Who doesn’t love a bowl of mashed potatoes? This recipe takes the classic side dish up a notch with basil, fennel, and garlic and finished with a buttery chive drizzle. The flavor is absolutely incredible, but they’re not only just delicious—they are also perfect to make ahead of time! You will absolutely fall in love love the ease and flavor of these mashed potatoes, and we will completely understand if you find yourself making these on repeat.
For more fancy spuds, try our smoked gouda mashed potatoes or stick with the classic with our creamiest mashed potato recipe.
Why Our Recipe
- Elevate mashed potatoes to a whole new level with fresh herbs, garlic, and butter.
- Make ahead instructions included so that you can fit this recipe into any schedule.
- Buttermilk and cream cheese make these mashed potatoes ultra creamy with just a little bit of tang.
With just a few extra ingredients, you will be able to transform mashed potatoes from a side dish into the star of the show. You seriously won’t believe how good these are, and they don’t take that much more effort than a typical mashed potato recipe. This recipe truly blends restaurant-quality flavor with ease—perfect for any occasion.
Ingredient Notes
- Russet Potatoes: Russets are ideal for mashed potatoes due to their high starch content to keep them fluffy. Yukon Gold potatoes are a good alternative.
- Chicken Broth: This infuses flavor into your mashed potatoes. Feel free to reserve the drained broth to use in a soup. You can also use bullion cubes as directed on the package.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic will definitely provide the best flavor. Use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder if you can swing fresh.
- Dried Basil and Fennel: This combination feels like total restaurant-quality.
- Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, don’t worry—check out our guide for buttermilk substitutes.
- Cream Cheese: Again, these potatoes are all about that creaminess, and this adds great flavor and enhances the creamy texture even more.
- Chives: Fresh chives add a pop of color and mild onion flavor. You can also use dried chives in their place, but reduce the amount by half.
Mashing Tools
We love using a hand mixer because it makes the potatoes creamier and lighter than you can possibly imagine, but if you just use another option, they’ll still taste great! Here’s a quick guide to help you find the right option for your perfect mash:
Potato Masher: For a more rustic, slightly chunky texture, a handheld masher is ideal. This tool leaves some bits intact, giving a cozy, homemade feel to your mashed potatoes.
Hand Mixer: Use a hand mixer if you prefer an extra-creamy and smooth texture. The low-speed setting helps incorporate air, creating a fluffy consistency. Be sure to keep the speed low to avoid overmixing.
Potato Ricer: For an ultra-smooth, restaurant-quality mash, a potato ricer is the tool of choice. It presses the potatoes through fine holes, resulting in a delicate, lump-free texture.
Stand Mixer: Great for larger batches, a stand mixer yields a smooth mash in minimal time. Be sure to mix on low speed to prevent the potatoes from becoming gluey.
Food Processor: This tool can create a very smooth texture, but use caution and pulse in short bursts to avoid over-processing. Overdoing it can lead to a gummy consistency.
Make Ahead Option
You can absolutely make this recipe ahead of time! That’s actually one of our favorite things about mashed potatoes—they are so easy to make a few days before your event, and it doesn’t take much effort to store them and heat them up another day.
Once you get to step 4 in the recipe and transfer your potatoes to a baking dish, let them cool before covering and refrigerating. Once you’re ready to eat the potatoes, heat them in an oven at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until heated through. Continue with the recipe starting at step 5. You can make the mashed potatoes up to 2 days ahead of time.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze leftover portions in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat portions in the microwave on high in 30-second increments.
More delicious potato recipes . . .
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
