Thanksgiving Mashed Potato Recipes

No holiday feast is complete without a generous scoop from these Thanksgiving mashed potato recipes, rich and creamy for your celebration.

Looking for more dishes to round out your holiday menu? Check out my easy recipes for Thanksgiving for simple, crowd-pleasing ideas.

Recipes at a Glance

About these recipes: A collection of mashed potato side dishes perfect for Thanksgiving. Included are classic, creamy, and inventive twists that elevate the usual comfort food.

Why you’ll love them: These recipes are easy to prep, full of flavor, and most can be made ahead so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the holiday.

How to make them: Choose your preferred potato type (russet, Yukon Gold, or sweet), cook until tender, then mash with rich additions like butter, cream, cheese or herbs; many recipes offer tips for reheating or making ahead.

👉 Hosting Thanksgiving? Grab my Simple Thanksgiving Digital Cookbook—filled with classic recipes, time-saving tips, and printable guides to make planning and cooking your holiday meal stress-free and delicious.

Table of Contents

Mashed Potatoes Recipes for Thanksgiving

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes on the side of your plate, right? It's one of my favorite side dishes.

This recipe collection for Thanksgiving Mashed Potato Recipes was inspired by my Company Mashed Potatoes Recipe. That includes cream cheese, sour cream, heavy cream...I think you get where I'm going. It's a fancier version of traditional mashed potatoes and it's really, really good.

A few of them are also the perfect Thanksgiving Make Ahead Side Dish...which is always a plus in my book!

What are the Best Potatoes for Mashing?

The answer to this question is not that easy. Everyone has their preference! According to Bonappetit's website, they say the rich texture from Yukon Gold potatoes makes the creamiest mashed potatoes.

I like to use russet potatoes which are a high-starch potatoes. They always produce a fluffy potatoes for me.

How can I make my Mashed Potatoes Better?

There are a few ways to make mashed potatoes better:

Milk - adds richness to the potatoes.
Heavy Cream - for Thanksgiving or special occasions, I like to use a combination of milk and heavy cream.
Butter - this goes without saying that butter not only makes everything taste better, but it really does add flavor to the potatoes.
Salt - you really do need to season the potatoes. Wait until after their cooked and mashed to add it. Taste the potatoes as well. Start with a little and then after tasting, add more if needed.
Sour Cream - not only does it go on top of a baked potato, but it's great in whipped mashed potatoes.
Cream Cheese - I love adding cream cheese. The first time I tried it, I was skeptical, but it really adds a richness to the potatoes.

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Storage & Serving Tips

Refrigerate: Store mashed potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of milk or cream.

Freezer: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Tips: Keep warm in a slow cooker or covered dish until ready to serve, and give a quick stir to refresh the creamy texture.

Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours

✔️ DO warm the milk or cream before mixing it in so the potatoes stay smooth and fluffy.

❌ DO NOT use a food processor—it can make the potatoes gummy instead of creamy.

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👉 Hosting Thanksgiving? Grab my Simple Thanksgiving Digital Cookbook—filled with classic recipes, time-saving tips, and printable guides to make planning and cooking your holiday meal stress-free and delicious.