The BEST Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes Recipe

I've officially cracked the code on the most creamy mashed potatoes recipe on the planet! You're welcome. It involves a little thing called Mascarpone cheese (don't let the name scare you off) which is my key ingredient to get these potatoes extra fluffy and creamy.

What is Mascarpone? Mascarpone is basically a very soft Italian Cream Cheese and the hero ingredient for my favorite mashed potatoes recipe. Lets dive in.

Mashed Potatoes are an essential part of Thanksgiving! They're right up there with a Herb Roasted Turkey. As "important" as the turkey might be, we really need to really honest with ourselves... it's all about the potatoes and the gravy. This Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes recipe is a game changer as they are fluffy, laced with cheese and taste like heaven... but imagine them doused with a giant spoonful of the Gravy from the Herb Roasted Turkey!!!! It's like the most amazing date you've ever gone on in your life.  Cheese, herbs, potatoes, and more cheese... I mean, what else in life could you possible ask for? Let's cover the FAQ's for this mashed potatoes recipe?

There are absolutely some tips and tricks to keep in mind when you're whipping these up.

Mashed Potato FAQ's:

How do you make simple mashed potatoes?

Good ingredients to start. Yukon Gold Potatoes and Mascarpone cheese. I also like to mash my potattoes with a potato ricer to get them extra fluffy and creamy. Otherwise if you stick to the recipe I list out below you really can not go wrong.

What is the best potato for mashing?

This mashed potatoes recipe calls for Yukon gold. If I could recommend one thing, its that you make your mashed potatoes with this type of Potato. They are available at every market and they are my favorite potato to use for this recipe because they don't dry out when boiled and they are a bit creamier which obviously makes for better mashed potatoes.

How long do I boil potatoes?

Depends on how you cut the potatoes? For this mashed potatoes recipe I cut them into large chunks about 1-2 inches and those typically take 15 minutes to boil. You'll know when they are done when you can easily pierce them with a knife and the knife goes right through. Be careful not to over-boil the potatoes!

Do I need a potato ricer?

You don't NEED ricer, but it certainly makes it easier and smoother.  I have this ricer and honestly it makes the best mashed potatoes and it's inexpensive! It's going to make your life easier, it's going to make your potatoes perfectly smooth and it's going to give you a slight arm workout which, in my mind, is much appreciated considering the amount of calories I consume at Thanksgiving dinner.

What makes this homemade mashed potatoes recipe so creamy?

For me it's all about the Mascarpone cheese. It's my secret to the best mashed potatoes on the planet. If you can't find mascarpone cheese, cream cheese is a great substitute.

Can I make this mashed potatoes recipe ahead of time?

This mashed potatoes recipe is great to make ahead and hold really well, just skip the chives until you're ready to serve. I like to make these a day ahead of time if I'm pressed on time, and re-heat them in a crockpot before dinner.

PS – are you thinking of putting this mashed potatoes recipe on your Thanksgiving menu? Check out the full What’s Gaby Cooking menu here along with the master prep schedule to keep things organized and on track!

Check out 4 of my favorite spins on the Traditional Mashed Potatoes:

• Cacio e Pepe - add an additional 1 cup of shredded parmesan cheese and 1-2 tablespoons of freshly cracked black pepper.
• Herby Olive Oil - add 1 cup of chopped parsley and chives and fold in 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil.
• White Cheddar - fold in 1-2 cups of shredded white cheddar 
• Bacon and Scallion - add 4 strips of cooked and crumbled bacon and 4-5 thinly sliced scallions. 

Looking for another recipe for easy mashed potatoes?

• Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Podcast S1 E10: Food Blogging 101, Mashed Potatoes and Mushrooms!!
• A Complete Guide to Thanksgiving Side Dishes

PS – are you thinking of putting this on your Thanksgiving menu? Check out the full What’s Gaby Cooking menu here along with the master prep schedule to keep things organized and on track!

And if you need more Thanksgiving Ideas check out this roundup of 80+ Thanksgiving Recipes and Ideas

The Best Mashed Potatoes

Author: Gaby Dalkin

4.9 from 10 votes

Looking for the best creamy mashed potatoes? These mascarpone mashed potatoes will truly knock your socks off!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
• ▢ ½ cup heavy cream or whole milk, plus more if needed
• ▢ 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ▢ 4 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
• ▢ 4 tablespoons Mascarpone cheese
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• ▢ kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• ▢ freshly chopped chives

Instructions

 

• Peel and dice potatoes, making sure all are in about 1 inch cubes.
• Place in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to medium low to maintain a rolling boil. Cook until potatoes are fork tender and you can easily pierce them with a fork when touched.
• Remove the potatoes from the heat and drain off the water. Place the diced potatoes through a ricer and then place back into the warm pot. Alternatively, if you don't have a ricer, mash the potatoes with a masher and place back into the warm pot
• Add the cream, butter, Parmesan, mascarpone and garlic and stir to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper and fold in the chopped chives before serving.

Notes

Mashed potatoes are easy to prep ahead. You can peel and cut the potatoes, and store them covered by water in the fridge. Then drain and proceed with the recipe.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 982mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 637IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 2mg

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Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Prop Styling by Stephanie Hanes // Recipe by What’s Gaby Cooking