These Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes are the perfect simple and tasty mashed potato recipe that goes with everything! Red or yellow potatoes are cooked to perfection, then mashed with a blend of garlic, sour cream, parmesan cheese, and simple seasonings. They’re quick and easy, rich and creamy, and perfect paired with any of your favorite entrees.
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes – The EASY Way!
There are a lot of mashed potatoes recipes out there. But these garlic parmesan mashed potatoes are the recipe I come back to over and over again.
These really are some of the most flavorful and delicious mashed potatoes you will ever have. They’re loaded up with buttery, garlicky, tangy, rich flavors and mashed to the perfect fluffy and creamy consistency. You may never want gravy with your mashed potatoes again after trying this recipe.
Yes, they really are that tasty!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Simple ingredients. All you need are potatoes, a couple of mix-ins, and a simple seasoning blend. You probably have most of these ingredients in your kitchen already.
- One-pot recipe. You can cook the potatoes and combine everything all in one pot! No extra dishes necessary.
- Perfect texture. This recipe includes my special trick to achieving the fluffiest, creamiest mashed potato texture.
What to Serve with Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Since this dish has the classic flavors of comfort food it will pair well with many of your favorite comforting side dishes or entrees. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Main Dish Ideas
- Turkey Spinach Feta Burgers – Throw together these light and cheesy patties together in just 20 minutes. Enjoy over a bed of rice or on their own with another light and fresh veggie side dish.
- Garlic Pork Bites – Whip up these tender, juicy, butter, and oh-so-flavorful bites of pork using pantry staples! This 20-minute recipe ties in the delicious flavor of garlic in the potatoes.
- Smothered Cheesy Sour Cream Chicken – Take your comfort food meal to the next level with this creamy, tangy, decadent chicken. Just 8 ingredients and 10 minutes to prep.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie – Enjoy your mashed potatoes alongside another classic comfort food meal. This one pan meal is loaded up with mixed veggies, tons of flavor, and tender bites of chicken.
- Honey Glazed Ham– This ham is perfect for the holidays, but easy enough for dinner anytime!
Side Dish Ideas
- Baked Asparagus – Keep it light with this easy and tasty baked asparagus. This crisp-tender asparagus is so simple yet so flavorful. Just 7 ingredients needed.
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli – Keep it simple and light with this roasted broccoli recipe. It’s tossed in parmesan, salt, and garlic powder, then roasted to crisp-tender perfection.
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese – What’s more comforting than a big scoop of homemade mac and cheese? Whip this creamy and cheesy recipe up in just 15 minutes.
- Garlic Parmesan Green Bean Casserole – Whip this rich, creamy, flavorful casserole up with just 10 minutes of prep. It’s made with green beans and mushrooms smothered in a creamy sauce, then topped with crunchy walnuts.
You can choose one or add a few sides to make a wholesome, well rounded dinner.
Recipe Notes
This parmesan garlic mashed potatoes recipe is as simple as promised! Just 30 minutes for a family friendly side dish.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Potatoes – I recommend using red or yellow potatoes. I think they are the best for mashing and result in the creamiest texture!
- Garlic – Use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor!
- Butter
- Sour Cream – Adding a little bit of sour cream creates the creamiest texture.
- Seasonings – We’re seasoning with a simple blend of oregano, salt, and garlic powder.
- Parmesan – I like to freshly grate the parmesan cheese to achieve the best flavor and texture.
- Milk or Cream – Add more if you like a thinner texture or less if you prefer thicker potatoes. Either one is delicious, but cream will be a little richer.
Recipe Tips
- Start with cold water – I recommend adding the potatoes into the pot, covering with cold water, then bringing the water to a boil like that. This allows the potatoes to cook more evenly for a fluffier texture. Plus, it is much easier than dropping them in hot water.
- Cook until fork tender – I give a range of 8-12 minutes for the cooking time, so adjust as needed depending on the size of your potatoes. If necessary, cut large potatoes into smaller pieces and cook just until fork-tender.
- Mix and mash at the same time – I like to add all of the ingredients to the pot with the cooked potatoes, then mash it all up together. This helps you get everything well incorporated without over-mixing. Overworking the potatoes can create a gummy texture.
- Play with texture – If you like ultra-smooth potatoes, mash until there are no chunks left. If you like a little bit more texture, mash them up, but leave a few chunks. It’s totally your call!
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use pre-shredded cheese – While the texture of freshly shredded parmesan can’t quite be beat, you can save some time buy getting the pre-shredded stuff at the store. It will still be delicious.
- Make it ahead of time – I definitely think mashed potatoes are best fresh and hot out of the pan. However, you can get ahead by simply making them ahead of time and storing them in either the fridge or the freezer until you’re ready to serve.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes – Start by cooking the potatoes with 1/2 cup of water or broth on high for 3-4 for hours or on low for 6-7 hours. Once cooked, add the other ingredients and mash to combine.
- Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes Instant Pot version– Add the potatoes to the instant pot and cover them with water. Cook for 5 minutes on high, then release the pressure, add the remaining ingredients, and mash.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this easy garlic parmesan mashed potatoes recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Make the potatoes as instructed, then cool completely.
- Scoop in single servings onto a baking sheet, then flash freeze until hardened.
- Transfer to a freezer bag, flatten with a rolling pin, then store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- When you’re ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm on low on the stove with a splash of milk or cream to moisten if needed.
Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making these creamy garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to 2 months.
More Side Dish Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my side dish recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Incredible Baked Potato Wedges
- Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Best Ever Garlic Bread
- Garlic Smashed Potatoes
Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds red or yellow potatoes
- 3 cloves garlic
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- milk or heavy cream, add to desired consistency
Instructions
- Place potatoes and garlic cloves in a large pot. Fill with water to just cover the potatoes. Place on the stove over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Cook for about 8-12 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Drain the water and return the potatoes and garlic to the pot. Add the butter, sour cream, oregano, salt and garlic powder to the potatoes and mash with a potato masher.
- Stir in the grated parmesan, then stir in milk until the potatoes reach your desired consistency.
Recipe Notes
- Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes – Start by cooking the potatoes with 1/2 cup of water or broth on high for 3-4 for hours or on low for 6-7 hours. Once cooked, add the other ingredients and mash to combine.
- Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes Instant Pot version– Add the potatoes to the instant pot and cover them with water. Cook for 5 minutes on high, then release the pressure, add the remaining ingredients, and mash.
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