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You are here: Home / Recipes / Company Mashed Potatoes – Prep Ahead Recipe

Fall Holidays Recipes Side Dishes
Published: November 23, 2020 | Last Updated: January 29, 2021 | Author: Lois

Company Mashed Potatoes – Prep Ahead Recipe

Company Mashed Potatoes – potatoes that are cooked to perfection and then mashed with cream cheese, butter and milk. Then they’re baked in a casserole dish until every blends together and tastes amazing. This is a very simple easy, elegant Thanksgiving side dish recipe to make alongside your Roast Turkey. Let me show you how to make life easy for you on Thanksgiving morning by preparing mashed potatoes the day before the company arrives.

mashed potatoes with parsley flakes in white bowl.

Today I’m sharing with you one of the easiest side dish recipe you will ever make for Thanksgiving this year.  In fact, they’re so delicious, I know you’ll be coming back to the blog the day after Thanksgiving to thank me for sharing this recipe with you!

But, you know what? These mashed potatoes are also one of my favorite recipes to serve alongside my family’s favorite Breaded Italian Chicken Cutlets Recipe.

If you’re making a big Sunday dinner this weekend, try making this recipe as a side dish for my Pot Roast Recipe. Pure comfort food!

Company Mashed Potatoes in white casserole dish

The Perfect Prep Ahead Side Dish

I have been making this recipe for Company Mashed Potatoes for our Thanksgiving menu for a few years now.

The secret is to make the mashed potatoes the day before and then an hour before you’re ready to serve dinner, bake the casserole in the oven until they are completely warmed through. 

bowl of mashed potato casserole.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

This post contains affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but I earn a commission when you shop through them. For more information, click here.

  • Potato ricer
  • Hand held electric mixer
  • 9X13 size casserole dish

Easy Tip: I always use a potato ricer to mash potatoes.  It is the best tool for getting lump-free mashed potatoes. 

If you don’t have a potato ricer on hand, you can use a regular masher or even an electric mixer.  Just don’t use a food processor or even a stand mixer.  Your potatoes will turn to glue.  Trust me, I know this.

Ingredients

Exact measurements are listed below in the recipe card. Make sure you scroll down to print and save the recipe for later!

  • 5 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes
  • Butter – 1 stick plus more for topping
  • One 8-ounce package cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

The Day Before Thanksgiving

Peel and cut the potatoes and add them to a large pot of water.  Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork tender.Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a large colander. Place them back into the dry pot and mash the potatoes using an electric mixer.  A potato ricer works well too.

Using your hand held electric mixer, add the butter, cream cheese and about 1/2 cup of half-and-half and mash. Adding more of the half-and-half as needed.  (I usually use the whole amount). Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer the potatoes to a 9X13 size casserole dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Add a few tablespoons of butter over the top of the potatoes.

Cover them with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator. 

Company Mashed Potatoes step by step photos

An Hour before Serving

  • Remove the casserole dish from the refrigerator about an hour before you need to serve them. Allow them to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes or so.
  • Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until heated through. 

They look great on the buffet table.  And you don’t have to peel potatoes Thanksgiving morning.  There are so many other things you need to be doing instead of peeling potatoes!

Perfect mashed potatoes that you can prepare the day before Thanksgiving - Company Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes Prep Ahead Tips

  • Always make sure you fill the pot with cold water. Make sure the potatoes are completely covered as well. 
  • If you are preparing the potatoes ahead of time, allow them to sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes to come to room temperature the next day before baking in the oven. This is especially important if you’re using a glass baking dish. You should never put a glass baking dish directly from the refrigerator into the oven. You need to allow the contents of the casserole dish to come to room temperature so there’s no chance of the glass casserole dish shattering when it’s suddenly exposed to high heat from an oven. 
  • Mix up the seasonings by adding garlic, bacon and cheddar cheese. 
  • You can even try flavored cream cheese instead of the traditional cream cheese used in this recipe. I think cream cheese with chives would be delicious! 

Ready for More Thanksgiving Recipes?

  • A new family favorite is my mother’s recipe for Cheesy Corn Pudding Casserole that starts out with a box of Jiffy Muffin Mix. 
  • Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce made in the Instant Pot you can use a crock pot too! 
  • This recipe for Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing can be made ahead of time and either frozen or wrapped in aluminum foil the day before Thanksgiving. 
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes – one of my favorite side dishes for Thanksgiving! 
  • Tips on Roasting the PERFECT Turkey for Thanksgiving  plus a free roasting chart to use on Thanksgiving morning. 
  • Turkey Breast cooked in the crock pot – I always cook another turkey breast in the crock pot so we have extra white meat. That way you can send home extra with family members and have enough on hand the next day to make turkey sandwiches.

Tried this recipe? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to rate it!

Company Mashed Potatoes the Perfect Side Dish from Walking on Sunshine Recipes
Company Mashed Potatoes - Prep Ahead Recipe

Company Mashed Potatoes - Prep Ahead Recipe

Yield: 16 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

These incredibly creamy mashed potatoes can be prepped a day ahead and then baked in the oven when you're ready for them to be served which makes them perfect for Thanksgiving Day or any other special occasion! 

Ingredients

  • 5 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes
  • 1 stick butter plus more for topping
  • One 8-ounce package cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Peel and cut the potatoes and add them to a large pot of water.
  2. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork tender.
  3. Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a large colander.
  4. Place them back into the dry pot and mash the potatoes using an electric mixer or a ricer.
  5. Using your electric mixer, add the butter, cream cheese and about 1/2 cup of half-and-half and mash. Adding more of the half-and-half as needed. (I usually use the whole amount).
  6. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Transfer the potatoes to a medium-sized baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Add a few tablespoons of butter over the top of the potatoes.
  8. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until the butter is melted and the potatoes are warmed through; about 30 - 40 minutes.

Notes

  • If you prepare these potatoes the day before Thanksgiving, you will need to cover them with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator.

  • Reheating takes about 30 minutes or so. I like to take them out of the refrigerator to bring to room temperature for about an hour.



Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • KitchenAid Digital Hand Mixer
    KitchenAid Digital Hand Mixer
  • White Porcelain 2 Piece Casserole Set
    White Porcelain 2 Piece Casserole Set
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 251Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g

The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.

© Lois
Cuisine: American / Category: Side Dishes

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2017 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them! 


12 Comments

About Lois

Originally from Queens, NY, Lois now calls northeastern PA home. You can find her blogging over at Walking on Sunshine where she shares a little of her life, but more importantly what’s for dinner at her house tonight.

« Weekly Meal Plan #13 – Turkey Leftovers
How to Roast the Perfect Turkey for Thanksgiving Day »

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    April 13, 2019 at 8:15 pm

    Haven’t tried yet, but am very excited to. I will use my (very similar) regular mashed potato recipe. Pardon me if I missed it, but I didn’t see the oven temperature to heat the potatoes. Just a note to those who hate peeling: I always use Yukon Gold for mashed potatoes. I scrub the potatoes really well, but never peel them. They’re always delicious. I promise. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Lois says

      April 13, 2019 at 9:38 pm

      Great catch! Thanks for letting me know I left out the oven temperature. I’ve updated the recipe with the correct information. I know you’re going to love this recipe!

      Reply
  2. Hallie says

    November 6, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    Love the idea of doing mashed potatoes the day before. I wonder if you could reheat them in a crock pot? Oven space is at a premium on T’giving day.

    Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Lois says

      November 6, 2018 at 10:18 pm

      I think you could reheat them in the crock pot but why not do a trial run this weekend? Report back and let me know. Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  3. Jenny says

    November 5, 2018 at 11:33 am

    Make ahead recipes are a lifesaver. These look delicious and easy. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!

    Reply
  4. Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says

    October 18, 2018 at 8:20 am

    Peeling potatoes on Thanksgiving is such a chore: I avoid it by doing it the day before and then soaking the potatoes in water in the refrigerator, which also removes the excess starch (bye bye, gluey potatoes). But I love the idea of finishing the mashed potatoes a day in advance and then baking them on the big day. With that cream cheese and half-and-half, these must be positively luscious!

    Reply
    • Lois says

      October 18, 2018 at 11:29 am

      These are definitely a holiday type of mashed potatoes with all the cream cheese and butter! My family loves them and I think yours will too! Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  5. Benita says

    October 14, 2018 at 5:48 pm

    I will definitely be trying this recipe for Thanksgiving this year! Looks delicious! And I’m all about saving myself some time and trouble by making things ahead of the holiday! Have a great one!

    Reply
    • Lois says

      October 14, 2018 at 10:36 pm

      Thank you for visiting today! I would love to know how you and your family enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  6. terri says

    August 14, 2018 at 8:29 am

    These look so good. I love mashed potatoes and gravy. I’m going to have to try these. Thank you for a wonderful recipe.

    Reply
    • Lois says

      August 14, 2018 at 9:34 am

      Thank you Terri!

      Reply
  7. Jacquelyn Cory says

    November 21, 2017 at 2:06 pm

    Lois,

    I used to work for a company where I cooked for up to 15 people daily. One thing we were given was instant potatoes, which as I'm sure you know are terrible compared to the real thing. However, messing around on day I added basically the same things to them that you have listed in your Company Potatoes recipe. Makes all the difference in the world. I had people not even know these were instant potatoes. So, if ever in a pinch, try using the instant. You just may like it enough to decide whether or not you really want to peel all those potatoes. Personally, I HATE peeling them and will pawn it off on someone else if possible. Love the blog and am using my daughter's account.

    Maureen

    Reply

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