• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

From A Chef's Kitchen logo

  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Disclosure
    • Use of Content and Photography
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Breads and Muffins
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Pickles and Relishes
    • Main Course / Entrees
      • Beef
      • Chicken and Turkey
      • Fish and Seafood
      • Lamb
      • Main Course – Dinner Salads
      • Pork
    • Pizza and Pasta
    • Quiches and Tarts
    • Sandwiches
    • Sauces Dressings and Marinades
    • Side Dishes
      • Beans, Rice & Grains
      • Potatoes
      • Salads
      • Vegetables
    • Soups and Stews
    • Vegetarian / Vegan Entrees
    • Recipe Collections
      • Date Night Dinners
      • Grilling Favorites
      • Holiday Ideas
      • Ideas For Entertaining
      • Light and Healthy
      • Make Ahead and Meal Prep
      • One Pan / One Pot
      • Round-Ups
      • Slow Cooker Season Favorites
      • Weeknight Dinner Solutions
  • Work With Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter
  • ×

    YOU ARE HERE: Home » Recipes » Side Dishes - Potatoes

    By Carol · Published: Nov 18, 2021 · Modified: Nov 18, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes (Mashed Potato Casserole)

    Jump to Recipe
    5 from 3 votes
    1 hour 45 minutes

    Sharing my personal chef secrets for how I do mashed potatoes for clients so they reheat beautifully and stay light and fluffy. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes (Mashed Potato Casserole) are smooth, creamy, slightly cheesy, garlicky, a little bit tangy and a whole lot delicious.

    Best of all, they can be made two days ahead and baked when you need them or two hours ahead and kept hot in your slow cooker!

    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes with serving spoon scooping some out.

    Why This Recipe Is a Keeper:

    Sometimes referred to as a Mashed Potato Casserole, these Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes are everything!

    • Smooth and creamy
    • Slightly cheesy
    • Garlicky
    • A little bit tangy and a whole lot delicious
    • A potato ricer takes care of any lumps
    • Minimal stirring/processing keeps them light, fluffy and far from gummy.

    This Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes recipe is based on some food science put forth by Cook’s Illustrated (a membership site so I can’t link) and food scientist Shirley Corriher where butter goes into the potatoes before any other dairy is added. According to Cook’s Illustrated, adding melted butter first–before any liquid–coats the starch in the potatoes with fat so it can’t absorb liquid which is what leads to gluey mashed potatoes. Shirley Corriher says the fat from the butter gets absorbed into the cells of the potatoes first then the milk (or the rest of the dairy) loosens and flavors the potatoes. Here’s all the information at Food52 which I can link to: A Genius Trick for More Buttery-Tasting Mashed Potatoes.

    Reheating the Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes (Mashed Potato Casserole) in the oven makes them souffle-like and produces light, golden, crispy edges everyone will fight over! You can also keep them hot in your slow cooker for up to two hours.

    I’ve made them this way hundreds of times for personal chef clients over 20 years and for my family with not a single complaint. My clients even freeze them and they still reheat beautifully.

    Perfect on the side with my Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs, Mississippi-Style Boneless Short Ribs and of course, Roast Turkey Breast with Traditional Stuffing!

    So delicious you may not even need gravy, but if you do, be sure to add my No-Drippings Gravy!

    Let’s make ’em!

    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes in white baking dish on cooling rack with yellow striped towel.

    How to Make Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes:

    Recipe Ingredients:

    Here’s everything you’ll need to make this make-ahead mashed potato recipe along with how to prep. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

    Ingredients for Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes.

    Ingredient Notes:

    • Russet Potatoes: Russet potatoes are my favorite potatoes for mashed potatoes because of their high starch content. Yukon Gold or red will work but their “waxy” nature can get gummy a little too quickly.
    • Garlic: Fresh garlic is best but I have used a little garlic powder added to the melted butter in a pinch.
    • Butter: I always use unsalted butter in cooking because I can control the amount of salt.
    • Sour Cream: I use full-fat sour cream but light sour cream does work.
    • Cream Cheese: Here too, full-fat but light cream cheese (Neufchatel) does work. Let soften before using in the mashed potatoes.
    • Half-and-Half: I like half-and-half the best for mashed potatoes (half cream, half whole milk) and I always have it on hand because it’s what I put in my coffee.

    Step-By-Step Instructions:

    • Gather and measure out all the ingredients.
    • Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or two smaller dishes with cooking spray.
    • So that the potatoes don’t start discoloring before you get them all peeled, fill a pot with an estimated amount of cold water you think will cover the potatoes. You can add or remove water later but you want the water to just cover the potatoes.
    • Then, peel the potatoes, rinse to ensure they’re clean and cut into even chunks and place in the water. (I usually cut them into 1 to 1 ½-inch chunks.)
    • Add 8-10 peeled cloves of garlic in the water along with a generous amount of salt–approximately 1 tablespoon.
    Potatoes in water in pot before being boiled.
    • Place the pot with the potatoes on the stove, turn the heat to HIGH, then place a stick of butter in a stainless steel bowl and set it over the potatoes.
    • Keep an eye on the butter and remove it from the top of the pot when it is melted or almost melted. Do not let the pot boil over. Add 1 teaspoon salt then set the butter aside to cool. You can also do this in a small saucepan to pour over the riced potatoes.
    Stick of butter in stainless steel bowl.
    Melted butter in stainless steel bowl.
    • Cook the potatoes until they can be easily pierced with a paring knife.
    • Drain well, then place back on the hot burner for just a couple minutes so any residual water steams away. You’ll notice the edges of the potatoes turning a little whiter.
    Cooked potatoes in pot still steaming.
    • Then, working quickly so the potatoes don’t cool too much, start pushing the potatoes and garlic while they’re still hot and steaming into the melted butter. (I find disposable gloves help tremendously in handling the hot potatoes.)
    Potatoes in ricer about to be riced into butter in stainless steel bowl.
    Potatoes being riced into melted butter in stainless steel bowl.
    • Keep going until you have all the potatoes “riced.”
    Riced potatoes in stainless steel bowl.
    • You still have to work quickly so the potatoes don’t cool and you end up with firm “riced” potatoes.
    • Quickly stir the potatoes to incorporate and distribute the butter.
    Potatoes being stirred in stainless steel bowl.
    • Push the potatoes off to one side of the bowl.
    • In the other half, place the sour cream, cream cheese and half-and-half.
    • Puree the sour cream, cream cheese and half-and-half with an immersion blender avoiding the potatoes. Do not puree the potatoes with the immersion blender. A hand mixer also works to blend the sour cream, cream cheese and half-and-half but it takes longer. (You can also do this in a separate bowl then add it to the potatoes. However, this is how I do it at a client’s home to reduce the number of bowls and pots I use.)
    Potatoes with cream cheese, sour cream and half-and-half in stainless steel bowl.
    Immersion blender smoothing out cream cheese, sour cream and half-and-half.
    • Then stir the potatoes into the sour cream, cream cheese and half-and-half blend.
    • You may think you’re going to have potato soup, but it all comes together into a lovely creamy blend.
    Mashed potatoes in stainless steel bowl.
    • Transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking dish(es). Cool and refrigerate.
    • When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 375 degrees and bake until the potatoes are puffy, the top is lightly golden and the potatoes are thoroughly heated through.
    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes in white baking dish before being baked.

    Beautiful, poofy, fluffy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes!

    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes on cooling rack with yellow-striped towel garnished with fresh thyme.

    Chef Tips and Tricks:

    • When boiling potatoes, you always want to start with cold water. If you start with hot water or boil the water first then add the potatoes, the potatoes cook unevenly.
    • Over the years of my personal chef career, I’ve had to learn how to reduce the amount of pots, pans and bowls I use and reduce steps. Placing the bowl with the butter over the pot of potatoes both melts the butter and helps the pot of potatoes boil a bit faster. However, as stated above, keep an eye on the butter so it just melts and so the potatoes don’t boil over.
    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes in baking dish with some scooped out with serving spoon.

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    What if I want to serve Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes right away?

    Puree or blend the sour cream, cream cheese and half-and-half then place in a saucepan on the stovetop on low and very gently warm it before adding to the potatoes. Be careful to not scald the combination or boil it. Allow a little extra time to heat back up in the oven as they’ll cool down slightly.

    If I want to serve these the same day, can I keep them warm in a slow cooker?

    You absolutely can–up to two hours. Set your slow cooker to LOW and preheat it while boiling and assembling the potatoes. Melt a little extra butter and lightly brush the slow cooker insert. When you have the potatoes all stirred together, transfer them to your slow cooker and cover. Remove the cover occasionally to release any steam and condensation that builds up on the cover.

    Why do you add melted butter to mashed potatoes? I thought you were never supposed to add melted butter to mashed potatoes because the fat and milk solids separate.

    You’re after the fat in the butter here to get into the cells of the potatoes and coat the starch. A small amount of separated milk solids won’t affect the quality of the potatoes.

    Can I just use an electric mixer to blend the potatoes?

    You can, but I’ve never been a fan because it’s easy to over blend the potatoes which can cause them to become gummy.

    How far in advance can I make Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes (Mashed Potato Casserole)?

    These can be made two to three days in advance and refrigerated. Let cool thoroughly in the refrigerator then cover. If they’re still warm when you cover them, there will be condensation that builds up on the cover which can drip back down on the potatoes.

    Can I freeze Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes?

    Absolutely! After assembling, place in oven-safe containers such as Pyrex or aluminum (if you’re okay with that). Cool thoroughly then freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator then reheat uncovered in the oven at 375 degrees.

    Variations:

    There are so many things you can do with this mashed potato casserole recipe! You can add:

    • Roasted garlic
    • Horseradish
    • Mustard
    • Different types of cheese such as Cheddar, Gruyere, blue cheese or Parmesan
    • Chipotle chiles or Hatch green chiles
    • Bacon
    • Rosemary or other herbs such as chives
    • Pesto
    • Artichokes
    • Caramelized onions
    • Pretty much anything!

    Serve with:

    • Mississippi-Style Boneless Beef Short Ribs
    • Slow Cooker Boneless Beef Short Ribs Bourguignon
    • Roast Turkey Breast with Traditional Stuffing
    • Turkey Scallopini in Sherry Cream Sauce with Mushrooms and Artichokes
    • Braised Pork Loin Roast in Dijon Mustard Sauce

    More potato recipes you can make ahead!

    • Au Gratin Potatoes with Green Chiles
    • Spinach Parmesan Ranch Twice Baked Potatoes with Parmesan Crumb Topping
    • Potato Cabbage Casserole with Cheddar and Bacon
    • Cheddar and Bacon Twice-Baked Potatoes

    Get all my delicious potato side dish recipes at: Potato Side Dishes – From A Chef’s Kitchen

    Join the From A Chef’s Kitchen mailing list to get all the latest posts and more!

    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes with serving spoon scooping some out.

    Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes (Mashed Potato Casserole)

    5 from 3 votes
    By: Carol | From A Chef’s Kitchen
    Sometimes referred to as a Mashed Potato Casserole, these Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes are smooth, creamy, slightly cheesy, garlicky, a little bit tangy and a whole lot delicious! Best of all, they can be made two to three days ahead of time!
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 25 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 45 mins
    Course Side Dishes – Potatoes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 461 kcal

    Equipment

    • Wusthof Paring Knife Set
    • Stainless Steel Stockpot
    • Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
    • Potato Ricer
    • Breville Immersion Blender

    Ingredients
      

    • Cooking spray
    • 5 pounds Russet potatoes - peeled and cut into 1 to 1 ½-inch pieces
    • 8-10 whole cloves garlic - peeled
    • Salt
    • 1 stick unsalted butter
    • 1 package (8-ounce) cream cheese - room temperature
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 2 cups half-and-half
    • Freshly ground black pepper - to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish (or two smaller baking dishes) with cooking spray.
    • Place peeled potatoes and garlic in a pot of cold water to cover. Add a generous amount of salt (approximately 1 tablespoon).
    • Set the pot on the stove burner and set the heat to HIGH. Place the butter in a stainless steel bowl and set it over the potatoes to melt the butter.
    • Bring potatoes and garlic to a boil. KEEP AN EYE ON THE BUTTER and remove the bowl from the pot when the butter JUST melts and before the pot boils over. Add 1 teaspoon salt to the butter.
    • Boil the potatoes uncovered until they can be easily pierced with a knife. Turn the heat off.
    • Drain the potatoes then place the pot back on the OFF–BUT STILL WARM– burner for 1-2 minutes.
    • Working quickly, push the potatoes through a potato ricer into the melted salted butter. Stir to distribute the butter and smooth out the "riced" potatoes.
    • Push the potatoes to one side of the bowl. Place the cream cheese, sour cream and half-and-half in the other side of the bowl. Puree the cream cheese/sour cream/half-and-half blend with an immersion blender (DO NOT PUREE THE POTATOES). (Alternatively, use a hand mixer to smooth out the blend.)
    • Stir the potatoes into the cream cheese/sour cream/half-and-half blend. (It will take a little while and you may think you have potato soup, but as the potatoes cool, they'll blend with the creamy blend.
    • Transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking dish. Refrigerate until needed.
    • When ready to bake, let potatoes sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes. (You never want to place a cold ceramic or glass dish directly into a hot oven.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until heated through and the top is lightly golden.

    Notes

    TO SERVE THE POTATOES RIGHT AWAY:  Puree or blend the sour cream, cream cheese and half-and-half then place in a saucepan on the stovetop on low and very gently warm it to keep the potatoes as warm as possible. Allow a little extra time to heat back up in the oven as they’ll cool down a little bit.
    TO KEEP WARM IN A SLOW COOKER:  Set your slow cooker to LOW and preheat it while boiling and assembling the potatoes. Melt a little extra butter and lightly brush the slow cooker insert. When you have the potatoes all stirred together, transfer them to your slow cooker and cover. Remove the cover occasionally to release any steam and condensation that builds up on the cover.
    FREEZER-FRIENDLY:  After assembling, place in oven-safe containers such as Pyrex or aluminum (if you’re okay with that). Cool thoroughly then freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator then reheat uncovered in the oven at 375 degrees.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 | Calories: 461kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 163mg | Potassium: 1309mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 751IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 3mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @fromachefskitchen.
    « Roast Turkey Breast with Traditional Stuffing
    How to Make Gravy Without Drippings »
    179 shares
    • Share19
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathleen MacDonald says

      November 27, 2021 at 7:11 am

      5 stars
      These mashed potatoes were a Godsend this Thanksgiving. Lately I’ve been taking them off the menu because it’s just too many sides to deal with for Thanksgiving and too many dishes to contend with during cleanup. I made this 2 days in advance and it couldn’t have been more delicious and a special version for a special meal.

      Reply
      • Carol says

        November 27, 2021 at 7:32 am

        Hi, Kathleen, Thank you so very much and I’m so happy and honored these were a part of your Thanksgiving holiday!

        Reply

    Leave a Comment, Rating or Question Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome and glad you’re here!

    Follow Me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter

    AS SEEN ON

    Top 10 Reader Favorites

    Classic French Ratatouille in white Dutch oven garnished with fresh basil.

    Traditional Ratatouille Recipe

    Photo of Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts Goat Cheese and Honey Balsamic Dressing on white oval platter with serving utensils.

    Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts Goat Cheese and Honey Balsamic Dressing

    Kicked Up Canned Baked Beans - Overhead shot after spoon is inserted into the baked beans

    Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans

    Garlic Herb Muffin Pan Potato Galettes - Straight-on hero shot on white background garnished with fresh thyme

    Garlic Herb Muffin Pan Potato Galettes

    Vegan Thai Green Sweet Potato Curry - Overhead hero shot of curry in white cooking vessel garnished with cilantro and lime wedges on pale blue background

    Vegan Thai Green Sweet Potato Curry

    Italian Pot Roast (Straccato) and Oven-Baked Gorgonzola Polenta - Overhead hero shot

    Italian Pot Roast (Stracotto) and Oven-Baked Gorgonzola Polenta

    Beef Braciole on gray-rimmed platter ready to serve with serving fork

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola)

    Spicy Asian Pork Cabbage Rolls overhead shot of entire pan

    Spicy Asian Pork Cabbage Rolls

    Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs

    Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs Recipe

    Curry Braised Chicken Thighs hero shot in pan garnished with cilantro on dark wood surface with yellow striped towel

    Curry Braised Chicken Thighs

    Grilling Favorites!

    Mahi-Mahi with Cilantro - Ginger Pesto with jasmine rice on white plate garnished with lime wedge and cilantro.

    Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Cilantro – Ginger Pesto

    Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak with Peperonata - Overhead hero shot of dish on white oval platter with meat fork

    Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak with Peperonata

    Grilled Citrus Chicken with Spicy Basil Chimichurri

    Grilled Vegetable Kabobs with Charmoula - Overhead shot of finished meal on white background garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges

    Grilled Vegetable Kabobs with Charmoula

    Indian-Style Beef Kabobs with Cilantro-Coconut Sauce - Hero shot of kabobs on gray-rimmed platter with sauce in the background

    Indian-Style Beef Kabobs with Cilantro – Coconut Sauce

    Chicken Zucchini Feta Burgers with Jalapeño Tzatziki - Close-up hero shot

    Grilled Chicken Burgers with Jalapeño Tzatziki

    Southwestern Spice Grilled Pork Chops with Plum Jalapeño Salsa - Overhead hero shot of pork chops with salsa, chips and tea on white wooden background

    Southwestern Spiced Grilled Pork Chops with Plum Jalapeno Salsa

    Grilled Burgers with Smoked Gouda and Bacon Tomato Jam

    Grilled Burgers with Bacon Tomato Jam and Smoked Gouda

    Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream and Honey Balsamic Drizzle - Some with ice cream, some drizzled with balsamic honey drizzle

    Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream and Honey Balsamic Drizzle

    Cuban Style Mojo Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Black Beans - Overhead shot on blue background

    Cuban-Style Mojo Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Black Beans

    Summer is Salad Season!

    Sicilian Cauliflower Salad - Overhead shot of salad with serving utensils

    Sicilian Cauliflower Salad

    Warm Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad

    Warm Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad

    Mediterranean Barley Salad with Green Beans, Red Bell Pepper, Olives and Feta in serving bowl with serving spoon garnished with fresh parsley.

    Mediterranean Barley Salad with Green Beans, Red Bell Pepper, Olives and Feta

    Southwest Layered Salad - Close-up of salad in Mason jar

    Southwestern Layered Salad + Review: Simply Vegetarian Cookbook

    Cauliflower Artichoke Tabbouleh - Overhead hero shot in white bowl on light gray background with light gray napkin

    Cauliflower Artichoke Tabbouleh

    Pasta Salad with Creamy Cucumber Dressing Peas and Fresh Dill

    Creamy Pasta Salad with Cucumber Dressing Peas and Fresh Dill

    Pull this Massaged Kale Antipasto Salad together with what you probably already have on hand!

    Massaged Kale Antipasto Salad

    Cucumber Red Onion Salad with Feta Cheese

    Cucumber Red Onion Feta Cheese Salad

    Quinoa and Kale Salad with Red Grapes, Walnuts and Honey - Lemon Dressing

    Quinoa and Kale Salad with Red Grapes Walnuts and Lemon Honey Dressing

    Green Bean and Radish Salad with Mustard Caper Vinaigrette in wooden bowl with blue green towel.

    Green Bean and Radish Salad Recipe with Mustard-Caper Vinaigrette

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Terms of Use
    • Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates!!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Copyright © 2021 From A Chef's Kitchen and A Thought For Food

    • 19Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Email
    179 shares