The first time I made these garlic mashed potatoes, I didn’t know what my husband Jack would think of them. See, Jack grew up eating his Uncle Billy’s mashed potatoes, and he still reminisces about them. They were creamy, fluffy, and rich with (lots of) melted butter and (lots of) sour cream. These garlic mashed potatoes aren’t exactly like Uncle Billy’s. Instead of dairy, olive oil and starchy potato cooking water give them an amazing creamy texture, and roasted garlic fills them with rich, nutty depth of flavor. When I tried them, I thought they were delicious, but Jack’s opinion would be the real test. His verdict? “These mashed potatoes are SO good!” This recipe has been a favorite in our house ever since. I hope you enjoy it too!
Garlic Mashed Potatoes Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients to make this garlic mashed potatoes recipe:
Potatoes – I like to use Yukon Gold potatoes here, and German butterballs work well too. They have a rich golden color, and they give these mashed potatoes an AMAZING creamy texture. I personally prefer them to fluffy russet potatoes or waxy red potatoes in this recipe. Roasted garlic – The secret ingredient! I mix in a whole head of roasted garlic to pack these guys with garlic flavor. Olive oil – I love the rich taste of olive oil in this recipe, and, along with starchy potato cooking water, it makes these mashed potatoes just as creamy as any I’ve had with butter, milk, or sour cream. Salt and pepper – Absolute essentials! For optimum flavor, I salt the potato cooking water as well as mixing salt and pepper into the potatoes.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes
You can find the complete garlic mashed potato recipe at the bottom of this post. For now, here’s an overview of how it goes: First, roast the garlic in a 350°F oven until the cloves are deeply brown and tender. This could take up to 60 minutes! Tip: You can easily do this step ahead of time. Wrapped in foil, the roasted garlic will keep for 3 days in the fridge. Then, peel the potatoes. If you love creamy mashed potatoes, peeling is a must. Once they’re peeled, there’s no need to cut the potatoes before cooking. Just put them in a large pot, and cover them with 1 inch of cold water. Next, boil them. Add a teaspoon of salt to the pot, and boil until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Before you drain the potatoes, don’t forget to reserve 1 cup of the starchy cooking water.
Then, it’s time to mash! For the best creamy texture, I rice the potatoes first. Then, I use a regular potato masher to break up any chunks. If you don’t have a potato ricer, that’s ok! Just be sure to mash them thoroughly. Finally, fold everything together. Remove the tender garlic cloves from their paper and mash them into a paste with a fork or small masher. Fold the garlic into the potatoes, along with olive oil, reserved potato cooking water, salt, and pepper. Season to taste and add more cooking water, as needed, to reach your desired consistency. Top with your favorite fixings, and enjoy!
Tips for Making Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Pick the right potatoes. Yellow potatoes like Yukon Golds or German butterballs are fantastic here. They give these garlic mashed potatoes a perfect creamy texture. For this recipe, I’d always pick them over red potatoes or russets! Roast the garlic in advance so that these garlic mashed potatoes are quick and easy to make! The roasted garlic keeps well wrapped in foil or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months. Load them up. These potatoes are delicious on their own…but they’re even better with toppings! We love them with fresh herbs like rosemary or chives, a pat of butter, and salt and pepper. You can’t go wrong with mushroom gravy either.
To reheat, warm them in the microwave, stirring every 2 minutes, until heated through.
More Potato Recipes to Try
If you love these roasted garlic mashed potatoes, try one of these easy potato recipes next:
Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Mashed Sweet Potatoes Oven Roasted Potatoes Hasselback Potatoes Crispy Smashed Potatoes Perfect Baked Potato
Looking for more holiday recipes? Check out these 50 Thanksgiving Side Dishes!
