, this recipe gives your arm a rest and can be made the day before Thanksgiving.
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Ingredients
- Yukon gold potatoes - The best potatoes for mashing because they have a rich flavor and when mashed are both buttery and fluffy.
- Extra Virgin Olive oil - Use to cook the garlic bulbs.
- Garlic bulbs - Provide the classic flavor that is not overpowering.
- Half and Half - Provides extra creaminess and richness to the mashed potatoes.
- Grated Parmesan - Adds yummy cheesiness and tastes delicious when combined with the other ingredients.
- Butter - Essential to making the mashed potatoes creamy and rich. We recommend using European butter like Kerry Gold because it has a higher fat content and is richer than American butter.
- Kosher Salt and Fresh ground black pepper - Add to taste.
Instructions
- Heat the oven - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Boil potatoes - In a large pot, bring salted water to a rolling boil. Add peeled potatoes to the water and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
- Cook the garlic cloves - While the potatoes are boiling, place the garlic bulbs on a piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle olive oil on top of bulbs, getting the oil into the crevices of the garlic. Wrap the bulbs in foil and roast in the oven until tender, about 25-30 minutes. Remove the garlic from the oven and remove the cloves from the skin of the bulbs. Set the garlic aside.
- Mash the potatoes - Remove the potatoes from the water once tender and place in a large bowl to cool for 5-10 minutes. Once slightly cooled, place the potatoes in the bowl of an electric mixer. Use the flat beater and turn the mixer on a low setting. After a couple minutes, gradually add the milk and butter and continue to mix. Once the potatoes become well-mixed, slowly add in the parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper. Turn the mixer on medium and mix until the potatoes, garlic, and cheese are smooth and well-mixed.
- Serve - Spoon the potatoes into a serving bowl and serve immediately.
Substitutions
- Red potatoes - While less buttery than yukon potatoes, these potatoes have a distinct flavor and hold their shape when boiled
- Russet potatoes - These oblong potatoes are very light fluffy when mashed
Variations
- Extra Cheesy - Add 1 cup of gruyere or sharp cheddar cheese to the mashed potatoes, or a combination of the two, for cheesy decadence.
- Green Onion - Add thin sliced green onion for a bright garnish.
- Herbs - Add rosemary and thyme to make the mashed potatoes herbaceous.
- Sage - Adds a sharp and earthy aroma.
- Honey Mashed Potatoes - Add honey to the mashed potatoes to increase the umami flavor.
- Miso Mashed Potatoes - If you want mashed potatoes with a unique savory flavor, check out our Miso Mashed Potatoes.
- Pan Roasted Potatoes - If you prefer crispy potatoes instead of mashed potatoes, check out my recipe for Pan-Roasted Potatoes with Herbs. Make them miso roasted potatoes by adding miso butter to the pan roasted potatoes.
Equipment
This creamy mashed potato recipe requires common kitchen essentials. You need a potato peeler, measuring cup, skillet or non-stick pan, a medium to large pot or dutch oven, a potato masher, an electric mixer, a wooden spoon, and a serving bowl.
How to Store Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Store leftover mashed potatoes in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat leftover roasted mashed potatoes in a pan on the stove or microwave them in a microwave safe container until hot.
What to serve with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
If you want to make this these classic garlic flavored mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving or just a family meal, check out these other Thanksgiving recipes: Rolled Turkey Roulade, Turkey Au Jus Gravy, Maple Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta, Cranberry Sauce with Orange, Herb and Mushroom Dressing.
If you want a California Thanksgiving meal check out these recipes: Dutch Oven Whole Roasted Chicken, Miso Mashed Potatoes with Miso Butter, Harvest Quinoa Salad with Arugula, Maple Roasted Kabocha, Sautéed Green Beans with Furikake, and Sautéed Mushrooms with White Wine.
Top Tip
Use fresh garlic for the best flavor and so you don't have to deal with the germ.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Fluffy & Creamy)
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Yukon gold potatoes peeled
- 3 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Garlic bulbs heads cut off and cloves exposed
- 1 cup Milk
- ½ cup Grated Parmesan
- 3 tablespoon Butter
- Salt
- Fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oven - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Boil potatoes - In a large pot, bring salted water to a rolling boil. Add peeled potatoes to the water and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
- Cook the garlic cloves - While the potatoes are boiling, place the garlic bulbs on a piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle olive oil on top of bulbs, getting the oil into the crevices of the garlic. Wrap the bulbs in foil and roast in the oven until tender, about 25-30 minutes. Remove the garlic from the oven and remove the cloves from the skin of the bulbs. Set the garlic aside.
- Mash the potatoes - Remove the potatoes from the water once tender and place in a large bowl to cool for 5-10 minutes. Once slightly cooled, place the potatoes in the bowl of an electric mixer. Use the flat beater and turn the mixer on a low setting. After a couple minutes, gradually add the milk and butter and continue to mix. Once the potatoes become well-mixed, slowly add in the parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper. Turn the mixer on medium and mix until the potatoes, garlic, and cheese are smooth and well-mixed.
- Serve - Spoon the potatoes into a serving bowl and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
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