These Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes are so perfect to add to your busy holiday menu.  They make last minute preparations so much easier!

Casserole dish full of Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

What’s the best way to cook potatoes for mashed potatoes?

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add peeled potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes; drain. Mash, and continue with the instructions for this recipe.

How to prepare Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes:

Start with already cooked potatoes that are mashed.  Add cream cheese, sour cream and milk.  This is going to make your mashed potatoes creamy, and they won’t dry out when you’re making them ahead!  Onion salt and pepper are added for a little flavor.

If serving right away, cover and bake in a preheated oven at 325°F. for 50 minutes.  However, you can make this recipe up to several days ahead and store in the fridge. If baking cold, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes first.  Add melted butter on top and maybe some chopped chives!

Casserole dish of Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes with melted butter

Is there any way to lighten up mashed potatoes?

It’s okay to lighten this make ahead mashed potatoes recipe up a little by using low fat cream cheese and light sour cream.  Don’t skimp too much though because they’re so creamy and good if prepared as the recipe is written.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes with dinner

How can you keep Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes warm?

You can certainly make them ahead and keep them in a buttered slow cooker (just butter the sides of the slow cooker).  Just set it at warm, and it’ll be good to go warming for a few hours.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes served with dinner

This is a terrific recipe for those who get nervous about preparing a lot of recipes on Thanksgiving Day. If you have a slow cooker, you can make them ahead of time and just warm them in a buttered crockpot until they’re ready to serve. So easy!

If you’re looking for delicious main dishes to serve with mashed potatoes, you might like to try my Prime Rib Roast or this Roasted Vegetable Meatloaf. Balsamic Beer-Braised Pork Roast, Beef Tenderloin with Balsamic Glaze and Rosemary and Garlic Leg of Lamb Roast are great pairings with mashed potatoes too!

4.49 from 33 votes

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

A lifesaver during busy holiday dinner preparations!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
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Ingredients

Instructions 

  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix well using an electric mixer. Place in a large, buttered casserole dish.
  • If serving right away, cover and bake in a preheated oven at 325°F. for 50 minutes.

Notes

  • *How to cook the potatoes: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add peeled potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes; drain. Mash, and continue with the instructions for this recipe.
  • *It's ok to lighten this recipe up a little by using low fat cream cheese and light sour cream.
  • *You can make this recipe several days ahead and store in the fridge. If baking cold, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes first.
  • *If you're lacking oven space, start warming this in a well-buttered crockpot earlier in the day.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 200kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 471mg, Potassium: 840mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 325IU, Vitamin C: 21.7mg, Calcium: 103mg, Iron: 6.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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4.49 from 33 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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58 Comments

  1. Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says:

    5 stars
    This will save my butt on thanksgiving!

  2. Toni | Boulder Locavore says:

    5 stars
    It looks amazing! I will try this!

  3. Jennifer Farley says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is perfect for thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing!

  4. Melissa Sperka says:

    5 stars
    We LOVE these potatoes the pictures makes me want to grab a spoon and dig in!

  5. Joanne says:

    5 stars
    You wouldn’t know these are made ahead. Such a great texture and so delicious!

  6. Vivian says:

    5 stars
    Fantastic!

  7. carrie says:

    5 stars
    Great post and idea

  8. Aysegul says:

    5 stars
    Nice recipe as a sidedish for Meat products on Thanksgiving. Thanks for it

  9. jherman says:

    I like smashed not whipped potatoes- any chance it might work for a chunkier less buttered potato?

    1. Lori Lange says:

      You can certainly try!

  10. Jillian says:

    I’m excited to try this recipe, and am so happy to have found one that allows me more time right before we sit down to eat! I’m making them one day early, and am planning on warming them in the crockpot. Do I forego the baking then? Or do I still bake them today, and warm them in the crockpot tomorrow?

    1. Lori Lange says:

      I think warming in the crockpot later is just fine. Add more milk, as needed, if they begin to dry out.