The ultimate crockpot mashed potatoes recipe! 🥔
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
Well, I wish I had figured this one out years ago. I’ve always gone the boxed potatoes route because making my own real mashed potatoes was reserved for Thanksgiving. And who am I kidding? My mom made them at that time. So, for a special occasion a few months ago, I decided to make REAL mashed potatoes. And to be honest I was dreading it. It makes such a mess and the steps all have to be accomplished when you’re trying to entertain or accomplish other tasks for dinner. I might be weird, but that usually means I’m not participating in whatever recipe requires that.
Ironically, earlier that week I had made a roast. And like all good roasts in the crockpot I had thrown in some potatoes and carrots to steam together with the juices of the roast. A light bulb went off that very moment. Why don’t I just try to make crockpot mashed potatoes- and THEN use my electric hand mixer to blend them. It could all be done ahead of time to make the entire dinner so much easier!
Genius, I tell you. Sometimes I surprise myself. But then again, maybe everyone but me knew about this trick. Just in case there’s a few of you out there like me, I just had to share.
Why make mashed potatoes in the crockpot?
You may be thinking, why? If I cook them in the crockpot slow cooker or on a pan on the stove, isn’t it just as easy? Technically, yes. You’re cooking them and you have the same amount of dishes. HOWEVER, I like to have a few things accomplished while cooking dinner so that I don’t have to do ALL THE THINGS at once. I cannot tell you how nice it is to focus on the main course or getting the side dish ready. Let me be honest here, it’s really about the chaos of helping the kids with homework during that crazy time of evening when life feels like all I need is a nice glass of wine and a bubble bath. Being able to open the crockpot – mix them up and be DONE. Heaven. Easy. Awesome. All the things that make me feel like super mom.
And if we’re talking Thanksgiving, hello! How many things do you have to make (or bring) that require slicing, cooking, baking, etc. This one can be easily done as barely a thought but be the main awesome side dish that potatoes were meant to be.
Do you peel the skins of the potatoes?
I first peeled all the potatoes. I personally like the skins, but my dad does not. This is how much I love you dad!! However, then I discovered gold potatoes. They have a very thin skin which makes them perfect for mashed potatoes – and those of us that want it to be easy. (Hello, crockpot user here. 👋) Gold potatoes have a rich flavor and they are just the best. Now, you will have the hearty tasting skins in there, but they’re not as obvious as if you were using a potato like Idaho. I buy a brand called Yukon gold at my local grocery store.
Do you add anything to the potatoes while in the crockpot?
Yes… mostly! You add it all (except for the milk) so that when it’s dinner time the only work to be done is by your electric mixer in the slow cooker. I add butter, salt, pepper, a little bit of water and garlic powder. I do add a little milk at the end if I want them a little creamier. You’ll be amazed at how much liquid the gold potatoes produce, so it doesn’t take too much to make them super creamy.
Do you have to serve the mashed potatoes right away?
After the crockpot mashed potatoes are done with the mixer, I turn the crockpot off and let them sit until just before dinner time on “warm”. I pour in some warmed milk if I need to fluff them a bit.
Five pounds of potatoes is WAY too much for my family of four
Yes, it is for mine too. What I love about this recipe is that it freezes well. We enjoy the mashed potatoes and then I freeze the rest. I can get three dinners out of one crockpot of mashed potatoes. It makes it even easier on busy nights to pull out the homemade mashed potatoes, heat them in the microwave and enjoy!
This was just about as easy as making them from the box and they’re homemade! Make them chunky (which is my personal preference) or make them smooth and creamy. It’s really up to you because the flavor is in this recipe. Score another point for the crockpot! And if you’ve made crockpot mashed potatoes in the past, give this recipe a try. It’s a good one!
Enjoy!
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Easily make mashed potatoes in the crockpot slow cooker!
Ingredients
5 lbs Yukon Gold Potatoes
1/4 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Butter, cut into chunks
1 TB salt
1 1/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 cup of milk
Instructions
- Clean the potatoes and cut them into approximately 2 inch slices. Add them to the slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients EXCEPT for the milk.
- Turn the crockpot on high and cook for four hours.
- When the potatoes are fully cooked, add warmed milk and beat with an electric mixer. Add just a little milk at a time until you get your desired creaminess.
- Serve immediately or keep warm in the crockpot.
Notes
If you like butter, add another stick. It’s gooood!
These freeze very well, so put the leftovers in the freezer and reheat on another day.
Before using the electric mixer, you can mash up potatoes using a potato masher. This will allow you to mash up the potatoes and avoid the risk of them becoming gummy – which can happen if you mix them too much.
Like chunky mashed potatoes, doesn’t mix them for as long.
- Category: Main
Looking for another great potato recipe? You will love this Easy Crockpot Potato Soup or this campfire Potatoes on Grill recipe.
Margie says
March 15, 2015 at 8:25 pmI love the crockpot for mashed potatoes too, but, as someone else mentioned, I use it just to keep them warm after I’ve made them the traditional way. That way you don’t have to do any of the prep at the last minute – you can make them even a day or so ahead, and then just throw them in the crockpot to heat up and stay warm and perfect for serving when you’re ready!
swathi says
March 12, 2015 at 11:17 pmMashed potatoes in crockpot sounds nice idea.
Jane says
March 11, 2015 at 2:18 pmTaking this wonderful recipe one step further because I never had an original idea in my life, keep adding your favorite liquids to make a fabulous potato soup that I never have time to do!
★★★★★
Charlene Drake says
March 10, 2015 at 7:12 pmI’ve never made them in the crock pot.
When I make mashed potatoes, I then put them in a crock pot on WARM, and they will stay warm and not dry out for 4 hours.
Great idea.
Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says
March 9, 2015 at 8:37 amYum! I make mashed potatoes in my slow cooker too! My recipe is for refrigerator mashed potatoes because I make them the day before (with cream cheese and sour cream) and reheat them in the slow cooker whenever I need them. I do love mashed potatoes.
Cami Mortensen says
March 11, 2015 at 6:13 pmSounds yummy. I make mashed potatoes all the time the regular way, but I live in Idaho, so that is the thing to do here! I used to use butter, milk and sour cream, but have changed to using butter and cream and everybody dies over how good they are. I really like it better by far.
★★★★★