Garlic Mashed Potatoes

My garlic mashed potatoes are creamy, fluffy and flavor-packed!

Roasted garlic and sour cream add loads of flavor to these supernaturally smooth potatoes that are perfect for both special occasions and weeknight family dinners.

This is one of my most-requested side dishes, and with good reason. I’m not exaggerating when I say that everyone in my family always goes back for seconds (myself included 🙊). If you want to hear the same “Will you pass the potatoes, please?” chorus in your house, I’m here to share all my best garlic mashed potato tips and techniques.

The roasted garlic is actually the key to this recipe’s amped-up flavor. And as for textures, you can do quite a few things to get perfectly creamy, fluffy potatoes. Get ready for all the details on how to make restaurant-quality garlic mashed potatoes! 👩‍🍳

Make it From Scratch

I could ramble on for days about how flavorful and creamy this recipe is, but let me assure you that making garlic mashed potatoes from scratch is easy! There are only two cooking techniques involved: roasting and boiling.

I’ve got a few tips to keep everything light, fluffy, and creamy, but nothing is complicated at all. Even beginner home cooks can master this recipe. In fact, this recipe is ideal for someone just starting out because it proves that making home-cooked, flavorful meals are totally doable.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Roasted Garlic – One large head, a sprig or two of thyme, and some olive oil is all it takes to turn regular old mashed potatoes into pure heaven. 😇
2. Potatoes – Russets work great for mashed potatoes, but Yukon golds are good too. However, some prefer red potatoes, so take your pick.😉
3. Dairy – Here’s where things start getting really fluffy. Warm milk, sour cream, and butter make these potatoes oh-so-light-and-creamy. ✨
4. Seasonings – We’ll keep it simple since the main ingredients are already spectacularly flavorful! A little S&P, plus some chopped parsley as a garnish, are all you need here. 

How to Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Follow along with my numbered instructions to see how to make garlic mashed potatoes in your own kitchen.

Roast the Garlic

• Prep Garlic – Cut the top ¼ to ½ inch off the top of a whole garlic head so that each clove is visibly exposed. (Photo 1)
• Drizzle – Place the head of garlic on foil paper together with your thyme sprigs. Drizzle the top with about a teaspoon of olive oil. (Photo 2)
• Roast – Wrap it all up and place it in a preheated 400℉/205℃ oven for about 40 minutes. When the garlic is golden, soft, and fragrant, take it out of the oven and set it aside to cool. (Photo 3)

Cook the Potatoes

• Peel the potatoes, removing any bad or bruised spots with a knife.
• Chop – Cut the potatoes into large, even-sized chunks. Give the potatoes a good rinsing until the water runs clear. (Photo 4)
• Simmer – Next, place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them completely with water. Add 1-2 teaspoons of salt to the water. Bring the potatoes to a boil and simmer them until they are fork-tender. (Photo 5)
• Drain the potatoes and put them in the pot. Then gently reheat them to remove excess moisture. (Photo 6)

Ready to Mash

• Get Ready – Transfer the potatoes to a stand mixer with a whipping paddle or a large bowl if you’re using a hand mixer.
• Add Buttery Goodness – Add the butter, sour cream, garlic (by gently squeezing the cloves out of the head), and pepper. Start mixing and add the warm milk as you go until the potatoes are smooth and fluffy. If they seem too thick, add a bit more milk. (Press the potatoes and garlic into a large bowl through a potato ricer if using. Add the butter, sour cream, and milk and stir gently to blend.)  (Photos 7-8)
• Serve – Give your potatoes a taste test and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Finally, garnish with parsley and serve warm!

Recipe Variations

1. Make an easy cheesy garlic mashed potato recipe. Just add a cup of your favorite melty cheese to add another layer of deliciousness. Cheddar or Monterey jack are two popular options. 🧀
2.  You can also make baked garlic mashed potatoes by putting the creamy potatoes into a baking dish, topping them with extra melted butter (or cheese), and baking for a few minutes until the top is golden and bubbly. The top may get a little crisp, giving your mashed potatoes a slightly different texture overall.

Tips and Tricks

1. Make cheesy garlic mashed potatoes. Add a cup of your favorite melty cheese (grated) to add another layer of deliciousness. Cheddar and Monterey jack are two popular options. 🧀
2.  You can also make baked garlic mashed potatoes by putting the creamy potatoes into a baking dish, topping them with extra melted butter (or grated cheese), and baking for a few minutes until the top is golden and bubbly. The top may get slightly crisp, giving your mashed potatoes a decadent texture.
3. Whatever method you’re using to mash your taters, don’t overmix them. If you do, they’ll release too much starch and get gluey. 💔
4. Warm up your milk and bring your sour cream and butter to room temperature so your mashed potatoes don’t get cold on you too fast.

Make-Ahead Instructions

You can make garlic mashed potatoes up to two days ahead of time. Simply store them in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat them over medium heat in a buttered skillet until they’re warmed through.

If you just want a partial make ahead, peel and cut the potatoes and keep them submerged in water overnight in the fridge. You can also roast the garlic the day before, then boil the potatoes and mash everything the next day.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve garlic mashed potatoes steaming hot. You can garnish them with a little chopped parsley or top them with a healthy serving of homemade gravy. 

Store leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can reheat them either on the stovetop in a buttered skillet or in the microwave.

FAQs

What Goes With Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Literally anything! That’s another reason this fabulous side is regularly on my dinner table. It goes great with almost all meats, though my favorites to pair it with are probably steak tips and oven-baked pork chops.

They also go wonderfully with other sides, like parmesan-crusted baked asparagus, blanched green beans, Southern collard greens, and cornbread.

More Spectacular Sides to Try

1. Greek Salad
2. Southern Corn Pudding
3. Sweet Potato Casserole
4. Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
5. Easy Dinner Rolls

Is this creamy garlic mashed potatoes recipe making your mouth water yet?

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.