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Our 2021 Thanksgiving Menu and Guide – the make ahead menu.
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
Looking for recipes to enjoy with mashed potatoes? Here are my favorites:Â
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!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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. ?
Hi Linda,
You can keep them on low. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi! I only have minced garlic. How much would I add and how would I go about cooking/adding it? Thanks!
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
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!
Hey Abbey,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
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.
Hi Cheryl,
That is the point:) So it can easily be squeezed out and mixed with the potatoes. Thanks for trying the recipe! xTieghan
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!
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
DO you need to peel the potatoes if you are using Yukon Golds?
I think she peels the potatoes. I only say that from the picture listed above. They look peeled.
Hi Lori,
Yes, I would definitely peel the potatoes. I hope you love the recipe. Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Hi!! Could I cook the potatoes in an instant pot? And how would I do so? Thanks! Love all your food!
Great question! Would love to know this as well 🙂
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
Can half and half be substituted for heavy cream? Thanks!
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
Just made this. Incredibly straightforward and delicious. Thank you!
Hi Eryn,
Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
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!!
Hey there,
Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
These mashed potatoes are really delicious and easy to make for a crowd!
Hi David,
Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Believe it or not, this turned out almost TOO creamy – almost the texture of cream cheese frosting. Delicious taste, though.
Thanks for giving the recipe a try Tricia! xTieghan
Just made these delish mashed potatoes ahead of time for Thanksgiving. Love them! So easy and the roasted garlic is fantastic.
Hi ToniAnn,
Thanks so very much for giving this recipe a go, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
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
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
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.
Hi Michele,
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe, thanks for giving it a try. xTieghan