Basic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Looking for the best mashed potatoes? You’ll love this Basic Mashed Potatoes Recipe, with cheese and chives! and topped with melted butter!
Friends, here’s the secrets to making perfect, light, fluffy, and flavorful Mashed Potatoes! It’s all about the type of potato that you use, and then the final additions of cheese and chives. The BEST mashed potatoes!
Basic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Homemade mashed potatoes are my favorite comfort food, and a true classic holiday tradition. Start with the basic recipe and then add chives and cheese! So good. You may also want to try my Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes or Curried Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
When I think about fall time and holidays, and bringing people together, I think about comfort foods.
Here are some of my favorite side dishes:
Blue Cornbread Asian Pear Sausage Stuffing
Sausage Mushroom Thanksgiving Stuffing
What are mashed potatoes?
Mashed potato or mashed potatoes, is a side dish prepared by mashing boiled, peeled or unpeeled potatoes.
Typically you add milk, butter, salt and pepper, and then whip them at the end.
The dish is usually a side dish to meat and/or vegetables.
For this time of year? Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish to a delicious, roasted turkey!
What is the best potato for mashing?
We choose higher starch potatoes, like Russets or Yukon golds, because they make the fluffiest and smoothest mash.
You don’t want to use waxy potatoes (such as red or white varieties) because they require more mashing to become creamy. And when you mash them too long, they become a “potato paste” instead of a light, airy, fluffy mash!
Add cheese and chives
You can make basic mashed potatoes, but we love to add cheese and chives. Why not add a little more pizazz?
5 Things I Love About This Season
- Cool weather. Nighttime walks. Beautiful days, and walks with our Whoodle, Alder.
- Cinnamon rolls. With raisins and walnuts. The more frosting, the better. Storyville coffee in the morning, and a delicious cinnamon roll. Mostly a “weekend” treat.
- Boots & sweaters & cozy blankets. I love my new boots this year. And sweaters and cozy blankets for cuddling up on the sofa. We will watch a lot of movies, and our favorite television shows. Are you following me on Instagram? I often share in my “stories” what I’m wearing, or the details of our home.
- Gathering friends. Yes, this time of year is about bringing people together. We’ll be hosting 14 for Thanksgiving this year. I’ll be delegating some of the dishes, but I can’t wait to sit down at one long table and take it all in.
- Anticipation. Joy. Hope. Savoring. There’s something about this season that feels like good things are about to happen. Because celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas gives our family hope, the reminder that it is not about materialism, but about the baby Christ child, settles in our hearts and brings a unity with all who believe.
It doesn’t matter what political side you are on, Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving. Christmas is Christmas.
ENJOY!
Get the Recipe:
Basic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 6-8 medium potatoes, about 2 lbs, Russets or Yukon Golds
- 1/3 chives
- 1/2 c Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2/3 c white sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground pepper
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- Cut potatoes into 1’’ slices, cut width-wise. Place in a large pot of water with 1/4 c salt, and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer your potatoes for 8-10 minutes; they will be easily poked through with a fork.
- When potatoes can be poked through with a utensil, drain them and place them back in the pot. Let them sit for about 5 minutes, and allow the extra water to evaporate.
- Next, add butter, salt, pepper, egg yolk, and cheeses, and mash with a potato masher or a fork until well incorporated and smooth. Finally, add in chives. Serve warm and enjoy!
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
Wanting to clarify how much salt to put in the water in step 1. 1/4 cup seems a lot!
Yes, 1/4 cup is correct. :)
Hello Sandy,
Thank you for so graciously sharing your scrumptious creations!
One quick question, is this 1/3 “cup” chives? I don’t want to ruin the recipe for our family and guests, especially when my mother taught me to share the actual recipe author(s) when others ask, giving credit where it is so highly earned!:)
Thank you, again and again, for giving so much of you for the delight of others.
Yes, it’s 1/3 cup of chives! :)