Quintessential to almost all holiday meals, but most famously eaten on Turkey day, Thanksgiving mashed potatoes are the one side that’s truly adored by everyone. That's why we're showing you how to make mashed potatoes ahead of time, with nothing more than a few pounds of spuds, milk, butter, cream, salt and pepper. Make-ahead mashed potatoes can be prepped in just 25 minutes, and you can even make them the night before, so come dinnertime you can stress a little less knowing all you have to do is pop your prepped casserole dish in the oven.
More About This Recipe
- When something as delicious as mashed potatoes is involved, it’s no wonder there’s some jostling for credit about who invented the iconic dish. Some food historians say that 17th century England was the birthplace of our now-beloved mashed potatoes and gravy, while others credit a 1771 potato-making competition hosted by a Frenchman named Antoine Parmentier as the event that started the centuries-long craze. While we may never know the whole story, we can offer you plenty of information on the whole potato, from savory skin to meltingly soft insides, in this guide to making perfect mashed potatoes every time (hint: don’t forget the cream cheese). If you’d like to add some creative twists to this basic recipe, check out Betty’s collection of best mashed potatot recipes which includes add-ins like garlic, pesto, ranch, wasabi, beer, Asiago, bacon, Brie, parsley and chipotle (not all at once, but hey, you could try). There are even versions of cauliflower and pumpkin mash, as well.
Homemade Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
- Prep Time 25 min
- Total 25 hr 40 min
- Servings 8
- Ingredients 6
Ingredients
- 9 medium potatoes (3 pounds)
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup whipping (heavy) cream
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
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Step1Scrub potatoes. Leave skins on, if desired, or peel thinly and remove eyes. Cut into large pieces. Heat 1 inch water (salted if desired) to boiling in 3-quart saucepan; add potato pieces. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cook covered 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain. Shake pan gently over low heat to dry potatoes.
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Step2Heat milk, whipping cream, butter, salt and pepper in 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted. Measure out 1/4 cup of the milk mixture; cover and refrigerate.
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Step3Add remaining milk mixture in small amounts to potatoes in medium bowl, mashing with potato masher or electric mixer after each addition. (Amount of milk needed to make potatoes smooth and fluffy depends on kind of potatoes used.) Beat vigorously until potatoes are light and fluffy.
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Step4Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Spoon potatoes into casserole; cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
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Step5When ready to bake, heat oven to 350°F. Reheat reserved milk mixture in microwave. Then pour milk mixture over potatoes. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until potatoes are hot. Just before serving, stir potatoes.
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Step6ALTERNATE METHOD: Only have one oven and need to bake all your sides at the same temperature? You also can reheat these at 325°F. When ready to bake, heat oven to 325°F. Reheat reserved milk mixture in microwave. Then pour milk mixture over potatoes. Bake uncovered 60 to 65 minutes or until potatoes are hot. Just before serving, stir potatoes.
Nutrition
320
Calories
17g
Total Fat
4g
Protein
35g
Total Carbohydrate
3g
Sugars
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories
- 320
- Calories from Fat
- 160
- Total Fat
- 17g
- 27%
- Saturated Fat
- 11g
- 55%
- Trans Fat
- 1/2g
- Cholesterol
- 50mg
- 16%
- Sodium
- 410mg
- 17%
- Potassium
- 600mg
- 17%
- Total Carbohydrate
- 35g
- 12%
- Dietary Fiber
- 3g
- 14%
- Sugars
- 3g
- Protein
- 4g
% Daily Value*:
- Vitamin A
- 10%
- 10%
- Vitamin C
- 10%
- 10%
- Calcium
- 6%
- 6%
- Iron
- 4%
- 4%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 3 1/2 Fat;Carbohydrate Choice
2Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
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