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My go-to, make-ahead Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions. Made simply and easily in the crockpot with cream, salted butter, onions, and melty Gruyere cheese. Each bite is perfectly smooth, creamy, and so delicious. This method makes for the creamiest and most flavorful mashed potatoes. You can make these in the crockpot, instant pot, or on the stove. They’re perfect for making ahead of time for easy entertaining!

Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

I just could not do Thanksgiving without perfect mashed potatoes. After all, they’re everyone’s favorite side dish, right? My brothers are mashed potato fanatics. They say the only reason they love turkey and gravy is thanks to the forkful of mashers they add with each bite.

And while I definitely have other mashed potato recipes on the site, this is the family favorite. The crew really loves a cheesy, buttery potato with just the right amounts of onions. Not overpowering, but just right.

Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

These are their perfect potatoes. I think I got the ratios just right! They’re now labeled as “fire” mashed potatoes.

Clearly, we love these potatoes.

After many years of trying all the ways to cook my mashed potatoes, I’ve decided that using the crockpot is my favorite. When in a time crunch, I use the instant pot or stove, but the crockpot is my ideal cooker.

I do mine a little differently than most.

Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

Here are details

Most recipes for potatoes in the crockpot don’t have you cook the potatoes in water, then drain. They’ll tell you to cook in milk or broth. But I just don’t find that to work as well.

I add the potatoes to the crockpot, add water, add garlic, and salt, then cover and let them slow cook for a few hours or up to all day.

Once the potatoes are fork-tender, I drain them and add them back to the dry, but still hot crockpot bowl. I set the crockpot to low, then cook onions. The key is to allow the potatoes to sit in the hot crockpot to dry off. Reducing the moisture gives you even creamy, tastier potatoes!

Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

While the potatoes sit, I make the onions.

A lot of mashed potato recipes call for onion powder. But I wanted to add a little more of a fresh onion flavor that wasn’t overpowering, but just right.

I love using caramelized onions for an onion flavor that’s more mellow.

I first caramelize them down in a bit of butter. Then I like to add some wine to help them caramelize a little faster. Next, just a little fresh thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Plus lots of butter, which is key for any good potato dish.

Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

When it comes to mashing the potatoes, I don’t do anything fancy, just mash them with a masher and call it a day. But you do you, if you love a super smooth, whipped potato, try using a potato ricer instead.

Once I have the potatoes mashed, I add cream, sour cheese, the carmelized onions, butter and melty gruyere cheese. Continue letting the potatoes cook until the cheese is melted. And that’s it, you’ll have the most perfect, flavorful, and creamiest mashed potatoes.

Classic, but with amazing flavor and cheesiness.

Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

Serve these up warm with a little added sage for color.

I’m excited to not only share this recipe with you guys but also with family and friends. My brothers have all agreed, these are one of their favorite potato dishes.

When you win over the brothers, all is good!

The next question is, what will you be pairing these cheesy potatoes with? The obvious answer for Thanksgiving is turkey. But come December, over here it will be my roasted beef tenderloin.

Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

Looking for other easy Thanksgiving sides?? Here are my favorites: 

Crispy Parmesan Thyme Sweet Potato Stacks

Crispy Cheesy Potato Stacks

Sweet Potato Casserole with Sweet ‘n’ Savory Bacon Pecans

Easiest No-Boil Brie Mac and Cheese

Lastly, if you make these Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

 

Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 521 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Instructions

Crockpot

  • 1. In the bowl of your crockpot, combine the potatoes, water, garlic, and salt. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, until the potatoes are fork tender. Set the crockpot to low or warm.
    2. Drain the potatoes, then add them back to the crockpot. Let sit, uncovered while you caramelize the onions.
    3. Melt together 4 tablespoons butter and the onions in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the wine and continue to cook another 5 minutes until the onions are deeply caramelized.
    4. Add 4 tablespoons butter, the thyme, and sage, and season with salt and pepper. Cook another 2 minutes, then remove from the heat.
    5. Mash the potatoes with a masher. Add the cream and sour cream, adding more cream until your desired consistency is reached. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper. Stir the onions in with the butter and cheese, cover, and cook another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and creamy. Keep the potatoes covered, on warm, for up to 4 hours.

Instant Pot

  • 1. In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the potatoes, water, garlic, and salt. Cover and cook on high pressure for 14 minutes. Release the steam, drain the potatoes, then add them back to the instant pot.
    2. Set the instant pot to warm. Let sit, uncovered while you caramelize the onions.
    3. Melt together 4 tablespoons butter and the onions in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the wine and continue to cook another 5 minutes until the onions are deeply caramelized.
    4. Add 4 tablespoons butter, the thyme, and sage, and season with salt and pepper. Cook another 2 minutes, then remove from the heat.
    5. Mash the potatoes with a masher. Add the cream and sour cream, adding more cream until your desired consistency is reached. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper. Stir the onions in with the butter and cheese, cover, and cook another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and creamy. Keep the potatoes covered, on warm, for up to 4 hours.

Stove

  • 1. In a large dutch oven, combine the potatoes, 6 cups water, the garlic, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain the potatoes, then add them back to the pot.
    2. Finish as directed through step 3.
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Crockpot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

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Comments

  1. I’m cooking for a friendsgiving of 30 people, would you recommend this recipe for that large of a party? With that being asked, would the stove top be the best option? Thanks! Can’t wait to try

    1. Hey Brina,
      Yes, this would be a great recipe to use! You could to the stove top or crockpot version, either is great! The crockpot you could just keep on warm to free up some space on your stove if needed! xT

    1. Hey Suzy,
      The garlic cloves are added whole:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xx

    1. Hi Laura,
      Sorry, I have never tried to make this recipe vegan. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx

  2. Would you recommend cooking these in cream like you do with your other crockpot made potato recipe or would that yield too heavy a flavor with the added cheese?

    1. Hi Lauren,
      I would keep this recipe as written for best results:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx

  3. 5 stars
    This is my favorite! I crave this as soon as fall comes around. I do have a dumb question… do I take out the sage leaves prior to serving? I had guests push them to the side last year and wasn’t sure if I did something wrong or not.

    Thanks!

  4. I apologize if you’ve already answered this question in your comments section, but could I use something other than white wine in the caramelizing process? I am pregnant and while I know the alcohol cooks off with the heat, I still just feel weird about it, haha! Thanks!

    1. Hey Melissa,
      No worries at all, chicken broth or apple cider would also be a great option for you to use! I hope you love this recipe! Congrats:) xx

  5. 5 stars
    If I could give these potatoes 10 stars I would. The ease of using the crockpot, which I was scared of at first as I have never used my crock for potatoes. And the flavor!!!! Oh MY GOSH! YUMMMM. I could have just eaten the whole lot myself. These are a winner for the Thanksgiving menu. My hubster is not a big fan of onions, (has me questioning our marriage LOL) but he really liked these and said they would be a great addition that everyone would like. I was shocked!

    1. Hey Michelle,
      Happy Monday!! Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for trying and your feedback! xT

      1. How much of a standard size crock pot does this recipe take up? If I needed to double it, would you recommend using 2 crock pots?

        1. Hi Sam,
          Yes, if you double this recipe you will want to use 2 crockpots. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT

  6. Hi! Wondering if you’ve also tried this recipe with cauliflower instead of potatoes? Any tweaks or suggestions for that?

    Thank you so much!

  7. 5 stars
    It’s that time of year when I start testing recipes for the holidays, and I will definitely be making these!

    Mashed potatoes are always a last minute rushed affair, and I am never able to give them the attention they deserve. Doing them in the crockpot is genius.

    I did tweak the recipe a bit to make them a little more holiday-decadent and to my family’s preferences:
    – added another stick of butter AND 3/4C of duck fat (highly recommend, they taste like thanksgiving)
    – used mascarpone instead of the heavy cream and sour cream, and added a few splashes of half & half
    – my brother has a weird thing with onions, so I puréed the caramelized onions into a paste before stirring them in

    Overall I feel the tweaks were fairly minor and I kept the heart of the recipe. Absolutely loved these and they will likely have a permanent place on my holiday menus!

    1. Oh, also, my potatoes were done in 4 hours on low. I believe newer crockpots cook at a higher temp, so anyone making these might want to take that into consideration

    2. Wow, you’re so on the ball with testing out your holiday recipes! Thanks for the feedback and giving all the details about what worked for you! xT

  8. If you were making this ahead of time, would you stop at step 5 after “Stir the onions in with the butter and cheese…”? Then cover and refrigerate?

    1. Hi lindsey,
      Yes, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx

      1. 5 stars
        Hi! These look incredible! I’m making them tonight, totally understand if y’all can’t respond but I’m a little thrown by the potatoes only needing two cups of water. As I poured it in the potatoes rise two inches above the water. Should they be fully covered or do they steam with just 2 cups? Thank you so much! You’re recipes are so inspiring!

        1. Hi Rachael,
          You can add more water if you feel that is needed, but they will cook in the 2 cups:) I hope you love this recipe! xx

  9. 5 stars
    If I could give higher than 5 stars I would! Delicious, savory, and FULL of flavor. These were the star of our Thanksgiving table this year.

    1. Hey Hayley,
      Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:)

    1. Hey Judy,
      I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! 🎊🎈

  10. Making these for a dinner party tomorrow….can I make these the day before and heat them in the oven on the day of the dinner…trying to have a mess free kitchen…
    Thanks so much for the feed back

    1. Hey Angela,
      You bet, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT

  11. 5 stars
    The final product of this recipe was fantastic. Although I didn’t feel the crockpot made my life much easier to be honest. I’ll likely just go stovetop next time but it’s worth it. These are just so good. I especially loved the nice Gruyère. Not enough recipes call for it! I sadly didn’t realize I didn’t have sour cream but I didn’t feel it much impacted.

    1. Hey Meredith,
      Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! xx