Description
Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes are a rich and velvety side dish made by combining tender Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes with creamy cream cheese, butter, and milk. This easy recipe yields perfectly smooth mashed potatoes with a hint of garlic and fresh chives for garnish, making a comforting addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
Dairy and Seasonings
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (optional)
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Add a pinch of salt to the water. Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer Potatoes: Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the potatoes for 15-20 minutes until they are fork-tender and easily pierced.
- Drain and Dry: Drain the cooked potatoes in a colander, then return them to the pot. Let the potatoes sit for 1-2 minutes to allow excess moisture to evaporate, ensuring fluffy mash.
- Add Creamy Ingredients: Add the softened cream cheese, butter, milk or heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and optional garlic powder to the pot with the potatoes.
- Mash Potatoes: Using a potato masher or a hand mixer, mash the potatoes until they reach a smooth and creamy consistency. If needed, add a little more milk to achieve your desired texture.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the mashed potatoes and adjust the salt, pepper, or other seasonings as desired. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving dish.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh chives, extra butter, or additional black pepper if desired. Serve warm and enjoy this comforting side dish.
Notes
- Use Yukon Gold potatoes for naturally buttery flavor or Russet potatoes for a fluffier texture.
- Softening the cream cheese and butter before mixing helps to achieve a smoother mash.
- Optional garlic powder adds a subtle savory depth, but can be omitted for a classic taste.
- Adjust the milk quantity to get your preferred consistency—richer with heavy cream or lighter with milk.
- This recipe can be made ahead and gently reheated with a splash of milk to maintain creaminess.
- Fresh chives add color and a mild onion flavor but can be replaced with parsley or omitted entirely.
