These crock pot mashed potatoes are diced Russet potatoes that are simmered in the slow cooker, then mashed with butter and cream cheese for a decadent and delicious side dish. Making mashed potatoes in the slow cooker is so easy, you’ll never use the stove top method again!
When I’m making a big meal, I try to use my slow cooker as much as possible to free up oven and stove top space. I often make slow cooker creamed corn, slow cooker glazed carrots, and these ultra creamy crock pot mashed potatoes.
Mashed potatoes are a must-have for any special occasion. These crock pot mashed potatoes are my all time favorite, because they require minimal prep work, yet come out perfectly every time. You’ll have everyone asking you for the recipe!
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes Ingredients
This recipe includes potatoes, chicken broth, cream, butter, cream cheese, salt, pepper and parsley.
How do you make crock pot mashed potatoes?
To get creamy and smooth slow cooker mashed potatoes, start with diced, peeled Russet potatoes. Place the potatoes in a crock pot with some chicken broth. The potatoes and broth cook together for a few hours until the potatoes absorb the broth are tender. Drain any remaining broth and add in butter, cream cheese, cream and seasonings. Mash everything together until the potatoes are smooth and creamy. Give the potatoes a sprinkle of chopped parsley, then and serve and enjoy.
Tips for slow cooker mashed potatoes
- Cut your potatoes into similar sized pieces. This helps to make sure that all the potatoes finish cooking at the same time.
- You can use a potato masher, a hand mixer, or potato ricer to mash potatoes. Don’t use a food processor, it will make the potatoes gummy.
- Mashed potatoes can be made up to 3 days before you plan to serve them. Reheat your potatoes on the stovetop or in the oven.
- You can freeze mashed potatoes for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Thaw the potatoes in the fridge overnight, then reheat until warm.
Recipe FAQs
You can keep your finished mashed potatoes warm in the crock pot for up to 2 hours before you plan to serve them. Choose the “warm” setting on your slow cooker.
The best potatoes for mashing are starchy potatoes like Russet and Yukon Gold potatoes. I personally like to use Russet potatoes for that classic mashed potato flavor. However, you can get good results with Yukon Gold potatoes or even a mixture of Russet potatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes. Avoid red potatoes and fingerling potatoes which are waxier and don’t mash as well.
You can store any leftover mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. Sometimes when I make these potatoes in advance, I store them in a covered casserole dish. I simply place the casserole dish in the oven to warm the potatoes right before we’re ready to eat.
It is completely fine to put raw potatoes in a slow cooker. Just make sure that they’re mostly submerged in liquid so that they will cook evenly.
Crock pot mashed potato variations
These potatoes are fantastic as-is, but you can add other flavors to customize them to your tastes.
- Garlic Potatoes: Feel free to add minced fresh garlic or whole roasted garlic cloves to the potatoes while they cook in the slow cooker.
- Sour Cream: Use sour cream instead of cream cheese for a different flavor profile.
- Mix-Ins: Add other flavorings such as chives, shredded cheese, ham, or diced cooked bacon. You can mix them into the mashed potatoes or sprinkle them on top.
- Herbs: Swap out the parsley for dill or chives. You can even stir in a spoonful of basil pesto for extra flavor.
This recipe makes it easy to have flavorful and creamy mashed potatoes. Give it a try, you’ll be amazed at how good mashed potatoes can taste with such minimal effort.
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Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes Video
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 5 pounds Russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup butter cut into slices
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Place the potatoes and chicken broth in a crock pot.
- Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours, until potatoes are tender.
- Drain the broth from the crock pot.
- Add the butter, cream cheese, salt, pepper and heavy cream to the slow cooker. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until they're smooth and creamy.
- Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
Notes
- Cut your potatoes into similar sized pieces. This helps to make sure that all the potatoes cook evenly in the same amount of time.
- You can use a potato masher, a hand mixer, or potato ricer to mash potatoes. Don’t use a food processor, it will make the potatoes gummy.
- Mashed potatoes can be made up to 3 days before you plan to serve them. Reheat your potatoes on the stovetop or in the oven.
Robin says
Can these be reheated in the crockpot on warm?
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!
Julie says
I have a vegetarian in the house. Any thoughts on using vegetable broth instead?
Sara says
That’s totally fine!
Michelle Kerr says
I AM SURE THEY ARE GREAT BUT WHAT IS WITH THE 0.2 CUPS OF BUTTER OR THE 0,6 OF SALT. I AM PROBABLY MAKING MYSELF SOUND IGNORANT BY ASKING BUT COME ON NOW WHY MAKE A RECIPE MORE DIFFICULT BY NOT USING MORE COMMON MEASUREMENTS. A LITTLE HELPFUL HINT 0.2 CUPS = 3.2 TABLESPOONS AND 0.2 TABLESPOONS = 0.6 TEASPOONS. IT’S UNFORTUNANT I WAS LOOKING VERY FORWARD TO THE CROCK POT MASHED POTATOES BUT I DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO CONVERT THE MEASUREMENTS TO ENGLISH.
Sara says
It sounds like maybe you accidentally adjusted the number of servings in the recipe card which gave you those amounts. It should have 10 servings and you won’t have any decimals it’s all just regular cups and teaspoons!
Joanne says
Michelle I had to adjust my servings too. So I just eyeballed things. It is a little frustrating when having to adjust serving size to accommodate a larger group of people. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Destiny Hunter Trusty says
Do I have to peel the potatoes?
Sara says
If you don’t want to peel them that should be fine!
Gwen says
These came out delicious!
Cynthia Taffet says
happy Turkey Day! Can this recipe be halved for 5 servings instead of 10.Thank you for responding to your turkey breast recipe. making it this weekend
Del says
Hi! I’m wondering how much you think I could reasonably scale up this recipe in a 4.5 qt slow cooker?
Sara says
This recipe is for 5 lbs of potatoes, I think maybe you could go to 6 but otherwise it would be too many for that size pot!
JB says
Can you substitute the heavy cream for milk?
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!
Catalina says
These mashed potatoes look so creamy! The best side dish!