Crockpot Mashed Potatoes are one of the easiest and best side dishes for any dinner or holiday. These slow cooker mashed potatoes are the perfect easy Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter side dish. So much flavor and none of the fuss. Creamed potatoes for the win!
What’s in this Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Recipe?
This garlic mashed potatoes recipe is a special version of a classic and they are oh-so creamy! They are cooked with whole roasted garlic to soak up all the flavor possible. Just look at all that garlic and butter. Mmmm!! I’m in love with these crockpot mashed potatoes!
- Potatoes: I like Yukon Gold potatoes for their buttery flavor and texture. Russet or Idaho potatoes also work well!
- Garlic: Adds all that roasty, toasty, garlicky goodness!
- Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and flavor to the potatoes.
- Salt + Pepper: Enhances the natural flavor of the potatoes.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the potatoes.
- Milk: Adds richness to the potatoes and helps make them silky smooth.
Pro Tip: Bring the milk to room temperature (or slightly warm it) to help it combine more easily!
Variations on Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- For dairy-free mashed potatoes, use dairy-free butter, milk, and cream! You can also use some of the starchy cooking liquid from the potatoes in place of the milk or cream.
- For cheesy mashed potatoes, add ½ cup of your favorite cheese!
- For loaded mashed potatoes, add cheese, chopped cooked bacon, and chives.
- For ranch mashed potatoes, add a packet of ranch seasoning.
- For herby potatoes, feel free to add some of your favorite chopped herbs.
Yes! Making slow cooker mashed potatoes is so easy because you can set everything up, let them cook, and forget about them for a while. Just throw the potatoes in and they’ll take a few hours to cook.
There’s no need to boil potatoes before cooking them in the crockpot!
If you add the butter first, it will infuse the potatoes with rich, buttery flavor. If you add it at the same time as the milk, the potatoes will absorb the milk and not the butter, leading to a less buttery tasting dish.
You can add cold, room temperature, or melted butter to the potatoes. It really doesn’t matter!
I prefer to use room temperature or slightly warmed milk, as this will help keep the potatoes nice and hot!
Yes! Add the milk a little at a time; otherwise, you may end up with runny or gummy potatoes!
The great thing about these potatoes is that once they’re done cooking, you can turn the heat down low to keep them warm until everyone is ready to eat. Even better if you made these ahead of time, you can let them warm in the crockpot while the rest of the food is being made.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover crockpot mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat or in the microwave on high for 1 minute.
How to Freeze
Scoop 1-cup mounds of mashed potatoes onto a lined baking sheet and freeze uncovered until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these slow cooker mashed potatoes with Thanksgiving turkey and classic Thanksgiving side dishes, Easter dinner, or Christmas dinner. Or add them to a simple weeknight meal, like crockpot chicken breasts, Swedish meatballs, smothered pork chops, pan seared salmon, spatchcock chicken, or beef tenderloin.
5-Star Review
“Thanksgiving is way gone, but these mashed potatoes still sound delicious! genious idea making them on the crockpot, they look so creamy and tasty! love this” – Albert Bevia
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1-2 bulbs garlic the top ¼ cut off
- ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper optional
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick)
- ¼-½ cup milk
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped fresh chives or parsley
- Unsalted butter
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Spray a crockpot with cooking spray and set it to high heat.
- Peel and cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Rinse the potatoes under cold water (this removes some of the starch).3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
- Transfer the potatoes to the crockpot and nestle the garlic on top of the potatoes. Drizzle the chicken broth on top and sprinkle the potatoes with salt and pepper.1-2 bulbs garlic, ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 3-4 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove and mash the garlic. Add the garlic and butter to the potatoes and mash the potatoes until smooth. Try not to over mix the potatoes or they will turn gummy. Mix in the milk to the desired consistency.4 tablespoons unsalted butter, ¼-½ cup milk
- Garnish with chopped chives or parsley and pats of butter if desired.Chopped fresh chives, Unsalted butter
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Cut the potatoes as evenly as possible so that all of the chunks cook at the same rate.
- For extra smooth potatoes, pass them through a ricer before mashing.
- Heat the dairy before adding it to your potatoes to help it combine more easily.
- Avoid overmixing your potatoes; otherwise, they will come out gummy.
- Don’t add all of the dairy at once. It’s easier to mix it in slowly, and this will prevent overmixing.
- Nutritional information does not include optional garnishes.
Nutrition Information
More Mashed Potato Recipes We Love
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- “Cheesy” Vegan Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Colcannon
- Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Bacon
- Easy Mashed Potatoes
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
- Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
- Fried Mashed Potato Balls
Your Corckpot Mashed potatoes look good, along with other recipes. Just wish if I want to “P” it, the “Red P” was in the uper top left corner of the recipe. I have already read everyting & just want to pin the recipe. Is there anyway you can do that? Dont want to have to scroll all the way through everything to get to it. Other recipe sites do it. Thank & can’t wait to try some of recipes. Gail K
There is a pin button at the top, bottom, and side of every post. Hope that helps!
These potatoes look delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Jason!
Thanksgiving is way gone, but these mashed potatoes still sound delicious! genious idea making them on the crockpot, they look so creamy and tasty! love this
Thanks Albert! Mashed potatoes are a year round thing for us for sure. Hope you enjoy!
I was wondering if once the timer is done. Can I leave the cover on and Leave it on warm for a few hours before I can serve it or make it closer to dinner time. Can I use a potato ricer or is a hand masher best? Thank you so much.
For the time, that should definitely work. Just stir every so often to keep it nice and fresh. For the masher question, its all about consistency. We like ours with a masher but if you like the finer ricer feel/taste, go for it!! Hope you love the recipe and have a fab Thanksgiving :)
Thank you so much. Making a lot of your recipes. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Enjoy!!!
Do you roast the garlic before adding it to the slow Cooker? Excited to make thEse for thanksgiving!
Hi Mollie! Great question. You can put the garlic in raw and it will roast in the slow cooker. Hope you love the recipe!
These look amazing! Might have to use this recipe for Thanksgiving!
Hope you love them!!
I LOVE this dish the potatoes are served in.
Any information on where I can buy it??
The potatoes are beyond delicious!! I just made them!
YAY! Makes me so happy! I got the bowl from an etsy shop I love. Here is the link. Enjoy! https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetpaul