Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Mashed potatoes are a staple side dish that perfectly complements various hearty meals, from Sunday roasts to holiday dinners like Thanksgiving. Making them in a slow cooker not only frees up stove space but also simplifies preparation, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your meal.
This recipe for Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes guarantees creamy, buttery potatoes with minimal effort, making them even better than the traditional method.
These Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes are not just easy to make but also deliciously smooth and flavorful, proving that sometimes, modern methods can improve on the classics. Enjoy this effortless side dish that allows you to enjoy the rich taste of mashed potatoes without the fuss.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Servings: 12
Ingredients:
- 5 lbs Sierra Gold potatoes or red potatoes, diced with peel
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup butter, cut into chunks
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/3 cups milk, warmed
Instructions:
- Prepare the Potatoes: Place the diced potatoes, water, and chunks of butter into the slow cooker.
- Season: Sprinkle the salt and black pepper over the potatoes. This not only seasons the potatoes but helps draw out their natural flavors during the slow cooking process.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on High for 4 hours. The high heat ensures that the potatoes will cook through and become tender enough to mash.
- Mash the Potatoes: Once the potatoes are tender, do not drain the water. The liquid in the pot contributes to making the mashed potatoes creamy. Use a potato masher or an electric beater to mash the potatoes right in the slow cooker, gradually adding the warmed milk until you achieve your desired creamy consistency.
- Keep Warm: After mashing, set the slow cooker to Low to keep the mashed potatoes warm until serving. They can maintain their creamy consistency for a couple of hours when kept covered.
- Serve: Serve the mashed potatoes directly from the slow cooker, garnishing with additional butter or herbs like parsley if desired.
Additional Tips:
- Variations: For extra flavor, you can add garlic or cheese to the potatoes before cooking, or stir in some sour cream or cream cheese just before mashing.
- Keeping Warm: If the potatoes start to dry out, stir in a little extra milk or cream to refresh the consistency before serving.