Whether you’ve got a turkey or ham roasting or pie dough to roll out, and guests to entertain, it’s easy to forget about the pot of potatoes you’ve got simmering on the stove. Next thing you know, you’ve got water-logged, gloopy mashed potatoes on your hands. This year for the holidays, make a big batch of creamy mashed potatoes up to three days before your big meal so you can get out of the kitchen earlier and enjoy more time with your loved ones. This make ahead mashed potato recipe uses my Classic Mashed Potatoes as a jumping off point, but I employed a few tricks of the food blogging trade to ensure the potatoes reheat perfectly every time. Keep reading for detailed instructions on how to make mashed potatoes in advance and how to reheat them so they don’t lose their delicious texture! Hint: You can’t just toss them into a slow cooker or nuke them in the microwave!
Ingredients for Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Making mashed potatoes in advance doesn’t require any special ingredients — it’s all about technique! Gather the following FIVE pantry staples: Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Mashed Potatoes in Advance
Preparing mashed potatoes ahead of time is very similar to a making traditional mashed potatoes. Below is an overview of the recipe steps:
To assemble:
To store and reheat:
More Potato Side Dish Recipes:
All of my Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter recipes! While you could add extra half-and-half to thin them out, the texture was still just thicker and less desirable. Rinsing twice is just the way to go here and takes mere seconds. For a more traditional gravy, my Easy Perfect Gravy recipe uses all those flavorful pan drippings from your roasted turkey, combined with broth, to make a rich and luscious gravy that’s foolproof! And for the mushroom lovers, my Easy Mushroom Gravy has another layer of fantastic flavor from a variety of mushrooms and onions. It’s really a show-stopper that takes gravy to another level! In the freezer: Store airtight for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat. Reheating: To the mashed potatoes, add 1/2 cup half-and-half + 2 tbsp butter, don’t stir it in, cover with foil, and heat for 20-25 mins in a 350F oven. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Quick & Easy Mashed Potatoes — Buttery, creamy, PERFECT mashed potatoes that rival your favorite restaurant’s version but EASY and made with just 5 ingredients!! The quintessential holiday side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a great family-friendly weeknight comfort food side dish!! Browned Butter Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes — Creamy and decadent from the herbed browned butter, these EASY mashed potatoes are a family favorite side dish! Made in the slow cooker to free up stove and oven space. Cheesy Bacon Mashed Potatoes — If you like loaded baked potatoes, you’ll LOVE these mashed potatoes with bacon, cheddar cheese, butter, sour cream, and more! A family-favorite side dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday celebrations. Irresistible, EASY comfort food! Loaded Twice Baked Potato Casserole — 🥔🧀🥓 Tender potatoes mixed with butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon, and green onions for the ultimate in LOADED baked potatoes!! AMAZING comfort food that’s irresistible!! Can be made with leftover mashed potatoes, too! Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping — This is the BEST sweet potato casserole ever!! The sweet potatoes are tender and creamy, while the streusel topping adds a delightful buttery crunch thanks to the pecans! Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows — Sweet, creamy, decadent, and reminiscent of sweet potato casserole but individually portioned! FAST and EASY enough for family dinners or make them for more formal holiday celebrations! Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallows and Pecans — Sliced sweet potato rounds are brushed with a maple cinnamon-and-sugar mixture, baked, and then topped with marshmallows and pecans! Sweet, decadent, FAST and EASY!
