Easy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
These crockpot mashed potatoes are the perfect make-ahead Thanksgiving side dish! This easy recipe is made entirely in the slow cooker, with no boiling or draining required. You can mash the potatoes up to 2 hours ahead and keep them warm in the crockpot until ready to serve.
Ingredients
- 5 pounds Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into 8 pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 1 cup whole milk warmed (plus more as needed for creaminess)
- Chopped fresh chives for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Place the potato pieces in the slow cooker and pour in the broth.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, until the potatoes are very soft and tender. (Alternatively, cook on low for 7-8 hours, but note that the potatoes may slightly gray.)
- Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until smooth. Add the butter, salt, and pepper, mashing until well incorporated.
- Using a wooden spoon or large spoon, stir in the warm milk, ¼ cup at a time, until the potatoes reach the desired creamy consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve immediately or keep warm in the slow cooker (set to ""Keep Warm"") for up to 2 hours.
Notes
For a tangy flavor, stir in ¼-½ cup of sour cream, plain Greek yogurt, or cream cheese.
Slow Cooker Size & Scaling:
This recipe was tested in a 5-quart slow cooker.
1.5x the recipe (about 8 pounds of potatoes) will fit in a 5-quart slow cooker.
A double recipe (10 pounds of potatoes) will fit in a 6 or 7-quart slow cooker.
Cook Time Adjustments: If your slow cooker is full to capacity, you may need to slightly increase the cook time.
If making half a recipe, and the slow cooker is not very full, you may need to reduce the cook time slightly.
This recipe was tested in a 5-quart slow cooker.
1.5x the recipe (about 8 pounds of potatoes) will fit in a 5-quart slow cooker.
A double recipe (10 pounds of potatoes) will fit in a 6 or 7-quart slow cooker.
Cook Time Adjustments: If your slow cooker is full to capacity, you may need to slightly increase the cook time.
If making half a recipe, and the slow cooker is not very full, you may need to reduce the cook time slightly.