This Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes are an easy side dish. The recipe makes a nice big batch of red skin mashed potatoes (Yukon Gold are also excellent for this). This is a perfect mashed potato side for family dinners or holidays such as Thanksgiving.
Slow cooker mashed potatoes will soon become your go-to way to make creamy potatoes. Whether for a special occasion or a weeknight dinner, it is one of the most popular and easiest side dish recipes you can make.
Easy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
Making good mashed potatoes in the crock pot is no fuss. This recipe also has the added benefit of keeping one more precious stove burner open while holiday cooking. In this case, easy to cook mashed potatoes are also the best!
Making Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot
Mashed Potatoes in a slow cooker are super easy to make and a great way to complete any meal. Here is a quick visual walk through. Full printable recipe card below.
Prep Time: 5 mins Cooking Time: 5 hours
Ingredients needed:
- 5 pounds potatoes Yukon Gold, red-skinned or Russet potatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick, divided into ¼ stick and ¾ stick) If you use salted butter, just adjust sodium down when adding salt later.
- ½ tsp salt*
- 1 tsp black pepper*
- 1 tsp garlic powder or onion powder
- ½ cup whole milk substitute light cream, heavy cream, even sour cream or cream cheese if you prefer
Prepare
Washed potatoes, chicken broth, butter, and seasonings are added to the crockpot.
Cover and cook the potatoes for 4 hours on high.
Chop them up in the crockpot, then cook for an additional hour until they are fork tender.
Add the milk and remaining butter.
Use a potato masher, mash potatoes right in the pot. Mix the potatoes until your desired consistency, from chunky to whipped. Season with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and stir in.
If you are cooking for the holidays and want to save even more stove top and oven space make my Crock Pot Corn Casserole too! They both are must have side dishes with the Thanksgiving turkey dinner! After all, we all know the sides are the best part.
Recipe Variations
Make this recipe your own, with ingredient swaps, additions or slight variations in technique. Here are a few suggestions:
- For whipped potatoes: peel potatoes, add a little extra milk or cream and mash the potatoes with an electric mixer or hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add cooked bacon, shredded cheddar and chopped chives for a loaded potato version.
- Adding cream cheese or sour cream in for some of the milk will make richer potatoes.
Tip: Coat interior of the crock pot with nonstick cooking spray or use a slow cooker insert for easier cleanup after the meal.
Should you peel potatoes for mashed potatoes?
This is a personal preference. My family and I love the bits of potato skins in the mashed potatoes. If you want it to be creamier, then peel the potatoes before putting them in the slow cooker.
Keeping mashed potatoes warm in crock pot
Mashed potatoes are easy to keep warm once they are already in the slow cooker. Simply set the crockpot to the warm setting and your creamy mashed potatoes will be ready when you are.
What are the best potatoes can I use for slow cooker mashed potatoes?
While I used red potatoes here, Yukon gold are great as mashed. Russet potatoes will also work well If you are feeling adventurous, try making mashed sweet potatoes.
Storing
Store Leftovers in an airtight container or wrap bowl well with plastic wrap. Cool potatoes before packing them. The mashed potatoes will last in the fridge for 3-4 days or up to 3 months in the freezer. [ref]
Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop with a small amount of liquid, just to loosen them up.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow cooker recipes save you so much time in the kitchen. Here are some more of my favorites.
- Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce: An Easy Crock Pot Meat Sauce Recipe
- Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo Recipe
- CrockPot Meatloaf Recipe with Potatoes and Carrots
- Crock Pot Chicken Thighs recipe with Potatoes and Carrots
- Crock Pot Tuna Casserole
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 5 lbs small red skinned potatoes Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes will also work
- 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick, divided into ¼ stick and ¾ stick) If you use salted butter, just adjust sodium down when adding salt later.
- ½ teaspoon salt*
- 1 teaspoon pepper*
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or onion powder
- ½ cup whole milk substitute light cream, heavy cream, even sour cream or cream cheese if you prefer
Instructions
- Wash potatoes, leaving skin on.
- Toss everything but milk and ¾ stick of butter in a crockpot.
- Cook on high for 5 hours.
- At around the 4 hour mark, while still in the slow cooker, take a knife and cut potatoes into chunks (while still in the slow cooker.) Then cook the remaining hour.
- Add milk and ¾ stick of butter. Mash until desired consistency. The water gets mashed right in, no need to drain.
- Lower slow cooker temp to warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Renee Goerger says
This is the ultimate comfort food! I'm totally in love with this the taste of this recipe and also how easy it is! Such a great idea.
Gina Abernathy says
This recipe is for me-- slow cooker, potatoes, and melted butter. Yep, a recipe my family loves.
Mahy says
One of the easiest mashed potatoes recipe that I have ever seen. Sooo goood!
Beth says
Oh, yum! The only thing better than mashed potatoes are ones that are ridiculously easy to make. No boiling potatoes and draining. Love it!
Holley says
This is my new go to way of making mashed potatoes! Perfect for the holidays and love that they stay warm in the crockpot until served!
Suja says
These crockpot mashed potatoes were easy to cook and the broth adds so much more flavor than plain water. Everyone loved the taste. I will serve them again.