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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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)

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  • Garlic Herb Roasted Red Potatoes
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Parmesan Mashed Potatoes - The BEST Cheesy Mashed Potatoes recipe! (2024)

FAQs

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

Cream cheese: Use full-fat for a rich, luxurious texture. Sour cream: Adds a subtle tanginess and creamy texture. Butter or margarine: Softened to work easily into the potatoes without overmixing. Milk: Adds moisture and helps thin the potatoes for a perfect consistency when baked.

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Garlic and herbs are added to boost flavor

Instead of boiling a few potatoes and mashing them plain, a lot of restaurant chefs like to apply a little more finesse. Garlic and herbs infused in butter and cream add a flavor boost without overpowering.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mashed potatoes? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mashed potatoes are known for their richness and flavor. He typically adds butter, heavy cream, and sometimes crème fraîche to his mashed potatoes for a creamy and indulgent texture.

Why do you soak potatoes in water for mashed potatoes? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch.

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

The best Creamy Mashed Potatoes consists of perfectly cooked russet potatoes, melted butter, heavy cream and a touch of tartness like crème fraîche.

What not to do mashed potatoes? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make With Mashed Potatoes
  1. You Don't Wash Potatoes First. ...
  2. You Use Just One Type of Potato. ...
  3. You Don't Season the Water. ...
  4. You Add Potato Pieces to Boiling Water. ...
  5. You Use the Wrong Gadget to Mash the Potatoes. ...
  6. You Only Use Butter. ...
  7. You Make the Potatoes Too Soon.
Jun 15, 2021

How do restaurants make their mashed potatoes so good? ›

Potato Ricer: A potato ricer produces incredibly smooth and fluffy mashed potatoes by pressing cooked potatoes through small holes. It's ideal for achieving a restaurant-quality texture.

Why are Bob Evans mashed potatoes so good? ›

Made with fresh red skin potatoes, butter, and real buttermilk, Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes tastes like homemade. We put extra care into making our mashed potatoes rich and creamy to deliver that homemade flavor your family expects. Easily prepared in the microwave, Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes are a true timesaver.

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!

Why add baking soda to mashed potatoes? ›

Directions. Throw just a pinch of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda into potatoes while mashing to make them fluffier.

What adds flavor to mashed potatoes? ›

Garlic – For savory depth of flavor. Unsalted butter – For richness and buttery flavor. Milk – It smooths the starchy potatoes into an incredibly creamy mash. Use whole milk for the creamiest results.

Is milk or water better for mashed potatoes? ›

Potatoes are like pasta, in that they leach starches into their cooking liquid. In the case of pasta, you want to reserve some of that liquid to give sauce a luscious shine and bind it to the noodles.

Is it better to cut potatoes before boiling for mashed potatoes? ›

Drop a whole russet into the pot and by the time the outside has cooked through, the inside will still be raw. Larger potatoes should be cubed to ensure they cook evenly (peeled first if desired). Smaller potatoes tend to have thin skins and can be boiled whole, no peeling required.

How do you upgrade mashed potatoes? ›

Infusing milk or cream with herbs and garlic is a simple but effective way to make a potent flavor difference in mashed potatoes. Combine your preferred dairy with butter in a small saucepan. Add five or six cloves of garlic, cut in half, along with a dozen sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary.

Do you rinse potatoes after boiling for mashed potatoes? ›

Set potatoes over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until potatoes are completely tender, about 15 minutes after reaching a simmer. Drain potatoes in a colander and rinse under hot running water for 30 seconds to wash away excess starch.

Should I add cream cheese or sour cream? ›

Cream cheese is often used in baking for making cheesecakes, frosting, and as a spread for bagels and sandwiches. Sour cream is commonly used in cooking to add richness and tanginess to dishes like dips, sauces, and baked goods. It is also used as a topping for baked potatoes and Mexican dishes.

Does sour cream change the taste of 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!

Why use cream cheese in mashed potatoes? ›

Cream cheese will make your mashed potatoes extra creamy, but a few other important steps will ensure your side dish is silky, too. So keep these tips in mind as you're cooking and planning: Start with the right potatoes: You want starchy potatoes for mashed potatoes. That means russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes.

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