Do you prefer mashed potatoes or rice? I am definitely in the mashed potatoes camp. That is why I’m sharing how to make a creamy Southern mashed potatoes recipe from scratch.
Growing up in Virginia, mashed potatoes were a staple in my family. I only remember eating rice when we ordered Chinese food. Unfortunately, I’m the minority in my household. I’m the only mashed potato lover.
My husband and sons are solidly “rice people”. That is one of the reasons that I love cooking for gatherings of friends and/or family. I get the chance to prepare things that I like to eat without the need to eat the entire dish.
That is exactly what happened a couple of weeks ago. A group of friends hosted a British-themed potluck going away party for a mutual friend who was going abroad to study at Cambridge in England. I chose to bring shepherd’s pie.
Another friend brought shepherd’s pie to the party too. It was fine because her version was very different from mine and I enjoyed both. As we were discussing cooking the dishes, she mentioned that it had taken her a long time to prepare her dish. I was surprised because mine had only taken a little over an hour to prepare and over half of that was baking time.
As we talked more, I realized that it was the mashed potatoes part of the shepherd’s pie that was her time killer. So, I’m going to share how to make my (super quick and easy) creamy Southern mashed potatoes recipe from scratch. There is no peeling, cubing or boiling of the potatoes.
This quick and easy homemade mashed potatoes recipe also leaves room to add in whatever you like at the end (i.e. minced garlic, bacon, or cheese). The sky is the limit!
Step-by-Step Photos
Southern Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Southern Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 large white potatoes
- 1 stick of butter, unsalted
- 3/8 cup of whole milk
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Microwave the potatoes (with the skin on) until they are soft to the touch. This will take approximately 15 – 20 minutes depending on your microwave’s temperature and the exact size of the potatoes.
- Place the potatoes in a large pot. Place the pot in the sink and run cold water over the potatoes. Gently peel off the skins.
- Give the potatoes one last cool rinse and drain all of the water out of the pot. At this point, you can transfer the potatoes to a large bowl to mash them. You can also just do what I do and mash them right in the pot. It saves time and messes up fewer dishes. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher. (If you don’t have a masher, it’s fine. The potatoes are pretty soft at this point, so you can a fork in a pinch.)
- Add ½ a stick of butter and ¼ cup of milk along with a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper to the potatoes. Mash everything together until it is well mixed. Then, take a small spoon and taste the potatoes to see if they are at your desired flavor and consistency.
- I like for my mashed potatoes to be flavorful and creamy, so I add the other ½ a stick of butter and 1/8 cup of milk along with another sprinkling of salt and pepper. (Then, I try not to eat all of the potatoes before serving them!)
Recipe Notes
- I normally use seasoned salt and freshly ground pepper in most of my cooking but not in mashed potatoes. I think that they are best when I use regular table salt and plain black pepper.
- Mashed potatoes are not an exact recipe, because everyone likes them prepared differently. This recipe will produce creamy ones, but I know some people who like them chunky or drier. Just have fun and experiment until you find the flavor and texture that you and your family enjoy the most!
- You can add different foods directly to your mashed potatoes for variations. Roasted garlic, crispy bacon bits, shredded cheddar cheese and chopped chives are some tasty options.
- This dish goes well with a variety of foods. Turkey legs, fried chicken, asparagus and cabbage are some things that I serve with mashed potatoes.
If you found this recipe helpful, please share it. Thanks!
{This post has been updated and republished. This recipe was originally posted on July 28, 2021.}