Garlic Mashed Potatoes

This roasted garlic mashed potatoes recipe is full of so much flavor, no one will be able to stop shoveling in bites of this creamy puree!

There are mashed potatoes, and then there are Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. These creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes are scented with the sweet aromatic flavor of roasted garlic. It’s milder and more luxurious than the typical pungent bite of the raw stuff. Mix it together with creamy Yukon gold potatoes and a bit of Parmesan cheese, and it’s truly something magical. This one went over so well in our house, we’re not just saving it for holidays like Thanksgiving. Make this garlic mashed potatoes recipe any time of the year for a truly stellar side dish (your family with thank you).

Don’t want to roast garlic? Use our alternative method below.

The best potatoes for garlic mashed potatoes?

Does the type of potato matter in a garlic mashed potato recipe? Yes! The preference here is Yukon gold potatoes, also labeled as yellow potatoes. Why? It all comes down to the texture. Here’s why to opt for Yukon gold:

Russet potatoes can taste quite bland and flat. Russet potatoes have a fluffy texture but it can be a little mealy. The overall flavor is also a little bland.
Yukon gold potatoes have a buttery texture and rich flavor! The yellow flesh of a Yukon gold potato is more robust, and the buttery flavor and texture are the perfect fit with roasted garlic.

Peel the potatoes, or go chunky with skins!

Here’s the thing: Alex and I love a chunky mashed potato recipe. I’ve never been one for that completely smooth, fluffy puree. To me, that’s boring! If you want to go completely silky smooth, you can peel the potatoes here. But want to really make them interesting? Leave on the potato skins. That’s right, you know like restaurant mashed potatoes that have loads of garlic and potato skins? It makes them even more delicious: and much of the nutrients in potatoes are in the skins.

Roast the garlic in advance

There’s one long lead time item in this garlic mashed potatoes recipe: roasting the garlic! It’s very easy to roast garlic, it just takes 1 hour to complete. The good part is: it’s easy to make in advance. Simply roast the garlic and then refrigerate until you make the potatoes. And the kicker? Roasting garlic makes your kitchen smell incredible. You can thank us later. Here are the basic steps for how to roast garlic:

Roast at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The high heat caramelizes it until it’s golden, but it’s not so high that it burns it.
Slice of the tops of the cloves, then wrap in foil. You’ll slice off the tops so you can easily pop out the garlic once it’s roasted. Wrap it up in foil and throw it in the oven.
Roast 45 minutes to 1 hour. It’s done when it’s perfectly tender when pierced with a sharp knife!

Alternative method: use fresh garlic!

Don’t want to spend all the time roasting garlic? OK, we get it. It does take quite a bit of time! The garlic flavor you get from roasted garlic is very mellow: not in your face garlic like a pile of garlicky pasta. For fresh garlic mashed potatoes, here’s what to do instead:

Mince 4 cloves garlic.
Melt 4 tablespoons butter. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant but not browned.
Add the garlic to the potatoes, along with the milk!

It’s that simple! This variation on the garlic mashed potatoes recipe is definitely more pungent: it has more of an Italian-style vibe than the roasted garlic. We use this trick in our mashed red potatoes with garlic and it works like a charm.

Ways to serve garlic mashed potatoes

This roasted garlic mashed potatoes recipe is perfect with a little butter on top! But of course it’s even better with a little gravy, or the optional Parmesan cheese stirred in. Here are some options we’d recommend:

Gravy: Top with our Vegan Brown Gravy or Vegan Mushroom Gravy: both excellent options! (They’re perfect for Thanksgiving!)
Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese: These are over the top good with a little Parmesan cheese or better yet, Pecorino Romano. It’s like a stronger aged cheese that’s even more flavorful!
Sour cream and chives: Top with chives, sour cream, and bacon bits or vegan bacon.
With meatloaf or meatballs: Try our Vegan Meatballs & Gravy or Best Vegetarian Meatloaf.
Shepherd’s pie: Want to make these garlic mashed potatoes into a meal? Make our amazing cozy Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie.

This garlic mashed potatoes recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, go to Vegan Mashed Potatoes.