Mashed Potatoes- The Best Side Dish For Your Thanksgiving Meal

Mashed potatoes are creamy, buttery comfort food that will make any dish taste like home. You can make these rich, mouthwatering mashed potatoes for a holiday meal or even just a regular weeknight. When making this side dish, I like to use roasted garlic instead of raw garlic simply because I love that deep caramelized flavor that comes from garlic. It adds a sweetness that I feel is an absolute must! 

Roasted garlic mashed potatoes are one of my favorite dishes on the Thanksgiving table. I think it is the perfect side dish that can make any holiday meal better. For example, if you have a dry turkey, you can spruce it up with smooth and flavorful side dish such as this one. I even love to serve these with a steak, prime rib, some chicken, or even fish. Try out this recipe, and who knows? It may even become your new favorite side dish. I know I’m obsessed with it.  

What Type of Potatoes Should I Use? 

Most people suggest using Yukon gold potatoes. They are dense and waxy, making the mashed potatoes come out creamier than starchy ones such as russet potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes also have a smooth and buttery texture that makes them ideal. Of course, if you are indecisive, you can also mix starchy and waxy varieties to give you the best of both worlds. 

How to Mash them?

The easiest way to mash is with a large masher. It will quickly and easily make them super fine and smooth. If you don’t have a masher, you can also use a large fork. Try to break them up as much as you can, and then mash them. You can make your mashed potatoes as fluffy or chunky as you’d like. 

Don’t Overboil

One of the easiest mistakes is boiling them for too long. You want them to be just soft enough to put a fork through them. If you cook them too long, they will absorb too much water, making them too watery. Later, when you go to mash them, they won’t be able to absorb any of the milk or butter. 

Should I Peel The Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes? 

It is entirely up to you whether or not you like some skin. When making mashed potatoes, you can leave some of the skin on since they are thin and waxy. If you prefer to have perfectly smooth and creamy, you should peel all the skin. 

Milk vs. Cream 

Adding cream will make your mashed potatoes well… creamy. But if you are cutting down on calories or simply don’t want it thick, you can also use milk. The milk will still give it a smooth and fragrant creamy flavor.