Easy Creamy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes (Make Ahead!)

These Crockpot mashed potatoes are the creamiest, dreamiest buttery mashed potatoes that are perfect for making ahead of time to free up the stove!

Slow cooker mashed potatoes are perfect for bringing to potlucks or for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You can keep them warm for hours right in the Crockpot. They're simple to make, and they have just the right amount of garlic. Soo good.

These are no-boil and no-drain mashed potatoes. As in, you add everything to the slow cooker and then mash them right in there without any hassle. 

I've made these twice in the past week because the winter light has been giving me grief, and the four photos you see were taken over three different days. It's just so dark that it's much harder to plan the photoshoots out! Thankfully, in a few weeks it'll slowly start getting lighter again. I can't wait.

You may also like my Instant Pot mashed potatoes.

How to make slow cooker mashed potatoes

1. Add the broth and salt to your Crockpot. Turn it on high to get things started.
2. Prep your potatoes. I prefer not to peel them, but it's totally up to you. If you don't peel them, be sure to scrub them well and remove any spots. Cut them into rough 1" cubes then place them in your Crockpot.
3. Give the potatoes a stir, cover the slow cooker, and cook on HIGH for 3-3.5 hours. The potatoes should be nice and soft. I haven't tested them on low, but I'd give them 6-8 hours and probably stir them a few times so they cook more evenly.
4. When the potatoes are about ready, add the cream, butter, and garlic to a small saucepan. Warm it through. 
5. Add the cream/butter/garlic mixture slowly to the potatoes as you mash them with a hand-held potato masher (no need to drain the broth from the potatoes). Mash until they're nice and smooth, but be careful not to overwork them so they don't end up pasty. Season with extra salt if needed. Leave them in the Crockpot on the "keep warm" setting until you're ready to serve. 

(Scroll to the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions)

See? Making mashed potatoes in your Crockpot is so easy.

This is the 7-quart slow cooker I used for this recipe.

Recipe notes/tips:

• I recommend either using Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes. You can use red potatoes, just be sure not to over-mash them or they may end up gluey. 
• I like using an old fashioned hand-held potato masher. If you use an electric hand mixer, there's a chance they will end up gluey if you're not careful. 
• These are creamy, buttery, thick, restaurant-style mashed potatoes. I would not describe them as light and airy.
• I don't typically include broth in mashed potatoes, but it's a great way to keep them moist - especially if you're not serving them for a few hours. 
• You can leave the garlic out if you're not a fan. 
• If you want to substitute the cream with half-and-half or milk, you can, but (in my opinion) mashed potatoes are the place to go all-out, and real cream can't be beat. I wouldn't recommend skimping on the butter, though.
• Feel free to peel the potatoes if you prefer. 
• Reheating tips: If you plan on eating these mashed potatoes the same day, I recommend keeping them in your slow cooker on the "keep warm" setting. Just give them a stir prior to serving, and you'll be good to go. If you need to eat them the next day or even the day after that, you can either reheat them in the Crockpot or in a covered pot on the stove over fairly low heat. Once they're warm, I re-mash them and add a bit more butter and cream (or you could add milk) to bring them back to their former glory.

Love mashed potatoes? Try my bacon ranch mashed potatoes. 

I hope you'll love these easy slow cooker mashed potatoes! 

Questions? Ask me in the comments below.

5 from 3 votes

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Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

These Crockpot mashed potatoes are the creamiest, dreamiest buttery mashed potatoes that are perfect for making ahead of time to free up the stove!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Crockpot mashed potatoes, slow cooker mashed potatoes

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes

Servings 10

Calories 298 kcal

Author Natasha Bull

Ingredients

• 5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes cut into 1" pieces
• 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon salt + more to taste
• 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 4 cloves garlic minced

Instructions

1. Add the broth and salt to your slow cooker. Turn the heat on high.

2. Prep your potatoes. I don't peel them, but you can if you wish. I cut them into roughly 1" pieces. Add them to your Crockpot.

3. Give the potatoes a stir. Cover and cook for 3-3.5 hours or until the potatoes are nice and tender.

4. When the potatoes are close to being done, add the cream, butter, and garlic to a small saucepan. Warm it through over medium heat until the butter is melted and the garlic infuses the mixture.

5. Mash the potatoes right in the Crockpot (don't drain the broth). Gradually pour in the cream mixture as you go along. Be careful not to overwork the potatoes so they don't end up gluey. Season with extra salt & pepper as needed. If you're making these ahead, use the "keep warm" setting and give them a stir prior to serving.

Recipe Notes

• Serves 8-10 depending on how much people eat.
• I recommend using either Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes.
• See the blog post for more tips/tricks/recipe notes.
• This is the 7-quart Crockpot I used to make these potatoes. It was fairly full, so I wouldn't go smaller than a 6-quart.
• Want to make these in your Instant Pot? Here's the recipe.
• Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition Facts

Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

Amount Per Serving

Calories 298 Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Cholesterol 57mg19%

Sodium 432mg19%

Potassium 978mg28%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 633IU13%

Vitamin C 28mg34%

Calcium 90mg9%

Iron 7mg39%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.