Wonderfully rich and luscious, you’d never guess these slow cooker country-style garlic mashed potatoes are 99% effortless and 200% flavorful. Loaded with garlic and bits of chunky potatoes, they’re an easy twist on a holiday favorite.

 

The Best Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Once you toss the ingredients in, these slow cooker country-style garlic mashed potatoes practically make themselves. No more waiting for the potatoes to boil and then endlessly standing over the stove. The secret to these creamy and luscious mashed potatoes actually involves you as little as possible.

If you add the potatoes to the slow cooker in the morning, you can come home to perfectly softened ones in the evening. Then all you have to do is add the sour cream and get mashing! Make them as smooth or chunky as you’d like because it’s all about their buttery, garlicky flavor.

Made using the biggest kitchen hack of all, these mashed potatoes are an effortless twist on a traditional holiday side. Freeing up tons of valuable kitchen space, there’s no way they won’t earn a place in your Christmas menu from now on.

Why You’ll Love These Garlic Mashed Potatoes

With the holiday season right around the corner, here are all the reasons you need to love these:

• Effortless. Toss the ingredients into the slow cooker and walk away. By the time you come back, the potatoes will have softened. All you have to do next is mash them.
• Family-friendly. Kids and adults will enjoy this side dish alike. It’s also easy to make in large batches.
• Prep-friendly. Prepare it up to 5 days in advance and even freeze it for up to a year.

What Are Country Style Mashed Potatoes?

Country-style mashed potatoes are known for their signature rustic nature. The potatoes aren’t super well mashed and even have bits of peels throughout every bite. As a result, they’re not the typical silky smooth mashed potatoes, but that doesn’t make them any less creamy or rich.

For decadence, whole milk, sour cream, heavy whipping cream, and even mayonnaise are added in some cases. Aside from that, every recipe is pretty much the same until you get to the seasonings. Ranging from garlic to paprika and dill, this is where the flavorful magic happens.

Recipe Ingredients

All it takes are 6 ingredients to achieve these spectacularly creamy mashed potatoes. For full ingredient amounts, check the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Red potatoes – Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes are okay too.
• Butter – Use salted or unsalted. If using salted butter, reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
• Garlic – Fresh and roasted garlic is my favorite. You can also use 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder instead.
• Water – Chicken broth works great too.
• Sour cream – Whole milk and heavy whipping cream are good substitutes.
• Salt and pepper

What Are The Best Potatoes To Use?

Red potatoes are best for mashing because they’re starchier and absorb all the fats and liquid very well. On the other hand, it’s more difficult for them to become rubbery during the cooking process— unlike Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes.

How to Make Slow Cooker Country Style Mashed Potatoes

With the slow cooker’s help, making mashed potatoes has never been easier.

• Add the ingredients. Place the potatoes, butter, garlic, and water in the slow cooker.
• Cook. Cover with the lid and cook on “High” for 4 hours or “Low” for 6-7 hours.
• Add sour cream. Remove the lid and mix the sour cream in.
• Mash them. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes to your desired consistency. Make them as smooth or chunky as you like!
• Serve. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm and enjoy.

Tips for Success

Follow these tips for perfectly creamy slow cooker mashed potatoes:

• Boil the potatoes properly. If you want creamy and soft mashed potatoes, boil the potatoes properly. You should be able to cut through them with the fork.
• Mash them hot. Don’t let the potatoes rest and cool before mashing them. The starch will solidify and harden, making the mashed potatoes feel grainy.
• Control the cream. Don’t add it all at once or your mashed potatoes may come out too liquidy. Pour it in little by little and adjust the consistency as needed.
• Season at the end. When food is hot, it’s harder to tell how salty it really is. Waiting until the end to season the mashed potatoes will give you a chance to nail the amount of salt and pepper added.

What To Serve with Mashed Potatoes

These are a great side to your favorite holiday meals like my Perfect Beef Wellington, Stuffed Pork Loin with Bacon and Mushrooms, and Oven Roasted Tri Tip.

With other sides like my Air Fryer Corn on the Cob and Easy Oven Roasted Vegetables the menu is also complete.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them in a freezer-friendly bag or container for up to 12 months. To reheat them, mix in 1-2 tsp water and pop into the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warm.

To defrost, transfer the mashed potatoes to the fridge a night before serving them.

More Holiday Side Dishes

• Creamy Lobster Bisque
• Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
• Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
• Crispy Smashed Potatoes in the Air Fryer
• Easy Oven Roasted Vegetables