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Easy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes for a Crowd

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These creamy, buttery crockpot mashed potatoes are the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it side dish. Perfect for feeding a crowd with minimal effort, they’re kid-approved and reheat beautifully.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ cup whole milk or half-and-half, warmed
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into chunks (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the potatoes: Peel and cut potatoes into uniform 2-inch chunks. Rinse in cold water to remove excess starch, then drain well.
  2. Layer in the crockpot: Place potato chunks in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add cubed butter, broth, salt, pepper, and cream cheese (if using). Stir gently to coat.
  3. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until potatoes are fork-tender.
  4. Warm the milk: About 10 minutes before potatoes are done, warm the milk in a small saucepan or microwave until warm to the touch (do not boil).
  5. Mash: Turn off the slow cooker. If using cream cheese, stir to incorporate. Mash with a hand mixer on low speed or a potato masher until smooth. Do not over-mash.
  6. Add milk: Gradually pour in the warm milk, stirring or mixing on low until desired consistency is reached. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  7. Keep warm: Switch slow cooker to ‘warm’ setting. Potatoes will stay creamy for up to 2 hours. Stir in a splash more warm milk if they thicken.

Notes

For extra creamy potatoes, add 4 ounces of softened cream cheese before cooking. Always warm your dairy before adding to prevent a gluey texture. Rinsing the cut potatoes removes excess starch and helps avoid a sticky result. These potatoes can be made up to 2 days ahead and reheated with a splash of warm milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot mashed potatoes, slow cooker mashed potatoes, easy mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes for a crowd, kid-friendly mashed potatoes, Thanksgiving side dish

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/easy-crockpot-mashed-potatoes-for-a-crowd/