Creamy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes for a Crowd: Easy Holiday Side
These creamy crockpot mashed potatoes are the ultimate make-ahead side dish for holidays and gatherings. The slow cooker does all the work, delivering velvety, buttery potatoes that free up your stovetop and oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (HIGH) or 4 hours 15 minutes (LOW)
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (HIGH) or 4 hours 30 minutes (LOW)
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 to 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: chopped fresh chives, paprika, extra butter for garnish
Instructions
- Peel all 5 pounds of russet potatoes and cut them into uniform 1-inch cubes. Rinse the cubed potatoes in a colander with cold water to remove excess starch.
- Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water by about an inch. Add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until fork-tender.
- Drain the potatoes in a colander and let them sit for a minute or two to steam dry.
- Transfer the drained, hot potatoes to a 6-7 quart slow cooker. Add the softened butter, softened cream cheese, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour the milk over the top. Do not stir yet.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on HIGH for 2 hours or LOW for 4 hours, until the potatoes are very tender and the butter and cream cheese have melted.
- Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes right in the crockpot until they reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed. If too thick, stir in a splash of warm milk.
- Switch the crockpot to the ‘Warm’ setting. The potatoes will stay hot and creamy for up to 2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent the top from drying out.
Notes
Don’t skip the parboil step; raw potatoes won’t cook evenly in the slow cooker. The cream cheese is key for texture and stability. Let butter and cream cheese come to room temperature before adding. Taste and adjust seasoning at the end, as potatoes often need more salt than expected.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 c
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 480
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: crockpot mashed potatoes, slow cooker mashed potatoes, holiday side dish, creamy mashed potatoes, make-ahead mashed potatoes, easy mashed potatoes, crowd-pleasing side