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Easy Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe

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Creamy, rich, and infused with mellow garlic, these slow cooker mashed potatoes are the ultimate make-ahead side dish for holidays and cozy dinners. The slow cooker does all the work, delivering velvety texture and deep flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk, warmed
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: 1/4 cup sour cream or cream cheese

Instructions

  1. Prep the potatoes: Peel the Yukon Gold potatoes and cut them into uniform 1-inch chunks. Rinse the cut potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch, then drain well.
  2. Layer in the slow cooker: Place the potato chunks into a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the whole peeled garlic cloves, tucking them in among the potatoes. Pour in the 1 cup of broth. The liquid should come about halfway up the potatoes; add a splash more if needed.
  3. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until a fork slides into the potatoes with almost no resistance and the garlic cloves are soft. Halfway through, give everything a gentle stir.
  4. Drain (mostly): Carefully remove the lid. Drain most of the cooking liquid, leaving about 1/4 cup behind for flavor and texture.
  5. Add the butter and cream: Add the cubed butter, warm cream (or milk), salt, pepper, and optional sour cream or cream cheese. Let sit for 1-2 minutes to allow the butter to melt.
  6. Mash or mix: Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or use a hand mixer on low speed until desired consistency is reached. Do not overmix. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
  7. Keep warm: Switch the slow cooker to the WARM setting. The potatoes will stay creamy and hot for up to 4 hours. Stir occasionally; if they thicken, add a splash of warm milk or cream.

Notes

For the best texture, use Yukon Gold potatoes and do not skip rinsing the cut potatoes. Keep garlic cloves whole to avoid bitterness. Warm the dairy before adding to prevent gumminess. Do not overmix. To make ahead, cook completely, cool, and refrigerate overnight; reheat on LOW with a splash of warm milk or cream. For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter and unsweetened oat milk or full-fat coconut milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker mashed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, make-ahead mashed potatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, holiday side dish, Yukon Gold potatoes

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/easy-slow-cooker-garlic-mashed-potatoes-recipe/