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I don’t know who needs to hear this, but mashed potatoes aren’t just a side dish.
They are the moment.
They are the main character.
They are the one thing I will always, always make too much of — and never regret it.
I don’t even know when the love started. Probably as a kid, when the mashed potatoes were the only part of dinner that didn’t require negotiating. Or maybe later, when I figured out that a bowl of warm, buttery mashed potatoes could fix almost anything — heartbreak, finals week, long days, long silences.
It’s not just the taste. It’s the feeling.
And I swear, every time I mash up a batch — even when I do it wrong (it happens) — they still show up for me.
But here’s the thing: mashed potatoes can be even more. More comforting. More delicious. More “I need to sit down for a second and process this.”
So if you’re like me — someone who treats mashed potatoes like a love language — let’s go a little deeper.
First: Salt the Water Like You Mean It
Please.
Please.
Please salt your potato water.
I know, you’ve probably heard this before. But let me just say it again for the people in the back (and also for myself when I forget): bland water makes bland potatoes. It doesn’t matter how much butter you drown them in later — if you didn’t season the water, they’ll taste like warm clouds of disappointment.
Salt the water. Like, a lot. Taste it. It should taste like the sea. That’s your baseline.
Okay. Let’s Get Into the Good Stuff. Here Are 7 Ways to Love Your Potatoes Even More:
1. Mashed Potato Casserole
This is what happens when mashed potatoes get a glow-up.
Take your regular mash, scoop it into a baking dish, top it with cheese (sharp cheddar works, but honestly? Whatever’s in the fridge is fine), and bake it until it’s golden and crispy on top.
You get soft, fluffy mash in the middle — and cheesy, melty magic on the edges. It’s comfort food squared. I once ate this for breakfast and honestly? I’d do it again.
2. Garlic Mashed Potato Casserole
A.K.A. “I’m bringing this to the party and stealing all the compliments.”
It’s everything the original casserole has — plus roasted garlic (hello, flavor), cream cheese (hello, richness), and more cheese. Maybe some green onions too, if you’re feeling fresh.
It’s the kind of dish that makes people close their eyes while chewing. You know the one.
3. Loaded Garlic Ranch Mash
This one is chaos. But in the best way.
We’re talking:
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Mashed potatoes
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Garlic
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Ranch seasoning (yes, from the packet — embrace it)
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Bacon
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Cheese
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Regret? None.
I’ve made this for football Sundays. I’ve made this on nights when I didn’t feel like talking to anyone. It always delivers.
4. Browned Butter + Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
This one has depth.
Brown the butter (don’t skip this — it smells like heaven and tastes like caramelized gold), then stir in a little horseradish.
It’s subtle. It’s warm. It makes you feel like you should be eating it with something elegant like roast beef — but I’ve eaten it with frozen chicken nuggets and still felt fancy.
5. Burrata-Whipped Mashed Potatoes
Soft. Creamy. Ridiculous.
You know burrata — that dreamy cheese with the mozzarella shell and the creamy middle that spills out like it’s been waiting to love you? Yeah. Put that in mashed potatoes.
Don’t question it. Just trust.
This is date-night-in food. Or “I just want to feel like a queen even though I’m wearing sweatpants” food. Same thing, really.
6. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Because sometimes you want comfort without the effort.
Make a big batch. Freeze it. Reheat it when life is too much and you just need something familiar and warm and ready.
These reheat beautifully — especially with a little extra butter stirred in (because of course).
7. Green Chili Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
This one’s sneaky.
You toss potatoes, butter, green chilies, maybe a little corn into the slow cooker, walk away, and hours later — boom. Creamy, slightly spicy mashed potatoes that taste like a side dish and a warm hug had a baby.
Great with grilled chicken. Or as a taco filler. Or, let’s be honest, straight out of the pot with a spoon.
A Few Random Potato Thoughts While We’re Here:
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Warm your milk or cream before adding it. Cold dairy is a buzzkill.
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Don’t overmix. Unless you’re into gluey paste (no judgment… okay, maybe a little).
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Leftovers make killer potato pancakes. Fry ‘em up the next day and feel like a genius.
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Mashed potatoes and gravy? Yes. Mashed potatoes and hot sauce? Also yes. Mashed potatoes and nothing but butter? Heck yes.
Final Thoughts From a Person Who’s Definitely Eaten Mashed Potatoes Out of a Measuring Cup
I don’t have a deep, inspirational quote to end this with.
Just this:
Mashed potatoes are good.
Mashed potatoes are reliable.
Mashed potatoes are the one thing that never ghosts you.
Dress them up. Keep them simple. Eat them standing over the sink with a fork while your kids watch cartoons. They’ll still be there for you. They always are.
And if you’ve got a favorite version — a weird family trick, a secret ingredient, a method your grandma swore by — please, tell me. I wanna hear it. We all do.
Because this is mashed potato love, and there’s plenty to go around.