These Homemade Mashed Potatoes are Creamy, Comfort Food at its Finest.
Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food, and these roasted garlic mashed potatoes take treating yourself to a whole other level. Thanks to the flavor powerhouse that is homemade roasted garlic, our creamy mashed potatoes are the quintessential sidekick to the best meals your table will ever see. They’re also essential Thanksgiving fare, alongside Classic Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin Pie.
How To Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes.
The best garlic mashed potatoes begin, obviously with the best homemade mashed potato recipe. What do we look for in our mashed potatoes?
- Fluffy. Airy, whipped and light—never dense or gummy.
- Ultra-creamy. Thanks, butter.
- Perfectly seasoned. Not too salty, not too bland.
What Are The Best Potatoes to Mash?
For creamy, mashed potatoes, we love to use russet potatoes. They are our favorite kind of potatoes for mashing as they are starchier than waxed potato varieties (like Yukon Golds). This means fluffier potatoes (so long as they aren’t overcooked!) in the end.
- Roast your garlic.
- Add your peeled potatoes and bay leaves to large pot of cold water and bring to a boil. Cook until fork tender and drain well, removing the bay leaves.
- Peel your roasted garlic and add to the boiled potatoes. Use a ricer or masher to incorporate all that garlic flavor into your homemade mashed potatoes and mash until smooth.
- Heat your butter and milk in a small saucepan, then incorporate into the potatoes.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
How To Roast Garlic?
Roasting garlic takes this assertive allium from spicy and sharp to pure caramelized sweetness. In addition to mixing it into mashed potatoes, we love to serve it as part of a cheese platter, toss it into pasta, and even spread it straight onto good, crusty bread. Here’s how to roast garlic:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Peel off the loose papery husk on the outside of the garlic head.
- Slice off the top to reveal the tops of the raw cloves.
- Drizzle with olive oil and wrap the head of garlic in foil.
- Roast until carmel-colored and tender, about 40 minutes.
- Squeeze onto bread, into mashed potatoes, or just straight into waiting mouths.
How Long To Boil Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes?
Boiling russet potatoes for making mashed potatoes is an art unto itself. Here’s how to do it with ease:
- Peel your potatoes and cut them into, two-inch pieces so they cook quickly and and uniformly.
- Add the potatoes to a large pot of salted water.
- Turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil. Boil them for about 20 minutes, or until just fork-tender. Take care to not overcook them. If they cook too long, all of that pleasant starch we admire so much about the russet potato will go wild, and you’ll be left with potato paste.
- Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
- Over the lowest heat setting, allow the potatoes to dry out completely. Dry potatoes are better able to absorb that lucious milk and butter.
Tips for Making Mashed Potatoes.
This is inherently a simple side dish, but a little bit of extra know-how will ensure that your potatoes come out perfectly:
- Ricing your potatoes before you add your warm dairy helps get them smoother without over processing them.
- Speaking of warm dairy—don’t add your dairy straight from the fridge. The shock of the cold fat will negatively alter the texture of your potatoes.
- Using an electric mixer can be tricky. If you decide to go this route be careful not to overmix, or those starches will activate and you’ll be left with a sticky paste.
- If you really want to go for broke, try replacing half of the milk with heavy cream.
- Don’t be afraid to season your mashed potatoes. Salt is this homemade roasted garlic mashed potato recipe’s best friend. Salt, then taste, then salt again if necessary.
- If you’d like to keep it simple, our Classic Mashed Potatoes are the way to go.
How To Keep Mashed Potatoes Warm.
To keep your mashed potatoes warm before eating (or to reheat if they’ve been made ahead) we recommend using a double boiler. Warming your potatoes using this method of indirect heat will help prevent them from drying out or becoming overworked. Don’t have a double boiler? No worries! Just simmer water on the stove and place potatoes in a heat resistant bowl atop the pot. Stir occasionally and until the roasted garlic mashed potatoes are warmed through.
Tools You’ll Need to Make Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- A ricer is extremely helpful for ensuring that your mashed potatoes are airy and fluffy, instead of dense and gummy.
- A large stock pot. Potato Side Dishes We Know You'll Love.
More Potato Side Dishes We Know You'll Love.
Ready for some more potato inspo? We’ve got you covered.
- These Potatoes au Gratin are a personal favorite. Rich and creamy, without being cloying, they’re absolutely perfect when served alongside holiday staples.
- Our Crispy Roasted Potatoes with Gremolata are a perfect partner for weeknight protein, but are equally at home as part of a leisurely brunch.
- Sweet potatoes strike your fancy? From savory to sweet, even honey roasted and cheese topped, we’ve never met a sweet potato we didn’t love!
It’s Just Better With Roasted Garlic, Isn’t It?
Do us a favor, and the next time you whip up a batch of the world’s best mashed potatoes, snap a picture and post it to Instagram tagging @themodernproper and #themodernproper so we can pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. Happy eating!
