These Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese are a game-changer for preparing potatoes! They free up space on the stove and are packed with more flavor than your standard mashed potatoes.
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Blending cream cheese into these potatoes makes them creamier and richer in flavor. Everyone will be so excited to eat these potatoes any day of the week. Plus, this recipe will make all of your holiday entertaining so much easier!
If you like making side dishes in the slow cooker, you will love this Crock Pot Stuffing, Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, and Crock Pot Collard Greens!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for Crowds and Holidays: These are the best mashed potatoes for a crowd! They don't require a lot of hands-on attention, so you are free to entertain and mingle while they cook. Plus, it frees up stove space if you're preparing a large holiday meal.
- Only 5 Simple Ingredients: These easy slow cooker mashed potatoes only need 5 ingredients: potatoes, chicken broth, milk, butter, and cream cheese. It's a simple recipe that packs in a lot of flavor.
- Everyone's Favorite Side Dish Made Easy: Who doesn't love mashed potatoes? However, they are sometimes cumbersome to make for a weeknight meal. Learning how to make mashed potatoes in the crock pot has made it so much easier to have them as a side dish any day of the week.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Russet Potatoes: These potatoes are fantastic for mashing because they have a good amount of starchiness. This helps make them thick and creamy.
- Chicken Broth: Instead of water, cook these no-boil mashed potatoes in chicken broth to intensify the flavor and cook it right into the potatoes. You can use regular chicken broth or a low-sodium version.
- Milk: Thin the potatoes and make them creamy by adding a little bit of milk before mashing.
- Butter: Not only does butter add more flavor to the potatoes, but it also improves the consistency.
- Cream Cheese: What makes these the best crock pot mashed potatoes is the cream cheese. Some softened cream cheese makes the potatoes taste richer and a little tangy. Plus, it makes them even creamier.
- Seasonings: You can't forget basic seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Just be sure to taste the potatoes before adding seasoning because the chicken broth will add flavor and saltiness.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
There are a few ways that you can change up the flavor of these slow cooker mashed potatoes:
- Make It Vegetarian: If you're serving vegetarian guests or are vegetarian yourself, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth. It will taste just as good!
- Use Sour Cream: Instead of cream cheese, you can also add sour cream or Greek yogurt to make them creamier and add a little tang.
- Try with Sweet Potatoes: Mix things up and make this recipe with peeled and cubed sweet potatoes. My family loves savory mashed sweet potatoes for dinner.
- Loaded Mashed Potatoes: Mix in your favorite shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and green onions just before serving.
How To Make Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
These slow cooker mashed potatoes are so simple to make! They can help take the stress out of a holiday meal with multiple side dishes or just make dinner a little easier.
- Step 1: Start with Potatoes and Broth. Add the peeled and cut potatoes and chicken broth to a 6-quart slow cooker. Secure the lid on your crock pot and cook the potatoes on high for 4 hours or 6-8 hours on low.
- Step 2: Mash with the Other Ingredients. Once the potatoes are fork-tender, add the milk, butter, cream cheese, and seasonings. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until they are smooth. You can also use a hand mixer to whip them right in the crock pot!
Hint: Keep Warm!
The slow cooker is an excellent way to keep your mashed potatoes warm so they are ready to go when you're ready to eat! The perfect solution for larger groups and holidays! Set it to the "warm" setting after cooking to keep them from scorching or drying out on the bottom. Be sure to give them a stir every 30 minutes or so to rotate the heat.
Expert Tips
- Yellow and Russet Potatoes are Best: The key to creamy mashed potatoes is using the right kind of potato. Russet, Yukon Gold, and Idaho potatoes are best because they are starchy and break down easier. Don't use fingerling or red potatoes because they are more waxy and don't mash well.
- Don't Over Mix: One thing to beware of when making these slow cooker mashed potatoes is not to over-mix them. Over-mixed potatoes turn gummy instead of creamy and fluffy. Avoid overmixing by using a hand masher or paying close attention while using an electric mixer.
- Save the Broth: Don't waste any leftover broth from cooking the potatoes! Strain it into a separate container and use it to make a gravy to pour over your potatoes.
Storing Directions
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Reheat the potatoes in the microwave for 30-60 second intervals until it is heated through or on the stove at medium heat for 5-10 minutes. If the potatoes are stiff or dry, add a little milk to make them creamier after they reheat. For frozen mashed potatoes, thaw them in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Then, bake them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.
- Make Ahead: Save yourself a little time by peeling and cutting the potatoes the day before. Store the cut potatoes in a bowl of water in the refrigerator overnight so they don't dry out. Strain the water and cook them in the crock pot the next day.
Serving Suggestions
Whether you're preparing a traditional holiday meal or just making mashed potatoes for Wednesday night dinner, this slow cooker mashed potatoes recipe is perfect for any family. They are creamy, rich, and delicious. You can serve them with traditional gravy dishes or try something fun and new.
- Mashed potatoes naturally pair well with gravy dishes like chicken and gravy, Swiss steak, French onion pot roast, and Salisbury steak.
- Don't limit yourself to the traditional! Try these potatoes with a slow cooker spaghetti sauce, crock pot meatballs, or this copycat Wendy's chili.
- Use leftover mashed potatoes to make a crock pot Shepherd's pie, potato pancakes, or pierogies.
- Make a full Thanksgiving dinner using slow cookers by pairing these fantastic mashed potatoes with a slow cooked turkey breast, stuffing, and green bean casserole.
Recipe FAQs
Add refrigerated leftovers back to the crock pot and set it to low. Add a splash of milk, cream, or broth to ensure they don't dry out while reheating. Occasionally, stir the potatoes to ensure they stay creamy and reheat evenly. It will take approximately 1-2 hours to reheat the mashed potatoes in the slow cooker.
If you find that your mashed potatoes are too runny, place them back in the slow cooker on WARM until they have reached the desired consistency.
If you don't want to use the crock pot, you can make these mashed potatoes with chicken broth on the stove. Boil the cubed potatoes in chicken broth until they are fork-tender. Then, strain out the excess broth and mash them according to the recipe.
More Delicious Crock Pot Potato Recipes
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Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 5 lbs russet potatoes (Peeled and cut potatoes into 1-inch chunks)
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 4 oz cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a 6-quart slow cooker, add potatoes and chicken broth.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours, until potatoes are tender.
- Add the milk, butter, cream cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Using a hand masher or hand mixer, mash potatoes until smooth.
- Serve while hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Don't over-mix the mashed potatoes. Over-mixed potatoes turn gummy instead of creamy and fluffy. Avoid overmixing by using a hand masher.
- Strain and save the leftover broth to make gravy.
- Keep the mashed potatoes set to warm in the crock pot during dinner so everyone gets a hot scoop. Just be mindful of overcooking them.
- Make these mashed potatoes on the stove by boiling the cubed potatoes in chicken broth until they are fork-tender. Then, strain out the excess broth and mash them according to the recipe.Don't over-mix the mashed potatoes. Over-mixed potatoes turn gummy instead of creamy and fluffy. Avoid overmixing by using a hand masher.
Strain and save the leftover broth to make gravy.
Keep the mashed potatoes set to warm in the crock pot during dinner so everyone gets a hot scoop. Just be mindful of overcooking them.
Make these mashed potatoes on the stove by boiling the cubed potatoes in chicken broth until they are fork-tender. Then, strain out the excess broth and mash them according to the recipe.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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