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These Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes take a classic and make it even better. We’re talking about velvety smooth potatoes, bursting with rich cheesy flavor. This is the kind of side dish that everyone is still talking about, long after the potluck is over.
Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
There are mashed potatoes, and then there are mashed potatoes. You know what I mean? These cream cheese mashed potatoes will leave people at the table with their eyes closed, savoring each bite, and trying to figure out why they taste so much better.
The secret is in the sour cream and cream cheese. Classic recipes for mashed potatoes will typically include milk and butter. That and a dash of salt and pepper was enough. And, to be fair, it often still is. But, half the fun in cooking is in trying to make something better.
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
So, there are a million different ways to mash a potato. You can add cheese or drizzle the potatoes with a fancy sauce. You can play with the seasonings to shift the flavors one way or another.
But, in this recipe, we use sour cream and cream cheese. Because the colors of these ingredients blend in, they’re like flavor ninjas that no one will see coming. Sour cream adds a very subtle tang. It’s not sharp or sour.
It’s just enough to keep the potatoes from feeling like a one note wonder. It keeps each bite interesting, from the first to the last. Sour cream also help keep the texture of these potatoes velvety smooth.
Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
Cream cheese isn’t an ingredient you’ll often see in mashed potatoes. There are quite a few recipes that call for cheddar, or white cheddar, or some other variety of cheese. But, mashed potatoes with cream cheese melted into them is a fabulous innovation.
The cream cheese incorporates into the dish so completely that you can’t really make the distinction between cheese and potato. It bridges the gap from “cheese and potatoes” to “cheesy potatoes”. These are very much cheesy potatoes, delightfully creamy and lush.
Recipe Tip
I will offer one word of caution when it comes to mashed potatoes. Don’t overmix them! Once you’ve mashed them, fold in the other ingredients and mix them only until they are incorporated. If you stir them too much, the starches can break down, and then you’ll end up with a very dense bowl of gluey potatoes. Nobody wants that!
Potato Side Dishes
Cheesy mashed potatoes are popular for a reason, but what if you try adding some vegetables next time you make them? These broccoli mashed potatoes are crazy good, too.
Tempting and versatile, these rosemary garlic potatoes are tender roasted potatoes with a crisp garlicky, rosemary crust. They are the ultimate in potato side dishes.
Some dishes always disappear quickly when brought to potlucks and barbecues. In my experience, potato salad is one of them. And while there are countless ways to make a potato salad, this ranch potato salad never fails to make people grin and ask for the recipe.
Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds yellow potatoes cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt for boiling
- ½ cup butter softened plus more for serving
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1½ teaspoons granulated garlic or garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper adjust to taste
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley chopped
Instructions
- Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and stir to dissolve. Boil for 10-15 minutes, until you are able to easily pierce with a fork. Take care not to overcook.
- Drain potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the butter and cream cheese to the potatoes. Use a potato masher or hand mixer to mash the potatoes and incorporate the butter and cream cheese into the potatoes.
- Add the sour cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the potatoes and mix until incorporated. Slowly add in the heavy cream to the potatoes while stirring. Add the chopped parsley and additional pepper before transferring to a serving dish. Top with a few pats of butter, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
