Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Creamy, Easy Recipe)

Name: Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes (or Russet potatoes); ½ cup whole milk; 1/2 cup salted butter; 8 minced garlic cloves; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Garlic mashed potatoes are a creamy, comforting side dish that works with almost any easy weeknight dinner. They're especially popular alongside roast dinners, holiday meals, and classic comfort food recipes. 👇👇

Made with Yukon Gold potatoes, butter, milk, and fresh garlic, this easy recipe turns basic ingredients into rich, fluffy mashed potatoes that come together in about 20 minutes.

This version is one of those reliable recipes that every home cook should know how to make, especially when you're planning budget-friendly meals or building a simple dinner system for busy weeknights.

A plate of garlic mashed potatoes topped iwth butter

Why I Love This Recipe

Budget-friendly family cooking - Potatoes are one of the most affordable ingredients you can buy, which makes this recipe perfect for feeding a crowd without raising your grocery bill.
Reliable comfort food - Garlic mashed potatoes pair with almost any family-friendly dinner, from roast chicken to meatloaf or slow cooker meals.
Made with pantry staples - Potatoes, butter, milk, and garlic are inexpensive grocery items that stretch a meal and help keep dinner budgets under control.
Easy weeknight cooking method - Everything cooks in one pot on the stove, making this an easy side dish to prepare.
Great for meal prep - Mashed potatoes store well in the fridge and reheat easily, making them useful for leftovers or meal prep dinners during the week.

These garlic mashed potatoes are especially popular for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas meals, and Sunday roast dinners.

Recipe Reviews

"I loved the creamy garlic texture. Great family dinner recipe! Yum!" - Aoife
"This is delicious! Be sure to let the garlic cook a little bit in the butter before adding the cream, otherwise it has that raw garlic taste. This will be my go-to for mashed potatoes!" - Jamie
"This was delicious and will definitely make again" - Bibi
"Came out great! Wonderful recipe" - Lynn

See More Recipe Reviews Here

Bowl of yellow potatoes, bowls of garlic cloves, stick of butter, milk, salt and pepper.

Ingredients You'll Need 👇👇

3 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes - or Russet potatoes
½ cup whole milk
½ cup salted butter
8 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper

Potato tip: Yukon Gold potatoes create naturally creamy mashed potatoes, while Russet potatoes make fluffier mashed potatoes. Both work well for this recipe.

Kitchen Tools That Make This Easier

A few simple kitchen tools make this recipe quick and consistent:

Large pot for boiling potatoes
Colander or strainer for draining
Hand masher or electric mixer for smooth mashed potatoes
Small saucepan for infusing the garlic milk mixture

How To Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes 👇👇

These creamy garlic mashed potatoes are rich, buttery, and incredibly easy to make.

Strainer with yellow potatoes, and chopped potatoes on a cutting board.

Step 1: Prep The Potatoes

Wash and scrub 3 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, then cut them into evenly sized chunks about 1-2 inches wide so they cook evenly.

Leaving the skins on is optional. Yukon Gold skins are thin and mash well if you prefer a rustic texture.

Pot of water with raw potatoes, then cooked potatoes in the pot

Step 2: Boil The Potatoes

Add the 3 lbs chopped potatoes to a large pot and cover with water.

Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 12-15 minutes.

Three images of a skillet, first with butter and milk, second with spices and garlic dumped in, third with a creamy liquid and spatula.

Step 3: Heat Garlic, Milk, and Butter

While the potatoes cook, add the following to a small saucepan:

½ cup whole milk
½ cup salted butter
8 minced garlic cloves
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

Heat over low heat for 3-4 minutes, allowing the garlic to gently infuse the milk and butter with flavor.

Avoid boiling the mixture, which can affect the texture.

Strainer with cooked chopped potatoes, and pot with cooked chopped potatoes

Step 4: Drain Potatoes

Once the potatoes are fully tender when poked with a fork, drain them using a colander, then return them to the pot.

creamy liquid dumped over cooked chopped potatoes in a pot, and creamy mashed potatoes in pot with a hand mixer

Step 5: Add Garlic + Mash Potatoes

Pour the warm garlic milk mixture over the potatoes and mash using a potato masher or electric mixer until creamy.

Serve with salted butter and my old fashioned brown gravy recipe.

Quick Tip

You can leave a few small chunks while blending to add texture if you'd like! This is my personal favorite way to make mashed potatoes.

Garlic mashed potatoes topped with homemade brown gravy and butter

Recipe Tips

Cut potatoes evenly - Chop potatoes into 1-2 inch chunks so they cook at the same rate and become fork-tender at the same time.
Warm the milk mixture - Heating the milk and butter before adding it to the potatoes helps them absorb the liquid evenly and keeps the mashed potatoes hot and creamy.
Cook the garlic gently - If you prefer a softer garlic flavor, cook the minced garlic in the butter for 1-2 minutes before adding the milk. This helps remove the sharp raw garlic bite.
Adjust garlic to taste - If you prefer a milder flavor, start with 4-6 garlic cloves instead of 8, then add more next time if you want stronger garlic flavor.
Mash just until smooth - Overmixing mashed potatoes can make them gluey or starchy, so mash only until they reach your desired texture, then stop.
Season gradually - Taste the mashed potatoes after mixing and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.
Extra creamy option - For richer mashed potatoes, add an extra 2-4 Tbsp of butter while mashing.
Roasted garlic option - For a deeper garlic flavor, roast a whole head of garlic in the oven at 400°F for about 35 minutes, then mash the soft cloves into the potatoes.

How To Make Extra Creamy Mashed Potatoes

For extra creamy mashed potatoes, use Yukon Gold potatoes, warm milk, and plenty of butter. Warm liquids help potatoes absorb moisture better, creating a smoother texture.

Avoid overmixing, which can make mashed potatoes gluey.

Best Potatoes For Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Not all potatoes mash the same way. The type you choose will affect the final texture of your mashed potatoes.

Yukon Gold potatoes (best overall): These are my favorite for garlic mashed potatoes. Yukon Gold potatoes have a naturally creamy texture and buttery flavor, which means you often need less butter and milk to get smooth mashed potatoes.
Russet potatoes (extra fluffy): Russet potatoes are higher in starch, which makes them mash into very fluffy potatoes. They work great if you prefer lighter mashed potatoes with a classic steakhouse-style texture.
Red potatoes (more rustic texture): Red potatoes contain more moisture and less starch. They can be mashed, but they tend to create a chunkier, more rustic mashed potato.
My recommendation: For the best balance of creamy texture and rich flavor, Yukon Gold potatoes are usually the best choice for homemade garlic mashed potatoes.

How To Store Leftovers

REFRIGERATE - Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
FREEZE - You can freeze mashed potatoes for about 3 weeks using an airtight freezer bag. After that, they will begin to show freezer burn. Thaw the potatoes in the fridge overnight before reheating.

To Reheat

MICROWAVE - Using a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of water to the cold mashed potatoes and cover with a lid for 1-3 minutes.
STOVETOP - Add cold mashed potatoes to a pot over medium-high heat, add a splash of water, and stir until heated through.

Watch How To Make It 👇👇

When To Serve Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Garlic mashed potatoes are a classic side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, Easter gatherings, and Sunday roast dinners. They also work well for easy weeknight dinners when you want a simple comfort food side that pairs with chicken, roast beef, or pork.

What To Serve With Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Garlic mashed potatoes work well with many family-friendly dinners and easy weeknight recipes.

For classic comfort meals, try serving them with sirloin tip roast, budget friendly meatloaf, or juicy baked pork tenderloin, which all pair perfectly with a creamy mashed potato side.
If you're planning a larger dinner spread, you can also add simple vegetable sides like sautéed green beans or roasted vegetables to build a balanced meal.
And if you enjoy practical comfort food cooking like this, you can browse all of my easy dinner recipes and family-friendly meals for more simple meal ideas that keep dinner stress low.

FAQs

What are the best potatoes for mashed potatoes?

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes.
Yukon Gold potatoes create naturally creamy, buttery mashed potatoes, while Russet potatoes produce a lighter and fluffier texture. Both work well for garlic mashed potatoes depending on the texture you prefer.

Can garlic mashed potatoes be made ahead of time?

Yes. Garlic mashed potatoes can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
When reheating, add a splash of milk, butter, or cream while warming them on the stovetop or in the microwave to bring back the creamy texture.
This makes them great for holiday dinners, meal prep, or busy weeknight meals.

Why did my mashed potatoes turn gluey?

Mashed potatoes can become gluey when they are overmixed, especially when using an electric mixer.
Potatoes release starch as they are mixed, so the key is to mash just until smooth and stop once the potatoes reach your desired texture.

Can you leave the potato skins on?

Yes. If you're using Yukon Gold or red potatoes, you can leave the skins on for a more rustic mashed potato.
Russet potato skins are thicker, so most people prefer to peel them before cooking.

How long should you boil potatoes for mashed potatoes?

Most potatoes take 12-15 minutes to cook once the water reaches a boil. They're ready when a fork easily slides through the center.
The exact time depends on the size of your potato pieces, so cutting them into evenly sized chunks helps them cook consistently.