Who doesn't love a bowl of mashed potatoes? This recipe takes the classic side dish up a notch with basil, fennel and garlic and finished with a buttery chive drizzle. The flavor is absolutely incredible, but they're not only delicious—they're also perfect for making ahead of time! You'll fall in love with the ease and flavor of these mashed potatoes, and we'll totally understand if you find yourself making it over and over again.
For more fancy spuds, try ours Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes Or stick with the classics with us Creamiest Mashed Potato Recipe.
Why our recipe?
- Elevate mashed potatoes to a whole new level with fresh herbs, garlic and butter.
- Include advance instructions so you can fit this recipe into any schedule.
- Buttermilk and cream cheese make these mashed potatoes super creamy with a little tang.
With just a few extra ingredients, you'll be able to transform mashed potatoes from a side dish to the star of the show. You seriously won't believe how good these are, and they don't take much more effort than a simple mashed potato recipe. This recipe truly blends restaurant-quality flavors with ease—perfect for any occasion.
Material notes
- Russet Potatoes: Russets are ideal for mashed potatoes due to their high starch content to keep them fluffy. Yukon Gold potatoes are a good alternative.
- Chicken Broth: It adds flavor to your mashed potatoes. Feel free to save the drained broth to use in a soup. You can also use Boolean cubes as indicated in the package.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic will definitely provide the best flavor. Use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder if you can hang fresh.
- Dry Basil and Fennel: This combination feels like total restaurant-quality.
- Buttermilk: If you don't have buttermilk on hand, don't worry—check us out Guide to Buttermilk Substitutes.
- Cream Cheese: Again, these potatoes are all about that creaminess, and it adds great flavor and enhances the creamy texture.
- Chives: Fresh chives add a pop of color and mild onion flavor. You can use dry chives in their place, but reduce the amount by half.
We like to use a hand mixer because it makes the potatoes creamier and lighter than you'd imagine, but if you use another option, they'll still taste great! Here's a quick guide to help you find the right option for your perfect mash:
Potato Masher: For a more rustic, slightly chunky texture, a handheld masher is ideal. This tool leaves some bits intact, giving your mashed potatoes a cozy, homemade feel.
Hand Mixer: If you prefer an extra creamy and smooth texture, use a hand mixer. A low speed setting helps to combine the air, creating a fluffy consistency. Be sure to keep the speed low to avoid overmixing.
Potato Rice: For an ultra-smooth, restaurant-quality mash, a potato ricer is the tool of choice. It presses the potatoes through fine pores, resulting in a fine, lump-free texture.
Stand Mixer: Great for large batches, a stand mixer gives a smooth mash in minimal time. Be sure to mix on low speed to prevent the potatoes from sticking.
Food Processor: This tool can create a very smooth texture, but use caution and pulse in short bursts to avoid overprocessing. This can lead to excess adhesive consistency.
Make Ahead Option
You can absolutely make this recipe ahead of time! That's actually one of our favorite things about mashed potatoes—they're so easy to make a few days before your event, and it doesn't take much effort to store them and reheat them another day.
Once you've reached step 4 of the recipe and transferred your potatoes to a baking dish, let them cool before covering and refrigerating. Once you are ready to eat the potatoes, heat them in an oven at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until heated through. Continue the recipe starting at step 5. You can make mashed potatoes up to 2 days in advance.
Storage and reheating instructions
Keep in fridge Leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
to freeze Remainder in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat Microwave portions on high in 30-second increments.
More delicious potato recipes. . .
Watch the video below Where Rachel walks you through each step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we've always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes YouTubeour Facebook pageOr here on our website with their respective recipes.
