Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Looking for the ultimate mashed potato recipe? These Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes are creamy, luscious and perfectly garlicky. All you need are 5 ingredients and a little time to make these dreamy mashed potatoes, which are perfect when paired with a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal.
This post contains affiliate links.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
I have something important to say: Roasted garlic makes everything better.
Trust me on this. From roasted garlic white bean hummus to garlic butter steak, roasted garlic is so good in just about everything.
I try to keep a batch of roasted garlic in the freezer to pull out whenever I need it. And I always need it for mashed potatoes. Like, NEED it.
Roasted garlic mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. They’re an elevated version of the humble mashed potato we all know and love.
This is a delicious side dish for holidays, as it takes the classic side dish up quite a few delicious notches. But it’s also fabulous with your go-to comfort foods, like an easy meatloaf, a flavorful pot roast or any other saucy dish that might need a potato dish to sop it up.
And you can even use it as an ingredient in other recipes to add more garlicky flavor, like my favorite cottage pie.
Why I love this recipe:
We love these roasted garlic mashed potatoes because…
- Roasted garlic is a flavorful step up from regular homemade mashed potatoes.
- They have the BEST creamy consistency and feature roasted garlic cloves, which are wonderfully flavorful without being too in-your-face punchy.
- They are SO easy to make. You can even make them ahead of time and reheat.
- This recipe freezes really well and can be defrosted easily, so it’s great for meal prep.
- It’s versatile, because it works for so many dishes from weeknight dinner to holiday feasts like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Honestly, these are easy mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish for almost any occasion.
More potato side dish recipes to try: Classic Potato Salad | Vegetarian Twice Baked Potatoes | Mediterranean Scalloped Potatoes
What is roasted garlic?
Roasted garlic is a condiment and recipe ingredient made from roasting fresh garlic in the oven at a high temperature. When roasted, each clove of garlic becomes soft and spreadable with a deeper garlic flavor.
It can be used instead of fresh garlic or minced garlic in a recipe and lends a sweeter, caramelized-like flavor to dishes without being overpoweringly potent. It’s one of my favorite ways to add bold flavors to any dish, and it’s no different in these mashed potatoes.
You can learn how I roast them in my tutorial: How to Roast Garlic!
What you need to make this recipe:
The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.
- Vegetable peeler
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Saucepan or large pot
- Colander
- Whisk, hand mixer, potato ricer or potato masher
- Pot holder or oven mitt
- Serving dish or bowl
- Gravy boat — if you’re serving mashed potatoes with gravy!
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Russet potatoes — russet potatoes make the best mashed potatoes because of their starch content. Yukon Gold Potatoes are another good choice. I do not recommend using red potatoes.
- Milk — use what you have! Whole milk makes these so creamy, though. Skim milk will make a runnier mashed potato.
- Salted butter — you can also use unsalted butter and salt to taste.
- Roasted garlic — you’ll need to make your own roasted garlic or purchase it from the grocery store. This roasted garlic tutorial (which calls for a whole garlic head) is the only one you need.
- Freshly ground black pepper — freshly-cracked is just the best! But if all you have is the finely ground stuff, that works too.
Customizations and substitutions
Cheesy garlic mashed potatoes: Stir in shredded cheese, if desired! Sharp cheddar is a great match for the sultry flavor of roasted garlic. Salty parmesan cheese would also be an awesome choice.
Vegan, dairy-free mashed potatoes: Use your favorite plant-based butter. For the milk, my friend Laura of Cook At Home Mom, who is the expert in all things dairy-free, suggests oat milk for dairy-free mashed potatoes.
How to make Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
You can make this roasted garlic mashed potatoes recipe in a few simple steps:
First, peel the potatoes and dice into bite-sized pieces. (Peeling is optional if you don’t mind the texture of the skins in your mashed potatoes.)
Place them in a saucepan with cold water. Season the water liberally with salt.
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.
Drain the potatoes in a colander and transfer back to the saucepan.
Pour in the splash of milk, add the butter, garlic and pepper to the hot potatoes.
Mix using a whisk or a hand mixer until the desired consistency. Add more milk if the potatoes are too thick.
Give them a taste. Add a teaspoon salt and more pepper, if desired, then serve.
How to store and freeze
Store this recipe for garlic mashed potatoes in a food-safe, airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days, per The Idaho Potato Commission.
If you want to keep them longer than that, I recommend freezing them. You can add them to a freezer-safe airtight container. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating on the stove or in the microwave.
If you know ahead of time you will be freezing some or all of the mashed potatoes, leave out the dairy and butter, as they don’t freeze well and can curdle when reheated.
What to serve with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Roasted garlic mashed potatoes are so good on their own because they are a comforting side dish. Serve them with a hearty protein like roast chicken or a perfectly-cooked ribeye steak.
They go really well with other side dishes, especially veggies like roasted broccoli and roasted green beans.
You can also use these garlicky mashed potatoes in other dishes, like mashed potato casserole or as a topping for shepherd’s pie.
At the holidays, serve them with your celebratory feast. They are wonderful with both turkey and baked ham.
Here are even more side dish ideas:
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Wouldn’t these be lovely to pair with most anything? I love making mashed potatoes of all kinds for entertaining events, too, because they can be made ahead of time and reheated when it’s time to serve.
Here’s what I would do to make these potatoes for a crowd of garlic lovers:
- Make roasted garlic in big batches and store it in the freezer so you can make these potatoes anytime!
- You can keep mashed potatoes warm on the stove by placing them in a heat resistant bowl over a pot of simmering water. They will still be good for 2-3 hours.
- Garnish with chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, or green onions for added flavor and color. You can also add other toppings like crispy bacon bits, shredded cheese or caramelized onions.
- For a beautiful presentation and extra richness, create a few small wells in the mashed potatoes with a spoon and fill them with pats of butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roasted garlic provides a mellower, less “garlicky” flavor than raw garlic. The heat from the oven helps to caramelize the garlic, giving it a slightly sweet flavor. Roasted garlic can be used instead of raw garlic in most recipes.
Roasted garlic is delicious in mashed potatoes. For 1 ½ pounds of potatoes, you’ll need about five cloves of roasted garlic.
Roasted garlic is easy to make in the oven. (Read my tutorial here!) Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with foil. Slice off the tops of garlic bulbs, exposing the cloves, then drizzle with olive oil and wrap in foil. Roast at 375°F for about 45 minutes until soft and fragrant. Once cooled, squeeze out the garlic cloves and store in the fridge for up to a week, using in various dishes.
Quick tips and tricks to making the best Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- To save time, peel and dice the potatoes into bite-sized pieces before boiling. This ensures even cooking and reduces overall prep time.
- Keep an eye on the potatoes while boiling, aiming for fork-tender texture. This is usually achieved in 10-15 minutes. Overcooking can lead to mushy potatoes.
- Be careful when mashing the potatoes in a blender or mixer because they can very quickly get gummy and gluey. It’s better to mash by hand with a whisk or potato masher.
More side dish recipes
Here’s how you make these…
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs russet potatoes (about 2-3 small potatoes)
- 2 tablespoons milk (plus an additional 1-2 tablespoons, depending on consistency)
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 5 cloves roasted garlic minced
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and dice into bite-sized pieces. Place in a saucepan with cold water. Salt the water liberally.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Drain the potatoes in a colander and transfer back to the saucepan.
- Pour in the 2 tablespoons of milk, add the butter, garlic and pepper to the hot potatoes.
- Mix using a whisk or a hand mixer until the desired consistency. Add more milk if the potatoes are too thick.
- Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired, and serve immediately with more butter and roasted garlic cloves!
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
Before leaving a comment or rating, ask yourself: