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Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, the best holiday mashed potatoes. Made simply with sweet roasted garlic, fresh herbs, and salted butter. Each bite is perfectly smooth, creamy, and so delicious. The secret? Cooking the potatoes together with the milk and cream, then adding in roasted garlic cloves for a delicious garlic flavor that isn’t overpowering. This method makes for the creamiest and most flavorful mashed potatoes. They’re perfect for making ahead of time for easy entertaining!

Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes | halfbkaedharvest.com

The secret to these potatoes?

Two things… first, the roasted garlic. Roasting the garlic adds just the right amount of garlic flavor that’s delicious but not over powering.

Second, cook the potatoes together with the milk and herbs. This means no boiling the potatoes, no extra steps, nothing fancy. It turns out that creating almost perfect mashed potatoes is actually really easy.

Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes | halfbkaedharvest.com

The steps – roast the garlic

Start with the garlic since it takes time to roast in the oven. If you’ve never done it before it really adds a layer of deliciousness to your recipes.

Simply slice the top portion of the garlic head off to reveal the cloves. Then place the garlic on a small piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap the garlic up. Roast for about forty minutes, until the garlic is deeply golden and soft.

Then simply squeeze the cloves out of the garlic skin.

Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes | halfbkaedharvest.com

Meanwhile, make the potatoes

Combine the potatoes with the milk and cream in a large pot on the stove. Add the herbs, then cook until the potatoes are tender. This will take about twenty-five minutes or so. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain them, BUT, be sure to save the cream – you’ll need it!

Now, the potato ricer…it’s key to making ultra-smooth mashed potatoes. Do you have to have a potato ricer? No, a good ole masher works too. But if you want the smoothest mashed potatoes, a ricer works really well.

Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes | halfbkaedharvest.com

Take the mashed potatoes and those roasted garlic cloves and put them right back into the pot. Then add back the cream and also add some butter. Cook until the butter is melted…and that’s it…the most perfectly flavored creamy mashed potatoes!

Honest these are the BEST – classic, but with amazing flavor and texture.

The added bonus is just how easy these are to make…and that you can make them ahead of time. Steps for warming in the oven, slow cooker, or on the stove are listed in the directions!

Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes | halfbkaedharvest.com

Looking for recipes to enjoy with mashed potatoes? Here are my favorites: 

Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions

Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Chicken Marsala

30 Minute Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs

Lastly, if you make these Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, 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!

watch the how-to video:

Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 585 kcal

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

Watch the How-To Reel

Ingredients

Instructions

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
    2. Slice off the top portion of the garlic head to expose some of the cloves. Place the garlic on a piece of foil. Drizzle with olive oil, wrap it up, and bake for 40-55 minutes, until deeply golden and very soft.
    3. Let the garlic cool, then squeeze out the cloves.
    4. Meanwhile, In a large dutch oven, combine the potatoes, heavy cream, milk, sage, and thyme. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and cook 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
    5. Drain the potatoes, reserving all of the cream. Discard the thyme and sage. Press the potatoes and roasted garlic cloves through a potato ricer. Then add them back to the warm pot. Alternately, you can add the potatoes back to the pot and mash with a potato masher.
    6. Over low heat, add 1 1/2 cups of the reserved cream and the butter. Continue to add more of the cream until your desired consistency is reached. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper.
    7. If desired, brown a little butter with sage or thyme and swirl into the potatoes before serving. Serve warm and creamy.

To Make Ahead

  • In the Oven: Prepare the mashed potatoes as directed through step 6. Spoon the potatoes into a large baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat in the oven, preheat the oven to 325° F. Pour 1/2 cup milk or cream over the potatoes and add 2 tablespoons butter, do not stir. Cover the potatoes tightly with foil and transfer to the oven. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are warmed through. Stir before serving.
    Slow Cooker: Prepare the mashed potatoes as directed through step 6. Spoon the potatoes into the slower cooker, cover, and keep on low for up to 4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, turn the heat to low or high, add 1/2 cup heavy cream and 2 tablespoons butter, do not stir. Cover and let the cream warm and the butter melt. Stir before serving.
    On the Stove: Prepare the mashed potatoes as directed through step 6. Add 1/2 cup cream and 2 tablespoons butter. Place the potatoes over low heat, gently stirring until warmed throughout. 
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Make Ahead Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes | halfbkaedharvest.com

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Comments

  1. If keeping warm in the slow cooker, do I set to low, or only set to low when I’m prepping to serve? The directions say say to low to keep warm and then set to high or low when preparing to serve. Just don’t want to overcook if I’m through step 6 a couple hours before dinner. ?

    1. Hi Catherine,
      I haven’t tried this recipe with minced garlic, you really want the whole gloves in order to be able to roast them. I would maybe just use a teaspoon here. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan

  2. These are hands down the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever made. Delicious! The only change I made was that I used dry sage because I couldn’t find any fresh. Still tasted great!

    1. Hey Abbey,
      I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan

  3. 4 stars
    After roasting the garlic 40 minutes it turned to mush inside the cloves. I got some of it off the casings but a lot was wasted.

    1. Hi Cheryl,
      That is the point:) So it can easily be squeezed out and mixed with the potatoes. Thanks for trying the recipe! xTieghan

  4. Just to be sure – for the make ahead version, only 2 tbsp of butter needed, right? The ingredient list has 6-8 so wanted to check! Thank you!

    1. Hi Lisa,
      The 6-8 tablespoons is used in step 6. Then, to make ahead and reheat you will add 2 more tablespoons. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan

    1. Hi Louise,
      For this recipe I would not recommend using the instant pot, for best results please use a slow cooker or stove top. I hope you love the recipe! Cheers! xTieghan

    1. Hi Yana,
      You bet, totally fine to use. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

    1. Hi Eryn,
      Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan

  5. 5 stars
    Super duper yummy! One thing though – I used rosemary along with the other herbs and I absolutely recommend tying up your herbs or putting them in a cheese cloth before popping them in with the potatoes. I had to fish a whole lotta leaves out.

    But otherwise, this was an amazing recipe!!

    1. Hey there,
      Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan

    1. Hi David,
      Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan

  6. Believe it or not, this turned out almost TOO creamy – almost the texture of cream cheese frosting. Delicious taste, though.

  7. 5 stars
    Just made these delish mashed potatoes ahead of time for Thanksgiving. Love them! So easy and the roasted garlic is fantastic.

    1. Hi ToniAnn,
      Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan

  8. Found that the whipping cream/whole milk liquid did not cover the potatoes in the pot. Would you recommend supplementing with a little water or more whipping cream or whole milk? Thanks

    1. Hi Meg,
      Once boiling they should be fine but I would just add some more milk. I hope you love the recipe. Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan

  9. 3 stars
    Made these today. Flavors were lovely, however, adding the cooking liquid (cream and milk)back to the riced potatoes introduced more starch. Will return to a different cooking method next time.