Effortlessly Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes: Your New Go-To Recipe for Perfect Mash
Imagine a side dish so incredibly easy to prepare, yet so utterly delicious and creamy, that it instantly becomes your favorite. These **Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes** are exactly that! Forget the stovetop hassle and constant stirring; your slow cooker handles all the hard work, leaving you with a luxurious, smooth, and flavorful mash that will impress everyone. Once you try this method, you’ll wonder how you ever made mashed potatoes any other way.
Seriously, you’ve been missing out on a culinary revelation if you haven’t tried this **Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes recipe**. It’s the perfect companion to so many main courses – it pairs exceptionally well with a hearty Beef Brisket, for example, making for an unforgettable meal!
Why Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes are a Game Changer
These slow cooker mashed potatoes are more than just a side dish; they’re a stress-relieving solution for your weekly meal planning and an absolute must-have for any gathering. Think major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter, where oven and stovetop space is at a premium. By utilizing your crock pot, you free up valuable cooking real estate, allowing you to focus on other elements of your meal.
Beyond convenience, this recipe delivers an unbelievably creamy texture with significantly less butter than traditional recipes call for. It’s incredibly versatile, too! While we adore adding fresh grated parmesan and aromatic garlic to elevate the flavors, you can easily customize them to suit your taste. Imagine a rich, buttery, garlicky aroma filling your home as your potatoes slowly cook to perfection – it’s pure comfort in a bowl.
How to Make Creamy Mashed Potatoes in a Crock Pot: Step-by-Step Guide
Making mashed potatoes in your slow cooker is surprisingly simple. Here’s a breakdown of the easy steps to achieve that perfectly creamy, flavorful mash:
- Prepare the Potatoes: Start by peeling and cutting your potatoes into uniform 1 1/2-inch chunks. This ensures even cooking. If you’re a fan of a rustic mash with a little more texture and nutrients, feel free to leave the skins on!
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Place your prepared potatoes into the slow cooker along with chicken broth, crushed garlic, and diced butter. Season with a pinch of salt. Cover and let your slow cooker work its magic. Depending on your heat setting (HIGH for 4 hours, LOW for 7-8 hours), your potatoes will transform into super tender, mashable goodness. The incredible aroma of garlic and butter will fill your kitchen, signaling that comfort food is on its way.
- Mash and Finish: Once the potatoes are incredibly soft, it’s mashing time! Use a potato masher or an electric beater to mash them to your desired consistency. For extra creaminess, stir in sour cream and hot milk. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. And be warned: you might find yourself sneaking spoonfuls directly from the slow cooker – it’s an addiction waiting to happen!
PRO TIP: If you prefer a wonderfully chunky mashed potato, simply go easy on the mashing. Stop once you reach your desired texture for that satisfying bite.
Choosing the Best Potatoes for Creamy Mash
The type of potato you choose significantly impacts the final texture of your mashed potatoes. For this particular recipe, we highly recommend using **Yukon Gold potatoes**. They are known for their naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture when mashed, making them ideal for a luxurious slow cooker mash. Their thin skins are also delicious if you choose to leave them on.
Alternatively, **Russet potatoes** (also known as baking potatoes) are another excellent choice. They are starchy and fluffy, absorbing flavors beautifully and yielding a light, airy mash. Whichever you choose, ensure they are fresh and firm for the best results.
The Undeniable Advantages of Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Beyond just being “easy,” making mashed potatoes in a slow cooker offers several distinct benefits that make it superior for many home cooks:
- Hands-Off Cooking: The biggest advantage is the minimal effort required. Once you’ve prepped your potatoes and added them to the slow cooker, you can virtually forget about them until mashing time. No more standing over a hot stove, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
- Perfect for Holidays: During busy holiday meals (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter), stovetop and oven space is precious. The slow cooker frees up these essential appliances, allowing you to manage other dishes without stress.
- Consistent Creaminess: The gentle, even heat of a slow cooker ensures that potatoes cook thoroughly and uniformly, resulting in an exceptionally creamy and tender texture every single time.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: This recipe is fantastic for preparing in advance. You can cook the potatoes ahead of time and keep them warm in the slow cooker for hours, or even mash them completely and reheat later.
- Infused Flavor: Cooking the potatoes directly in broth and with garlic and butter allows them to deeply absorb these flavors as they cook, leading to a more profound and delicious taste than simply boiling them in water.
Storage and Reheating Tips for Mashed Potatoes
Proper storage is key to enjoying your delicious slow cooker mashed potatoes safely and for longer. Here’s what you need to know:
- Room Temperature: Cooked mashed potatoes should never be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. After this time, bacteria can multiply rapidly, making them unsafe to eat. Always err on the side of caution.
- Refrigeration: For best results and food safety, transfer any leftover mashed potatoes into an airtight container and refrigerate them as soon as they have cooled down. When properly stored in the refrigerator, they will last wonderfully for up to 3-5 days.
- Freezing: Yes, you can freeze mashed potatoes! Allow them to cool completely, then transfer them to freezer-safe bags or containers. Label with the date. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: To reheat, you can gently warm them in the microwave, on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of milk or broth to restore creaminess, or even in the slow cooker on a “warm” setting. Stir occasionally until heated through.
Looking for more potato recipes? Try these!
If you love potatoes as much as we do, you’ll definitely want to explore these other fantastic recipes that celebrate this versatile vegetable:
- Crispy Garlic Roasted Potatoes
- Garlic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes
- Crispy Garlic Butter Smashed Potatoes
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Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Karina
15 minutes
4 hours
4 hours
15 minutes
8
serves
Ingredients
-
5
pounds
potatoes
peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces -
1
cup
chicken broth
stock -
4
cloves
garlic
crushed -
1/3
cup
butter
diced, reduced fat if counting points or calories -
1
pinch
salt
adjust to your tastes -
2/3
cup
sour cream
light if counting points or calories -
1/3-1/2
cup
hot milk
skim or 2% if counting points or calories -
1/2
cup
parmesan cheese
fresh grated, optional – substitute with cheddar if your prefer -
1
pinch
pepper
to taste
Instructions
-
Place the potatoes, broth, garlic and butter into a 6qt slow cooker. Season with salt; mix together and cover with lid. Cook on HIGH setting for 4 hours or LOW setting for 7-8 hours, until very tender.
-
Mash potatoes with a potato masher or electric beater. Stir the sour cream and milk through until well combined and creamy (add more milk if desired). Stir through the parmesan cheese.
-
Keep on low or warm setting until ready to serve.
Notes
Slow cooker mashed potatoes maintain a creamy consistency for a couple of hours after mashing if the lid stays on the slow cooker. If the lid has been removed and the potatoes have dried out a little, just add a little more milk to reach desired consistency.
Nutrition
Calories:
335
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
54
g
|
Protein:
9
g
|
Fat:
10
g
|
Saturated Fat:
6
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
0.5
g
|
Monounsaturated Fat:
3
g
|
Trans Fat:
0.3
g
|
Cholesterol:
28
mg
|
Sodium:
323
mg
|
Potassium:
1.253
mg
|
Fiber:
6
g
|
Sugar:
3
g
|
Vitamin A:
357
IU
|
Vitamin C:
56
mg
|
Calcium:
151
mg
|
Iron:
2
mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this? Leave a comment below!