Description
Indulge in these incredibly creamy and rich Million Dollar Mashed Potatoes. Made with russet potatoes, cream cheese, and a hint of buttery goodness, this recipe is your next go-to for a crowd-pleasing side dish. Perfect for holidays, family dinners, or any special occasion, these mashed potatoes are velvety smooth and truly live up to their name.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Potatoes:
- 5 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
Cooking Liquid and Flavoring:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Mix-ins:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
Seasoning:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker:
In a large slow cooker, combine the russet potatoes and chicken broth. Dot the top with cubed unsalted butter to ensure the potatoes absorb the rich buttery flavor as they cook. - Cook the Potatoes:
Set the slow cooker on low heat for 6-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours, allowing the potatoes to become tender and fully cooked. This slow cooking process ensures rich, well-infused potatoes. - Mash the Potatoes:
Once cooked, strain off and reserve the broth. Mash the potatoes using a hand masher or potato ricer until smooth. This step helps achieve your preferred consistency for the mashed potatoes. - Add Creamy Ingredients:
Pour half of the reserved broth back into the slow cooker, sprinkle the garlic powder, and add the cream cheese cubes on top of the mashed potatoes. Cover and set the cooker to warm for 20-30 minutes until the cream cheese softens completely. - Mix and Adjust Seasoning:
Mix the softened cream cheese into the mashed potatoes until fully incorporated and creamy. Add more reserved liquid, as needed, to achieve your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. - Serve and Keep Warm:
Once prepared, the mashed potatoes can be kept warm in the slow cooker on the warm setting for up to 1 hour before serving. This keeps them at the perfect serving temperature without drying out.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian option.
- For added flavor, sprinkle some chopped fresh herbs like chives, parsley, or thyme before serving.
- If you don’t have a potato ricer, a hand masher works just fine, but a smoother texture can be achieved with a ricer.
- These mashed potatoes can be prepared ahead of time and reheated in the slow cooker or in the oven.
- Avoid overmixing, as this can lead to a gummy texture due to the starch in the potatoes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately ½ cup)
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg