How to Make Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

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!

 

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Looking for another great potato recipe? You will love this Easy Crockpot Potato Soup or this campfire Potatoes on Grill recipe.