Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

Crockpot Mashed Potatoes are an easy, hands-off way to enjoy creamy, velvety mashed potatoes. Seasoned with garlic and parmesan, these slow cooker mashed potatoes are not only the easiest way to prepare mashed potatoes but also one of the tastiest!

Holiday meals demand creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. But it often can be difficult to get warm mashed potatoes on the table while trying to prepare a Brined Turkey or Baked Ham. And many times the stovetop is full of other pots and pans preparing sides like Cranberry Orange Sauce, Green Beans Almondine, or Stovetop Mac and Cheese.

With a few tips, you can make the creamiest, fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes right in your crockpot with minimal effort!

Why use a Slow Cooker for Mashed Potatoes

• Hands-off recipe. You do not have to boil your potatoes or watch closely to ensure they don't overcook. There is no draining either! That makes making mashed potatoes in your slow cooker an incredibly easy, hands-off approach.
• Can be prepared in advance. Once mashed, you can keep these potatoes on warm for up to 4 hours without drying out.
• More flavorful. With just a few simple ingredients, potatoes are cooked up to tender perfection, while absorbing a rich buttery broth while cooking. Finished with garlic and Parmesan, these slow cooker mashed potatoes are so flavorful they may steal the show!
• Perfect for the holidays. No holiday meal is complete without mashed potatoes, especially Thanksgiving Dinner. But my perfect mashed potato recipe can be a pain to make on the holidays. You know the drill--everyone is rushing this way and that. The meat needs to be carved, the homemade rolls need to be toasted, the stuffing needs pulled out of the oven, AND the potatoes need drained and mashed. It can feel a bit overwhelming. Because this recipe is hands-off and can be kept warm in the slow cooker once mashed it's perfect for busy holidays or entertaining or to prep before heading off to a weeknight soccer game.

Notes on Ingredients & Substitutions

• Potatoes: For the best results, use Yukon Gold potatoes. They not only have a creamy, buttery texture, but they do not release as much starch when cooked in the crockpot, making the final result absolute perfection.
• Broth: The potatoes absorb the flavor of the cooking liquid, so you want to use low-sodium storebought or homemade vegetable broth, homemade chicken stock, or Instant Pot chicken stock, instead of water to cook the potatoes.
• Cream/Milk: Use half and half, cream, or milk of any fat percentage for a creamy finish to these slow cooker mashed potatoes.
• Parmesan: Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds a nutty, salty finish to these crock-pot mashed potatoes, but feel free to omit them for a more classic flavor.
• Garlic: I like to add fresh garlic cloves to the slow cooker to slowly cook and add flavor, but if you are not a fan of garlic, simply omit the garlic cloves. You can also use 2 teaspoons of garlic powder in place of the garlic cloves.
• Salt: Salt is a MUST for potatoes to be flavorful. The amount needed will depend on how salty the stock you use is and whether or not you add Parmesan cheese. Start with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and add more to taste after mashing potatoes.

How to Make Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

• Wash and peel the potatoes. You want to remove the peels for the creamiest mashed potatoes.
• Dice the potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Be sure they are all about the same size so that the potatoes cook evenly.
• Combine the potatoes, broth, garlic, salt, and butter in the base of a slow cooker.

• Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours, or until potatoes are fork tender and mash easily.
• Use a handheld potato masher, not a handheld mixer, which can make the potatoes gummy, to mash the potatoes into the cooking liquid until smooth.
• Warm the cream slightly in the microwave, before adding it to the slow cooker. This helps keep the potatoes from seizing up, which can happen if you add cold cream.
• Stir in the warm cream and parmesan if using into the potatoes.
• Stir in the sour cream and if needed, add up to an additional ½ cup of milk or cream until the potatoes reach the right consistency.

• Give the potatoes a taste and adjust the salt to taste.
• Set slow cooker to warm setting, for up to 4 hours, until ready to serve.
• Serve the mashed potatoes with additional pats of butter and parmesan if desired.

Storing Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Leftover cooled mashed potatoes can be stored in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days. You can also freeze the mashed potatoes in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. I suggest reheating the potatoes with a bit of broth or milk to help keep the potatoes creamy. If frozen, defrost the potatoes in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat over low heat in a slow cooker or in an oven-safe dish at 300 degrees F until warmed through.

You can also use leftover mashed potatoes to make recipes like Pierogi Lasagna or Thanksgiving Egg Rolls. Absolutely delicious!

Recipe Modifications

• Flavoring: You can keep the flavor of these crock pot mashed potatoes basic by omitting the leaving out parmesan and garlic. Or you can take these mashed potatoes over the top and make Loaded Mashed Potatoes by omitting the parmesan and garlic and stirring in shredded cheddar cheese, cooked crumbled bacon, and chives after cooking and mashing the potatoes with cream.
• Dairy-Free Option: If you would like to enjoy this recipe but are dairy-free, use additional broth in place of the cream, use non-dairy butter, and omit the parmesan. To replace the sour cream, you can use non-dairy sour cream, non-dairy plain yogurt, or simply use additional broth to loosen up the consistency a bit.

Serve Crockpot Mashed Potatoes with:

Crockpot mashed potatoes are the obvious choice for holiday meals, as they make pulling off a big meal easy. But don't just reserve these potatoes for the holidays, they deserve to be enjoyed with weeknight or Sunday dinners.

• Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
• Homemade Rotisserie Chicken
• Ribeye Steak
• Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham

Make your meals easier with this recipe for slow-cooker mashed potatoes. And be sure to leave a review if you give this recipe a try! I love to hear your comments! 

This recipe for Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2022 with new photos and a new video.