Crock Pot Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot are fluffy, light, and loaded with garlic, cream cheese, sour cream, and butter for a fabulous rich taste.  These hands-off Slow Cooker Potatoes are absolutely amazing and are a breeze to cook.  You can serve them year-round, but work fabulously for busy holiday meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.  You may never make mashed potatoes the old way again!

Love potatoes cooked in the crock pot? Also, try my 5 Ingredient Rosemary Lemon Red Potatoes or Crock Pot Potato Cheddar Soup.

Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot

Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot are a game changer! These Slow Cooker Potatoes are crazy simple to make in your favorite crockpot or slow cooker.  My version is loaded with buttery goodness like garlic, cream cheese, and sour cream, giving them a rich flavor and light, fluffy texture.

I love this recipe on busy cooking holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter because it frees up space on the stove to cook other dishes, and it keeps the potatoes warm while you are finishing up other dishes.  Making potatoes in the crock pot is an absolute necessity if you are cooking a big family holiday meal.

These Slow Cooker Potatoes are so simple.  You just pile the cut potatoes high in a big crock pot or slow cooker.  The hardest part is peeling and cutting the potatoes.  You cook the potatoes in a small amount of quality vegetable broth, stirring occasionally. Once the potatoes are cooked you can mash those babies right in the Crock Pot!  If you are making a big meal, it gives you one less thing you have to do last minute and provides a way to keep the potatoes warm.

Why You'll Love this Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot recipe... The Best Slow Cooker Potatoes!

• These Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot are so GOOD! No skimping on taste here.  If you are looking for a GOOD potato recipe, this is it!  These are rich, fluffy, buttery, garlic, cheesy, AND super delicious.
• They are super simple to make and free up stove or oven space if you are cooking a bunch of food for a family or crowd like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.
• They can partly or completely be made ahead of time if needed.
• You can personalize these with your family's favorite potatoes and toppings.  Totally customizable.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make these mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot recipe, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

• Potatoes: This recipe makes a big batch of Slow Cooker Potatoes with 5 pounds of potatoes.  I like to use Yukon gold potatoes because they have a rich, buttery, texture and have less moisture, which works well for the crock pot.  Those work best BUT you can swap out whatever type of potato you have including russets, russet potatoes, and red potatoes.
• Vegetable Broth: To cook the potatoes in the crock pot, you need to have some cooking broth.  I like to use vegetable broth to keep this vegetarian, but you can use chicken or turkey.  The potatoes will absorb some of the taste of the broth so keep that in mind.  You can use your favorite brand and either regular or low sodium, depending on your dietary preferences.
• Butter: I like to keep these potatoes rich by adding real butter after cooking.  This makes the mashed potatoes rich and buttery, perfect for the holidays.
• Milk: A touch of milk adds enough moisture to mash the potatoes.  You can use whatever type matches your diet including skim or full fat.  You can also use half and half, for extra-rich potatoes.
• Sour Cream: I love the tangy texture of sour cream in my potatoes.  This is added at the end when you mash them.  Once again use full-fat or fat-free depending on your dietary preferences.
• Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is a great addition to these potatoes making them nice and rich and cheesy.
• Garlic: I like to add minced garlic to the potatoes for more flavor.  If you aren't a garlic fan, just leave it out.  Fresh garlic cloves are best, but you can also use pre-minced to save time.  You can also use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Salt & Black Pepper: You need salt and pepper to bring out the flavor of the potatoes, but the amount is variable due to the broth you use and how salty your other ingredients are.  Add ½- 1 teaspoon of both, and then add more if necessary.
• Garnish: Chives or fresh parsley sprinkled on top is perfection!

Instructions:

This is an overview of the instructions to make Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot recipe, but the full detailed printable recipe is below in the recipe card.

1. Place the cut potatoes, vegetable broth, ½ teaspoon of salt, and butter in a large Crock Pot.
2. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until potatoes are fork tender and will mash easily.  Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.  Do not drain the liquid.
3. Add the milk, sour cream, cream cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
4. Mash potatoes with a hand potato masher to the desired consistency.  I really like this kind of masher with a metal grate. Add salt and pepper to personal taste.  Be careful not to over mash the potatoes because that could make them gummy and not fluffy.  When they are smooth, stop mashing.
5. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chives and serve.

Variations

I love this Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot recipe as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Make it Dairy-Free or Vegan: You can make these Slow Cooker Potatoes dairy-free by using dairy-free butter instead of parmesan.  Use dairy-free milk for the milk and non-dairy sour cream for the sour cream.  You can leave out the cream cheese entirely.  You can also use additional broth in place of the milk.
• Add More Cheese: You can make these even cheesier by adding parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, or even Colby jack shredded cheese.
• Make it Loaded: Make these even more loaded by adding crumbled bacon or bacon bits.
• Make it Herby: Add more fresh herbs to the potatoes by mixing in more chives, basil, dill, rosemary, oregano, thyme, or fresh parsley.  You could also use some of my dried Italian Seasoning Mix.
• Make it Healthier: Use low-sodium broth, and reduced-fat milk and dairy products.  You can also leave out the cream cheese entirely.
• Make it Ranch: Make these ranch potatoes by using 2 tablespoons of my Homemade Ranch Seasoning.

FAQ

Make Ahead Tips

If you are making a big holiday meal like Thanksgiving and including these Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, I recommend peeling and cutting your the day before.  To keep them from turning brown, soak them in cold water in a sealed container in the fridge.  Drain the water off before adding the cut potatoes to your slow cooker.

You can make these mashed potatoes up to two days ahead of time reheat them and keep them warm in the crock pot to serve them.

What size crock pot do I use?

I recommend using a larger size one.  I'd do at least a 6-quart crock pot, but I like to use this large one for my recipes.

How long do potatoes take to soften in a slow cooker?

Potatoes cut in about 1-inch cubes take about 4 hours on high to soften or 8 hours on low.

Can I keep the mashed potatoes warm in the crock pot?

YES! That's one of the huge benefits of making this way for a party or holiday meal.  Keep them on warm for up to 2 hours before serving.

Can I reheat mashed potatoes in a crock pot?

YES! You can reheat mashed potatoes in a crock pot by putting them back in and adding some extra cream or milk to keep the moisture back.  Turn it to low heat and allow it to warm for around 15 minutes.  If they seem dried out, add a touch more milk or butter.  Check them often to get the temperature you wish, as crock pot cooking times are widely varied.

Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot recipe is So Good!

I adore these Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot recipes so much.  The finished product will impress guests and turn you in the Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes convert.  They a so tasty and by far one of my favorite potato recipes.

Enjoy these Thanksgiving or Christmas days or the next time you're craving a big bowl of mashed potato goodness.  This ultimate comfort food is sure to impress anytime.  If you are making these for Thanksgiving, here's the perfect round-up of recipes to finish off your meal.

Serve it With:

• Vegetarian Stuffing
• Cranberry Orange Relish
• Thanksgiving Stuffed Butternut Squash
• Cranberry, Walnut, Mushroom & Farro Stuffed Acorn Squash
• Crock Pot No Boil Mac and Cheese
• Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries
• Pumpkin Cornbread

More Potato Recipes to Try:

• Crock Pot Rosemary Lemon Red Potatoes
• Crock Pot Potato Cheddar Soup
• Herb and Garlic Roasted Baby Red Potatoes
• Everything But the Bagel Roasted Potatoes
• 4 Ingredients Simple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Cheesy Grilled Potatoes in Foil
• Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli

If you make this Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot

Julie Wunder

Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot are fluffy, light, and loaded with garlic, cream cheese, sour cream, and butter for a fabulous rich taste.  These hands-off Slow Cooker Potatoes are absolutely amazing and are a breeze to cook.  You can serve them year-round, but work fabulously for busy holiday meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.  You may never make mashed potatoes the old way again!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Crock Pot, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 332 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 5 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut in 1 inch cubes
• 1 ½ cups vegetable broth
• ¼ cup butter, cut in small pieces
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup light sour cream
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• Garnish: fresh chives

Instructions

 

• Place the cut potatoes, vegetable broth, ½ teaspoon of salt, and butter in a large Crock Pot.
  
• Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until potatoes are fork tender and will mash easily.  Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.  Do not drain the liquid.
  
• Add the milk, sour cream, cream cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
  
• Mash potatoes with a hand masher to the desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to personal taste.
• Garnish with fresh chives and serve.
  

Notes

Storage & Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

 

Make Ahead Tips

If you are making a big holiday meal like Thanksgiving and including these Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, I recommend peeling and cutting your the day before.  To keep them from turning brown, soak them in cold water in a sealed container in the fridge.  Drain the water off before adding the cut potatoes to your slow cooker.

You can make these mashed potatoes up to two days ahead of time reheat them and keep them warm in the crock pot to serve them.

 

Freezing

You can freeze leftover mashed potatoes in a freezer-safe container for up to two months.  To defrost, put the potatoes in the fridge overnight.  Then reheat in a slow cooker or oven-safe dish at 300 degrees until warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 332kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 8gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 564mgPotassium: 1301mgFiber: 6gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 348IUVitamin C: 56mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes in Crock Pot, Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

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