Parmesan Mashed Potatoes - The BEST Cheesy Mashed Potatoes recipe! (2024)

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Seriously amazing, cheesy mashed potatoes! Perfectly creamy, these Parmesan Mashed Potatoes are a great side dish for your holiday dinners. Russet potatoes are lightly seasoned and combined with sour cream, cream cheese and Parmesan cheese making them the perfect mashed potatoes with cheese recipe.

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Parmesan Mashed Potatoes - The BEST Cheesy Mashed Potatoes recipe! (1)

The Easiest Parmesan Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Any good meal, needs at least one stand-out side dish. It doesn’t need to be fancy, or have lots of ingredients, it simply needs to taste good and compliment what it’s served with.

That is definitely the case with these Parmesan Mashed Potatoes. Not only do they taste wonderful, they are perfectly complimentary to whatever your serving with them – beef, seafood, turkey, chicken or pork.

What do I need to make Cheesy Mashed Potatoes?

Here’s a quick-reference grocery list of the ingredients you’ll need to make these mashed potatoes with cheese. I’ve linked my preferred ingredients below. I’ve linked these ingredients to Target (affiliate links) where you can get these ingredients same-day via Target pick-up, drive-up or even delivery.

  • Russet Potatoes – Russet potatoes are ideal or Yukon Gold are also a great choice anytime you’re making mashed potatoes.
  • Cream Cheese – cream cheese will give you a delicious, creamy texture for your potatoes.
  • Butter – you can use either salted or unsalted butter – your preference. I prefer salted butter as it offers better flavor. I keep it on hand for all of my cooking and baking needs.
  • Sour Cream – the addition of sour cream will give your potatoes a smooth, creamy texture and add to the flavor as well.
  • Half and Half – the addition of half and half (half and half is half milk and half cream) you can also use milk or heavy cream.
  • Parmesan Cheese – you can either shred a wedge of Parmesan or buy the pre-shredded Parmesan cheese. This is located in the refrigerated foods section with the rest of the shredded cheeses. It is a great time-saver!
  • Salt and Pepper

For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to the recipe card. Thanks!

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Parmesan Mashed Potatoes - The BEST Cheesy Mashed Potatoes recipe! (3)

How do I make mashed potatoes with cheese?

Start by peeling and cutting the potatoes. Cut the potatoes into 1″ cubes. This will help them cook quicker. Boiling whole potatoes is very time consuming, so cutting them into smaller pieces helps the potatoes cook evenly, without becoming overly starchy.

What potatoes are the best for mashed potatoes?

Russet or Yukon Gold are ideal for making mashed potatoes. Both varieties have little moisture and lots of starch, making for light and fluffy potatoes.

They both have great texture, which makes it helpful for absorbing butter and half and half.

How long do I boil potatoes for mashed potatoes?

Place the potatoes in a saucepan and submerge in water. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

You’ll know the potatoes are done when they are tender and easily break apart when pierced with a fork or knife.

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Parmesan Mashed Potatoes - The BEST Cheesy Mashed Potatoes recipe! (5)

What do I add to mashed potatoes to make them creamy?

Once the potatoes are completely cooked, drain off the water and place them back into the pot. Then add cream cheese, butter, sour cream, half and half and Parmesan cheese. These will help make the potatoes wonderfully creamy and fluffy.

Because the potatoes are still hot from boiling, everything will melt together beautifully.

Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes and combine the cheeses, butter and half and half. Do your best to NOT overmix. Overprocessing and over-mashing will result in gummy or gluey potatoes.

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FAQ’s on making the best Parmesan mashed potatoes:

How do I prevent gluey or gummy mashed potatoes?

DON’T over-work the potatoes. I prefer a simple, hand potato masher over an electric hand mixer. Mixers often over-process the potatoes, resulting in too much starch being released from the potatoes. This creates gluey, gummy and unappealing mashed potatoes.

What’s the best tool to make mashed potatoes?

A simple, manual hand masher is the tool for making mashed potatoes. Some people prefer a hand mixer or a potato ricer, however a hand masher creates the perfect texture for mashed potatoes. Some would say that a hand mixer over-processes potatoes, making them gummy or gluey.

What cheeses are best for making cheesy mashed potatoes?

Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese and jack cheeses are ideal for making cheesy mashed potatoes. It is best to add shredded cheese into the potatoes making it easier for melting.

How do I make mashed potatoes in advance for a holiday meal?

Make the mashed potatoes according to the recipe. When complete, place in a baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 24-48 hours, prior to your holiday meal. When ready to reheat, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Dot the top of the potatoes with extra butter (2-4 Tbsp.) As the potatoes heat through in the oven, the butter will melt and help keep the potatoes moist, and not dry out. Heat in the oven at 325 for 20-25 minutes or until completely heated through. Just before serving, stir the melted butter throughout the potatoes to fluff. Serve right away.

How long do mashed potatoes last?

When stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, mashed potatoes will last for up to 5 days.

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With just a little patience, you’ll have potatoes that are restaurant quality. So much better than the instant stuff – once you have these potatoes, you’ll never go back. Take my word for it, home made Parmesan Mashed Potatoes are worth the little time it takes to make.

Looking for some other side dish options to complete your holiday meal? Check out our other side dish recipes:

  • Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
  • Everything Thanksgiving Stuffing
  • Copycat Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Roasted Rainbow Carrots
  • Healthy Green Bean Casserole
  • Cranberry Citrus Salad
  • Roasted Butternut Squash Medley
  • Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Apricots and Orange
  • How to Make Green Beans Three Ways at Genius Kitchen

Are you making these easy mashed potatoes for a holiday meal? Check out some of my other holiday recipes:

  • Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
  • How to Dry Brine A Turkey
  • Oven Baked Snow Crab Legs
  • Garlic Herb Roast Beef

Here’s is simple, delicious recipe for these Easy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes:

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Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

Erin Indahl-Fink

Perfectly creamy and fluffy, these Parmesan mashed potatoes are nothing short of spectacular! Made with Parmesan cheese, cream cheese and a few other ingredients this cheesy mashed potatoes recipe is easy to make and perfect for a holiday meal or Sunday supper.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Salad and Sides

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 408 kcal

Equipment

  • Sauce Pan This 3 qt. Sauce Pan includes a glass straining lid, perfect for potatoes and vegetables!

  • Potato Masher This potato masher is perfect for making mashed potatoes!

Ingredients

  • 2.5 lbs. Russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1″ pieces
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 4 oz. cream cheese 1/2 of 8 oz. pkg
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
  • 4 Tbsp. butter melted
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • Minced parsley or chives for garnish if desired

Instructions

  • To a sauce pan, add the peeled and cut potato pieces and submerge the potatoes with water until they are completely covered. Add 1 tsp. salt.

  • Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium, and simmer the potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender. Drain the water and keep the cooked potatoes in the pan.

  • To the hot potatoes, add the cream cheese, sour cream, half and half, shredded Parmesan, and melted butter. Mash with a potato masher until added ingredients are melted and the potatoes are creamy and fluffy. Fold in salt and pepper. Taste for proper seasoning.

  • Serve right away while hot.

Notes

Making Mashed Potatoes in advance for a holiday meal:

Make the mashed potatoes according to the recipe. When complete, place the potatoes in a baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 24-48 hours, prior to your holiday meal. When ready to reheat, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Dot the top of the potatoes with extra butter (2-4 Tbsp.) As the potatoes heat through in the oven, the butter will melt and help keep the potatoes moist, and not dry out. Heat in the oven at 325 for 20-25 minutes or until completely heated through. Just before serving, stir the melted butter throughout the potatoes to fluff. Serve right away.

Storage: for best results, store the leftover potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Will keep for up to 5 days refrigerated.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 408kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 10gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 860mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4g

Keyword Parmesan mashed potatoes, cheesy mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes with cheese

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Parmesan Mashed Potatoes - The BEST Cheesy Mashed Potatoes recipe! (9)

You Might Also Like These Recipes

  • Garlic Herb Roasted Red Potatoes
  • Roasted Butternut Squash Medley
  • Citrus Turkey Brine
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  • Sauteed Carrots
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Parmesan Mashed Potatoes - The BEST Cheesy Mashed Potatoes recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Instead of regular milk, pro chefs generally use a generous helping of buttermilk and plenty of half-and-half or (even better) heavy cream in their potatoes. If you think the bartenders up front are pouring heavy, they've got nothing on the cooks in the back who are in charge of the mashed potatoes.

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream in mashed potatoes? ›

As always, better quality ingredients equals better tasting food. Heavy Cream - While you, hypothetically, could use whole milk or something, I don't recommend it. Part of what makes these the creamiest mashed potatoes is the CREAM!

Is sour cream or cream cheese better in mashed potatoes? ›

Sour Cream: The sour cream helps keep the mashed potatoes fluffy. Cream Cheese: This adds a bit of creaminess without being too overpowering. Heavy Cream: Increases the creaminess and helps thin out the potatoes a bit.

What does Rachael Ray use to mash potatoes? ›

Mash potatoes with half-and-half or milk using a potato masher. Add in the cream cheese and smash until the cheese melts into the potatoes. Add chives or scallions. Season with salt and pepper, to your taste.

Why put a raw egg in mashed potatoes? ›

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

Why do people add sour cream to mashed potatoes? ›

Sour cream adds a little bit of tangy flavor and a boost of richness to mashed potatoes. It's a fun change from the standard milk or cream and butter combo usually flavoring mashed taters. You can even try your hand at making homemade sour cream from heavy cream!

How do restaurants make mashed potatoes so fast? ›

Preparation: Restaurants typically use pre-prepared potatoes, such as pre-cut fries or diced potatoes, to save time in the cooking process. These prepped potatoes are often par-cooked or blanched before service to partially cook them and reduce overall cooking time.

Why are Bob Evans mashed potatoes so good? ›

Made with fresh real potatoes, butter, and milk, Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes tastes like homemade. We put extra care into making our mashed potatoes rich and creamy to deliver that homemade flavor you expect.

Why add cream cheese to mashed potatoes? ›

Mashing the warm potatoes with softened cream cheese makes the final product unbelievably rich and creamy. Adding cream to fluffy whipped potatoes is certainly not a new technique. Mashed potatoes are always blessed with a hearty helping of butter, cream, milk, half and half, or some sort of combination.

What can I use in place of sour cream in mashed potatoes? ›

Here are the top 10 sour cream substitutes you can use in the kitchen.
  • Yogurt. Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. ...
  • Mayonnaise. Mayo is a great sour cream substitute. ...
  • Buttermilk. ...
  • Crème Fraîche. ...
  • Cream Cheese. ...
  • DIY Sour Cream. ...
  • Kefir. ...
  • Mexican Crema.
Feb 21, 2023

How many potatoes per person to make mashed potatoes? ›

Plan on 1/3 to 1/2 pound potatoes per person for your feast.

What are the top 3 potatoes for mashed potatoes? ›

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are a starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes are best for mashed potatoes because they have a fluffy, almost airy texture that breaks down easily.

Why add butter before milk in mashed potatoes? ›

Overworking the potatoes will cause them to get gummy, potatoes should still be light and fluffy. 6. Add the butter first. Adding the butter first helps to coat the starch in the potato, resulting in a creamier potato.

What potatoes should not be used for mashed potatoes? ›

You could be using the wrong potatoes. Potatoes are generally considered "waxy" or "starchy." Waxy potatoes (like white potatoes and red potatoes) are more prone to gumminess when mashed, as opposed to starchy potatoes (like Yukon Golds and russets). Choose starchy potatoes or a mixture of waxy and starchy potatoes.

How to make chef quality mashed potatoes? ›

Directions
  1. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil. ...
  2. Drain potatoes, then return to the pot. Turn heat to high and allow potatoes to dry for about 30 seconds. ...
  3. Mash potatoes with a potato masher twice around the pot, then add milk and butter. Continue to mash until smooth and fluffy.
Aug 16, 2022

How does Gordon Ramsay cook potatoes? ›

You'll just have to boil the potatoes for only about 10 to 15 minutes, or until you can easily poke through them with a fork, then proceed with the baking as usual. And for even more crispiness, Ramsay suggests sprinkling the potatoes with a bit of flour right before putting them in the oven.

What makes a better mashed potato? ›

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are a starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes are best for mashed potatoes because they have a fluffy, almost airy texture that breaks down easily.

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