Garlic Mashed Potatoes - Creamy, Fluffy, Smooth and Buttery homemade garlic mashed potatoes is an easy side dish that is perfect for a fancy Thanksgiving dinner or a simple Monday night dinner. You can also try - Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes) or Southern Buttermilk Ranch Mashed Potatoes
For a Low Carb Alternative you can make - Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
This cheap and easy side dish is loaded with garlicky punch🧄 And, goes so well with steaks, chicken, or Turkey. 🥩🍗

My recipe for garlic mashed potatoes is simple, fast to make, and can be made in a jiff!
Pair it with a good thanksgiving turkey (don't forget to brine your turkey with my homemade Turkey brine recipe), Grandma's Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing, Green Bean casserole, and finish it off with Homemade Bourbon Pecan Pie or Classic Apple Pie or Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie.
I know the recipe for garlic mashed potatoes is pretty common and every person has an attachment to their own versions.
So, you can comment below and share your story about Thanksgiving mashed potatoes in the comment section below.
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🥔Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
The kick of garlic uplifts the creaminess of mashed potatoes. But, what actually does the magic is half and half. I love half and half. For non-US residents, Half and Half is equal portion of milk and cream.
There are so many sides. But, bring in Mashed Potatoes and everyone clears the floor. Be it Fancy French Green Beans Almondine or Garlic Butter Sauteed Green Beans mashed potatoes sets everything aside.

🍂Ingredients for the best garlic mashed potatoes
Garlic mashed potatoes is the most basic recipe you can make. And, that goes for the ingredient list as well. I bet you have all the ingredients at hand.🖖
A good garlic mashed potatoes is the result of fresh and good quality ingredients. Starting from garlic to potatoes to the toppings should be fresh from the farm to the table.
For making mashed potatoes
- Yukon Gold Potatoes
- garlic cloves
- Sea salt
- Black pepper (Freshly grounded)
Toppings
- Butter
- Chives
- Fresh rosemary
See recipe card for quantities.
🥙How to Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes
As you know this recipe uses roasted garlic and that might upset someone who is in a rush.
So, if you are not in a rush and you got plenty of time in your hand to make an impressive side dish for your guests, then put on your chef cap.
- Step 1: Boil the Potatoes and garlic for at least 12-15 minutes
Peel and dice the potatoes. Place potatoes and garlic cloves in a large saucepan with water and sea salt. Bring it to a quick boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and boil until potatoes are completely cooked. With that done, take the boiled potatoes off the heat. Drain the water. Peel the garlic.
- Step 2: Mash Potatoes
Finally, mash potatoes and garlic using a masher or a ricer. Both are good and it totally depends on you.
- Step 3: Stir in half and Half
Pour Half and Half. Stir lightly. Season with Salt and Freshly ground black pepper. Combine freshly grated parmesan cheese into the mix. Allow your mashed potatoes to stand for 5-10 minutes so that the mixture thickens. Then serve right away.
Hint: To know that your potatoes are cooked to perfection pierce a fork and it should pass through and the potatoes should slide off the fork.

🧑🍳Variations
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
Garlic Sour Cream mashed potatoes is a similar version of this same recipe and makes an excellent holiday side dish for ham or thanksgiving. To add sour cream all you have to is just combine your mashed potatoes with about 1/4 cup of thick sour cream, give it a good mix and you are ready to serve.
- Garlic mashed potato with cream cheese recipe
If you are not fond of sour cream you can replace it with about 4 ounces of cream cheese block. The tarty flavor of cream cheese makes a great addition to this creamy mashed potatoes recipe.
- Garlic mashed potatoes with chicken broth
If you want more flavors to your traditional mashed potato recipe, just forget about half and half or milk or cream and use 1/2 cup of low sodium chicken broth instead. If you are looking for mashed potatoes without milk then this is the recipe for you.
- KFC Mashed potato gravy recipe
Now this is a totally different recipe. If you are interested you can hop on to Food52.com for the complete recipe.
I have taken the recipe for mashed potato to a whole new level with my Crispy Fried Mashed Potato Balls with Cheesy Centers make sure you try this as well.
❄️How to store garlic mashed potatoes
You should try to avoid leaving any leftovers as garlic mashed potatoes are at their best when eaten fresh. But if you by chance do end up with leftovers then simply pack it in an airtight container and keep it in your fridge for 3-4 days. Make sure you warm your chilled garlic mashed potatoes in the microwave before you have them.
If you want to freeze your garlic mashed potatoes then first whip them up and then store it in a ziplock or a freezer-friendly bag. Then just keep this bag in the freezer for up to a month. It will not last any more than that as the mashed potatoes will get crystallized. Whenever you want to use frozen mashed potatoes remember to first let it thaw overnight before heating it in a microwave.
Tips to make Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Chop Potatoes evenly - Make sure you chop potatoes evenly about 1-inch cubes.
- Mash Potatoes while Hot - Mash Potatoes while Hot. This will help you mash your potatoes evenly.
- Use a Potato Masher - Always use a good quality Potato Mashed to mash your cooked potatoes. There won't be any lumps or any chunks of potatoes if you mash it appropriately.
- Use Potatoes with HIGH Starch - High Starch Potatoes such as Russet Potatoes or Yukon Gold are fluffy, smooth, and light. They make the best mashed potatoes.
- Avoid Waxy Potatoes - Waxy Potatoes like Red Bliss, Purple Vikings, Rose gold are NOT suitable for mashed potatoes.
🔖More Sides for Thanksgiving
- Candied Yams
- Cauliflower au Gratin Recipe
- Crispy Fried Green Beans
- Crispy Carrot Fries
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips
💁Recipe
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs. Yukon Gold Potatoes or russet potatoes
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- ½ cup half and half
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or more to taste
toppings (optional) for garnish
- Chives
- butter
- parsley
- Rosemary
INSTRUCTIONS
- Peel and dice potatoes. Place potatoes and garlic cloves in a large saucepan covered with salted water by about an inch. Heat over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 12-15 minutes or more until the potatoes are soft and falls off when you pass a fork through them. Drain the water and keep the potatoes and garlic aside.
- Use a good quality potato masher or ricer or simply a pair of fork to mash cooked potatoes and garlic cloves. Make sure that there are no lumps or large chunks of potatoes.
- Add in half and half and mix it in with a spoon. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as per taste.
- Garnish with butter, chives, parsley or rosemary.
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