With the help of your slow cooker, you can have creamy and delicious mashed potatoes while letting the crock pot do all the work! This Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or when you have company coming over. Serve them up alongside your favorite dinner recipe!
There's not much that's more comforting than a warm bowl of mashed potatoes. While this side dish is usually reserved for a more involved meal or special occasion, with the help of your slow cooker, it doesn't have to be!
These are the best crock pot mashed potatoes because they're made with cream cheese, which makes them extra rich and creamy. And, the liquid used to thin them out is the chicken broth which gives them an additional layer of flavor and comfort!
You'll simply let the potatoes slow cook with the chicken broth until fork-tender, then add the cream cheese, milk, and butter and mash until smooth and creamy.
These crockpot mashed potatoes with chicken broth are the perfect side dish to any main meal, but we love serving it alongside this hearty Crock-Pot Meatloaf with Brown Sugar Glaze or on the bottom of a serving of Slow Cooker Mississippi Chuck Roast!
Whether you whip them up for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, or for a weeknight meal, we're confident this is one slow cooker side dish recipe you'll come back to over and over!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The chicken broth adds a unique layer of flavor to these mashed potatoes making them ultra comforting.
- Cream cheese makes these potatoes extra rich and creamy with a hint of tangy flavor.
- This is a hands-off recipe that frees up valuable stove space on busy weeknights or when you have company coming over.
- The crock pot not only cooks the mashed potatoes but helps keep them warm so they're always ready!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Russet Potatoes - These are the best potatoes to use for mashed potatoes because they can be found anywhere and have a classic potato flavor.
- Chicken Broth - A low sodium broth will add a hint of chicken flavor to the mashed potatoes that take them to the next level.
- Milk - Helps thin out the mashed potatoes while keeping them smooth and creamy.
- Unsalted Butter - Adds a rich buttery flavor that is classic in any mashed potato recipe.
- Cream Cheese - Adds creaminess and a slight tang to the mashed potatoes that gives them a little something extra.
- Dried Seasonings - A mix of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper helps balance and enhance the dish's overall flavor and can be used to taste.
How To Make Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
Prepare the potatoes: Wash the potatoes under cold water, then peel with a vegetable peeler. Chop into 1-inch cubes.
Cook the potatoes: To the bottom of the slow cooker, add the chopped potatoes along with the chicken broth. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Add the cream and seasonings: When the potatoes are finished cooking, add the milk, butter, cream cheese, and dried seasonings. Use a potato masher or hand mixer to whip until smooth and creamy.
Serve and enjoy: Plate with your favorite side dishes or main course while hot and enjoy!
Keeping Mashed Potatoes Warm In A Slow Cooker
The slow cooker is an excellent way to keep your mashed potatoes warm so they are ready to go, especially for holidays!
To keep mashed potatoes warm in a slow cooker, set it to the "warm" setting after they are done cooking. This will help prevent 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.
Recipe Tips
- It's up to you if you would like to leave the skin on the potatoes for a rustic dish. Without the peel, the potatoes will be more smooth and creamy.
- Before serving, make sure you taste and adjust the seasonings.
- Use a low sodium chicken broth to ensure that you are in control of how much salt goes into the dish.
- Cut all of the potatoes roughly the same size to ensure they all cook evenly and at the same time.
- When mixing mashed potatoes, be sure not to overmix them as this could make them gluey. Mix just until smooth.
- If your mashed potatoes seem too thick, add additional milk as needed to thin out to desired consistency.
- 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.
Flavor Variations & Substitutions
There are a few ways that you can change up the flavor of these slow cooker mashed potatoes:
- Add shredded cheese - cheddar, mozzarella, or Parmesan would all be delicious.
- Stir in some cooked and crumbled bacon for a salty and smoky flavor.
- Add sautéed garlic or onions for an extra savory touch.
- Use half and half or heavy cream in place of the milk for an even richer dish.
- Add roasted garlic for a more intense flavor.
- Substitute Yukon Gold potatoes, red potatoes, or baby gold potatoes for the Russet potatoes.
- Make them spicy by stirring in some diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes.
- For a herbaceous flavor, stir in some chopped fresh parsley, rosemary, or thyme.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Cooled leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Freezing: Mashed potatoes can be frozen, but keep in mind that they may not have the same consistency when thawed and reheated. To freeze, let them cool completely then add them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheating: Reheat them on the stove over low heat or in the microwave. You may need to add a splash of milk or cream to get them back to the desired consistency.
FAQ
If you're looking for a dairy-free option, you could use vegan cream cheese or cashew cream. For a lower fat option, try using Greek yogurt.
You can certainly make the mashed potatoes ahead of time, but keep in mind that they may not have the same consistency when reheated. I would recommend making them no more than a day in advance and storing them in the fridge until ready to serve.
To make these mashed potatoes vegetarian, you can use vegetable broth or water in place of the chicken broth. Keep in mind that this will change the flavor of the dish, so you may want to add additional seasonings to taste.
More Easy Slow Cooker Side Dish Recipes
- Easy, NO Foil Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Potatoes (With Bacon)
- Easy, Cheesy Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes
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Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese
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!
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