These healthy Garlic Mashed Potatoes are creamy and much lighter than traditional mashed potatoes, and taste so darn good! The perfect side dish at any holiday.
Best Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Adding garlic to mashed potatoes is a game changer! There’s no need to add loads of cream and butter to make creamy mashed potatoes, you can make them healthier and still taste delicious! This easy garlic mashed potatoes recipe is the perfect side dish for roast beef, meatloaf, filet mignon, air fryer steak, or serve this at your Thanksgiving table with your Dry Brine Turkey. If you have leftovers, make these Leftover Parmesan Mashed Potato Patties. If you have an Instant Pot, you may want to try these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
Ingredients
- Potatoes: I use Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed which have a naturally buttery texture. Russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes can also be used instead.
- Garlic: use about 4 large garlic cloves or more if you want it extra garlicky
- Cream: Instead of heavy cream, sour cream works great. Full fat Greek yogurt would also work.
- Liquid: use chicken broth or vegetable broth and some fat free milk
- Butter: At the end I add just a touch of whipped butter for flavor.
- Seasoning: kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste.
- Fresh herbs: top with fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme or chives.
How To Make Mashed Potatoes
- Put the potatoes and garlic in a large pot with salt and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil.
- Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Drain and return potatoes and garlic to the pot over low heat. Add the sour cream and remaining ingredients.
- Using a potato masher, mash until smooth. If it’s too wet, let it cook a few minutes until the texture is perfect. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with herbs.
Tips for creamy mashed potatoes healthier:
- When the potatoes are still warm, I drain them and add a combination of milk, broth and sour cream with just a small amount of butter for flavor.
- To mash the potatoes I like to use a potato masher or a hand mixer to get them extra whipped. I don’t recommend an immersion blender, it will make it pasty.
What to serve with mashed potatoes:
Garlic mashed potatoes pair well with a variety of main dishes:
- Poultry: perfect with a roasted chicken, air fryer chicken, or turkey meatloaf.
- Beef: a must when making roast beef, meatloaf, filet mignon or air fryer steak.
- Vegetarian options: great with roasted vegetables or vegetarian chili.
- Use this healthier mashed potato recipe on top of Shepherd’s Pie.
Variations:
If you have more time, roast the garlic instead for extra flavor.
Add in different vegetables like cooked cauliflower or parsnips for a twist on classic mashed potatoes.
Dairy Free – replace the milk for dairy free milk and swap the sour cream for this dairy-free heavy cream.
More mashed potato recipes:
- Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes with Chives
- Low-Carb Cauliflower Mash
- Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Leftover Parmesan Mashed Potato Patties
Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed, 4 medium
- 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved
- 1/4 cup light sour cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth, sub vegetable broth for vegetarian
- 1/4 cup fat free milk
- 1 tbsp whipped butter
- kosher salt, to taste
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme or chives
Instructions
- Put the potatoes and garlic in a large pot with salt and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil.
- Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Drain and return potatoes and garlic to pan over low heat. Add sour cream and remaining ingredients. Using a masher, mash until smooth and if it's too watery, let it cook a few minutes until the texture is perfect.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with herbs.
