Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes
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Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes are creamy and full of garlic flavor. This easy side dish is great for weeknights and holidays too!
Potatoes are probably one of my favorite foods ever. Whether we’re talking french fries, baked potato soup, truffle smashed potatoes or classic mashed potatoes, potatoes are always a crowd pleaser.
And if I had to pick one favorite of them all, it would probably be mashed potatoes. They are creamy, smooth and can be flavored in so many different ways. You can top them with gravy or stir in almost any kind of mix in, like I do here with these Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes.
Who doesn’t love a bite of creamy, garlicky mashed potatoes? I certainly do. In this simple roasted garlic mashed red potatoes recipe, red potatoes are boiled until soft and then mashed together with freshly roasted garlic, half and half and butter. A delicious, comforting side dish perfect for any occasion.
Let’s talk about what you’ll need to make them:
Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes Ingredients:
You only need FIVE ingredients to make these mashed potatoes, how awesome is that?! You might even have all of them on hand.
- RED POTATOES: What is great about mashing red potatoes is that, unlike russets, the skin is thin and you can leave it on. That means no peeling, unless you want to! They can become gummy if they are overcooked or over mashed so it’s important to keep an eye on that.
- ROASTED GARLIC: You’ll need a head of roasted garlic for this recipe. Roasted garlic is going to add a sweet, subtle garlic flavor to the potatoes. You can roast your own or use store bought. Make sure it’s not “dried” roasted garlic or there will be crunchy bits in your potatoes.
- HALF AND HALF: To add creaminess to the potatoes.
- BUTTER: Will add richness and flavor.
- SALT AND PEPPER
Step by Step Photos and Instructions:
Making garlic mashed potatoes is really easy! Especially if you have already roasted your garlic or use store bought. I’ll walk you through each step with these step by step photos and instructions.
Boil the potatoes until fork tender. Drain well. 
Add in garlic, half and half, and butter. 
Gently mash with a potato masher. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.
- STEP #1: Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook just until fork tender, about 10 -15 minutes. Drain well.
- STEP #2: Return the potatoes to the pan. Add in the roasted garlic cloves, half and half and butter. Gently mash being careful not to over work, or the potatoes will get gummy.
- STEP #3: Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve.
Storage and Leftovers:
These potatoes will keep for a few days in the refrigerator and simply warm them up when ready to serve. You may need to add a bit more half in half if they have thickened.
Recipe FAQ:
I love mashing red potatoes, but with that in mind, they can become gummy if overcooked or over-mashed. It is important to cook them just until they are fork tender and gently mash them. Use a potato masher instead of a hand (or stand) mixer.
If you are not in the United States you might be wondering what half and half is. It is a mixture of 1/2 whole milk and 1/2 cream. If you don’t have any on hand, you can substitute a mixture 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup heavy cream for 1 cup of half and half.
Love mashed potatoes? Me too! I’ve got several different mashed potato recipes for you to try, check them out:
Dill Mashed Potatoes are my favorite seasoned mashed potatoes to make in the summer. They are bursting with bright summer flavor!
Horseradish and Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes are a must make side dish when beef is the main dish!
Colcannon is a classic Irish dish made with mashed potatoes, bacon and cabbage. It is beyond comforting!
Note: Originally published in 2009. Updated in 2023 with new photos, step by step photos, nutrition information and a slightly modified recipe.
Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 lb red potatoes cleaned, scrubbed and cut into quarters
- 1 head roasted garlic skin removed
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 3 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In large pot of water, boil the potatoes until a fork can be inserted and removed easily from the potatoes. About 10 minutes. Drain well.
- Return the potatoes to the pot add roasted garlic, half and half, butter and salt and pepper. Mash until potatoes are your desired consistency.
Notes
Nutrition
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Medena
February 17, 2009 at 5:38 pmLove how this sounds, and looks! You have a great blog, beautiful photos, and excellent recipes. Thanks for stopping by for some roasted tomato soup today; now I found you! :)