Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Why haven’t I ever done this before? Mashed potatoes in the slow is just pure genius.
For so many reasons this just makes sense. Especially for Thanksgiving! First, and most importantly, they’re absolutely delicious. Like for real though. These taters are legit. Second, it’s SO much easier, which also means less clean up. YES. And third, more room on your stove top. A huge plus on Thanksgiving day.
Oh! I almost forgot! Once they’re done cooking, the slow cooker will keep them warm until you’re ready to serve!
I’m telling you, this is the way to go. Nobody has to know how simple it is.
Get ready Thanksgiving. Here we come.
Silky Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
No more stressing over making the perfect mashed potatoes! These creamy and silky mashed potatoes can be made in the slow cooker!
Ingredients
- 4 pounds yukon gold potatoes (peeled and diced)
- 1 cup chicken stock (or vegetable stock)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3–4 cloves)
- 1 cup half and half
- 6 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Parsley or chives
Instructions
- Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray. Add the diced potatoes, chicken stock, and garlic. Stir to combine.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Once potatoes are very soft, add the half and half, butter, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Using a potato masher or hand mixer mash the potatoes until your desired consistency. Keep on the warm setting until ready to serve.
- Serve with a pat of butter, chopped parsley, and fresh cracked pepper.
Notes
If you keep the potatoes warm, they may absorb more liquid. If that happens you can add more half and half or whole milk as they warm if needed, and stir occasionally.
Can I leave out the sour cream?
Sure! You can also sub for greek yogurt.
This recipe is fool-proof! I’ve made this several times now and they’ve come out perfect every time. I’m also dairy free so I had to substitute dairy free sour cream, butter and half and half and my extended family couldn’t even tell. Thank you for taking the stress out of entertaining!
so glad you love it! Thank you for the review!
This was powerfully easy and such a time & clean-up savor on Thanksgiving! Thanks, Laney 🙂
I give this 5 stars (but can’t find where to “star” it.
Thank you so much!
I made these today for our Christmas dinner. Game changer! Saved me time, work and clean up. Thank you, Laney!
So glad you they worked out!
Not only was this the easiest mashed potato recipe I’ve tried, but it was also the best! These had so much flavor and everybody loved them. This will be my go-to mashed potato recipe from now on!
Not only was this the easiest mashed potatoes recipe I’ve ever tried, but it was also the best! They had so much flavor and everyone loved them! This will be my go-to mashed potato recipe from now on.
Thank you Ann!
So easy and the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever made and I’ve made a lot of mashed potatoes!
Wow what a compliment!!
Love this recipe. It is one less pot on the stove. They come out delicious every time!
All for less dishes!
Have made this recipe for years – always a hit! Thank you!
Thank you for continuing to make it!
hey,
these are a family fave. curious if you’ve doubled before in the slow cook or if need to split into two cookers.
If your slow cooker is large enough it totally works!
As always lifeisbutadish comes through! Made these for Thanksgiving tonight and they are so delicious and the set it and let it go took one thing off the prep plate for me. I was able to get so many other things done while not having to worry how the potatoes were doing. Thank you!
Such a win! Glad you love them 🙂
I made these last night in my Instant Pot (slow cooker function) and they were great! A very hands-off side dish. We were having steak and I wanted to make them like baked potatoes, but in mashed potato form, so I added about a cup of cheddar cheese and half a package of chopped, cooked bacon after adding in the sour cream, half & half and butter. Everyone raved about them and they will be on my regular rotation with varied mix-in’s or plain – depending on the occasion. I also used red potatoes vs. Yukon gold potatoes (just an FYI in case that helps anyone else in their planning). Thank you for this game changing trick. I am a fan!
This is awesome, thanks Desiree!
I made these for Thanksgiving and they were AMAZING! I want to make them again, but some family members are dairy free. What alternatives would you suggest I substitute with?
Hooray! So glad you loved them Katie! You can use any dairy free alternatives that you like (but it won’t be the same). Still a good option if people need dairy free!
My advice is to drain any broth/liquid left after the potatoes are done, add half the mash in ingredients and decide if you need to add the rest. There was so much liquid in mine after cooking. So glad I decided to drain. But then I added all the mash ins and while they tasted great they were a bit soupy. Wish I had withheld some of the half and half .
Hi Lynne! There is only 1 cup of liquid that the potatoes cook in. I wonder why there was so much after they were done cooking? If anything I find I need to add more liquid because the potatoes soak it up! Sorry this work out for you as expected, but I’m here to help troubleshoot.
Okay so I’d love to try this but my husband can’t have dairy and potatoes are his favorite food. Is it worth a try to make a dairy free version with a bunch of substitutes or should I just look at a different dish?
I think it would actually work great with those subs!
I don’t know why it never occurred to me to make mashed potatoes in the slow cooker!! Not only were they yummy, but it was so perfect for Thanksgiving to have the stove cleared and to not really have to think about this. I measured all the add-ins when I put the potatoes in and kept them in the fridge, that way, when it was ready to be added and mashed I could easily point my husband to do it and away from the rest of the prep area! I will forever be making my potatoes this way for holidays!
We loved this! Soo easy and so delish. Subbed plain greek yogurt for sour cream (it’s what was in the fridge and I channeled my inner Laney!) and got a little too excited and poured the milk in with the broth in the slow cooker from the start — it was fine! Used a hand mixer to whip them up. The garlic was so good! Thank you for another winner 💞
Hooray!!
Do you know if I can use non-dairy alternatives? My mom can’t eat dairy… thanks!
you can totally sub!
Can you use russet potatoes and whole milk instead of half/half??
Russet potatoes are not as creamy so they might be more grainy
Can you use russet potatoes??
I can not see myself ever going back to making mashed potatoes on the stove. Nope. These were so, so delicious!! I received rave reviews at our recent Thanksgiving feast and that always feels so good. Thanks for sharing this recipe. It’s my new go-to.
Hooray!!
Hello, I love your page and everything you make!!
Quick question can I substitute half and half with whipping cream?
Thanks in advance!
Yes!
I made this tonight and it turned out runny 🙁 The only difference was I put it in my slow cooker on slow for 8 hours since my slow cooker doesn’t have a high feature. Wonder if that prevented the potatoes from being able to soak up the stock.
Hmm… that shouldnt be the case. If anything its usually the opposite problem! Did you use Yukon Gold potatoes?
How can I add pizzaz to this recipe? Also, can I use German Butterball? Anyway, you are kween! Love you!
Would you know what the insta pot setting a would be for this?
I convinced my family to make mashed potatoes in a crockpot this thanksgiving and I’m happy to say this recipe will be used over and over again! Sooo yummy!
Yay!!
Do you know what the conversion would be in the Instant Pot for faster cooking?
I’m gonna test it!
Any recommendations for making this a cauliflower mashed potato dish? Just interested in making this a lighter option 🙂
I haven’t tried it in the slow cooker, but I do have a Cauliflower Mashed potato recipe on the blog!
Will it work in instant pot on slow cooker setting?
It should!
Obsessed. So easy and SOOOO yummy. I just Love Laney.
Hi if I use 5 lbs of potatoes instead of the 4 lbs that suggested what shall I increase on to make sure they still turn out creamy or do you think the recipe will work out just fine the way it is with the 5lbs of potatoes. Thank you !
Hi Carrie! If you use more potatoes I would definitely add more other stuff as well. I would start with the amount listed in the recipe then just add a little more of each until it’s to your liking! The nice thing about mashed potatoes is that it can be super forgiving. Just add a splash of milk, a pinch of salt, some sour cream, etc…
thanksgiving
Hi L- Could we use skin on baby red potatoes?
Hi! Totally! If you like the skins, just leave em!