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    Crockpot Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Crockpot Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

    Published: Nov 6, 2023 · Modified: Nov 11, 2024 by Jessica · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

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    These Crockpot Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes are easy to make and absolutely delicious. Read on for detailed step by step information, video tutorial, and our most frequent reader FAQ's answered.

    Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes close up on a spoon with salt and pepper.

    Have you made Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes before? I am always shocked when people say they haven't tried it. I've been making this recipe for crock pot mashed potatoes for as long as I can remember, and they never disappoint. 

    Join the thousands of people who have successfully made this recipe, and in turn made their Thanksgiving so much easier. 

    *This post contains affiliate links.

    Other slow cooker potatoes recipes in my arsenal are my Loaded Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes and these amazing Slow Cooker Ranch Potatoes. You know what my favorite thing about using my slow cooker is? You only need one pot! There's no pre-boiling, and no transferring necessary. 

    How To Make Mashed Potatoes In Crockpot

    We love these for Sunday dinners or busy weeknights, and especially for Thanksgiving. Some of our favorite side dishes to serve along with these potatoes are Green Bean Casserole and my Grandma's Famous Homemade Rolls.

    Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with melted butter, salt & pepper,herbs in a white bowl.

    Ingredients:

    • Potatoes
    • Water
    • Salted Butter
    • Milk
    • Salt & Pepper 

    I like to use russet potatoes for this recipe. You can use new potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes instead, just make sure that you use 5 lbs. of potatoes.

    Kitchen Gear:

    • Slow Cooker
    • Potato Masher

    Make Ahead Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

    Peel potatoes and chop into small chunks, then add them to your slow cooker. 

    Peeled and chopped potatoes in a white slow cooker bowl.

    Pour water into slow cooker and add 1 teaspoon of salt and a little bit of pepper.

    Peeled and chopped potatoes in a slow cooker with water being poured into the bowl.

    Now, cook potatoes in the slow cooker on low for 6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are soft. 

    Peeled and chopped potatoes in a white slow cooker with lid being put over it.

    As soon as potatoes are soft, mash them with a potato masher. 

    Potato masher in mashed potatoes in a slow cooker bowl.

    Add milk, butter, salt and pepper to taste. Taste as you go and add more milk until you get your desired consistency. 

    Pro Tips:

    • Don't over-mash your potatoes. Mash until they are soft and creamy, then stop. 
    • You can add other mix-ins to these potatoes. Some of our favorite things to add are sour cream, cream cheese, garlic, chives, dill, or rosemary.
    Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes close up on a spoon with salt and pepper.

    Can you warm mashed potatoes in a crock pot?

    Yes! Whether you make them in the crock pot like in this recipe, or make them on the stove top and transfer them to keep them warm until dinner, the crockpot is a great vehicle to keep potatoes warm until ready to serve. 

    How long can mashed potatoes stay warm in crock pot? 

    You can make mashed potatoes the day before Thanksgiving and re-warm them with great success.

    Once mashed potatoes are cooked, add an extra dose of milk and butter, so that the potatoes are kind of... soupy. This would not be ideal if you were eating them right away, but this will ensure that after being refrigerated, they will still be soft and creamy.

    Put them in a deep casserole dish and store in the fridge overnight. Warm them up in the oven the next day, uncovered, with a little butter on top. 

    Transfer the mashed potatoes back into the slow cooker, and set it to low. Do this for up to 4 hours, stirring once an hour. Stir before serving. The mashed potatoes will stay warm and creamy.

    Recipe For Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes

    More Potato Recipes

    • Easy Slow Cooker Ranch Potatoes
    • Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
    • Slow Cooker Loaded Mashed Potatoes
    • Bacon-Wrapped Potatoes with Dill Sauce
    • Cheesy Funeral Potatoes
    • The Best Skillet Fried Potatoes

    If you try this recipe, we'd love if you could leave a comment and positive review. They mean so much to us.

    Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes close up on a spoon with salt and pepper.

    Recipe For Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes

    Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes are so easy to make, so creamy and so delicious. After trying this, you won't want to make mashed potatoes any other way.
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours hours
    Total Time: 4 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 215.03kcal
    Author: Pretty Providence

    Video

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 5 Pounds Potatoes
    • 2 Cups Water
    • ½ Cup Milk
    • 1 ½ Sticks Salted Butter (12 Tablespoons)
    • Salt and Pepper to Taste

    Instructions

    Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

    • Peel potatoes and chop them into small chunks. Add potatoes to slow cooker and add water.
    • Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
    • Once potatoes are soft, drain water. Mash quickly with a potato masher.
    • Add milk, butter, salt, pepper, or whatever else you like to add to mashed potatoes and combine until they reach your desired taste and consistency.
    • Set your slow cooker to warm until you are ready to eat, then enjoy.

    Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

    • After cooking, add an extra dose of milk and butter, so that the potatoes are kind of... soupy. This would not be ideal if you were eating them right away, but this will ensure that after being refrigerated, they will still be soft and creamy.
    • Put them in a deep casserole dish and store in the fridge overnight. Warm them up in the oven the next day, uncovered, with a little butter on top. 
    • Transfer the mashed potatoes back into the slow cooker, and set it to low. Do this for up to 4 hours, stirring once an hour. Stir before serving. The mashed potatoes will stay warm and creamy.

    Notes

     Pro Tips: 
    • Don't over-mash your potatoes. Mash until they are soft and creamy, then stop. 
    • You can add other mix-ins to these potatoes. Some of our favorite things to add are sour cream, cream cheese, garlic, chives, dill, or rosemary.
    Serve With: 
    Some of our favorite side dishes to serve along with these potatoes are Green Bean Casserole and my Grandma's Famous Homemade Rolls.
    You can see our full Thanksgiving gallery of recipes here. 
    Can you warm mashed potatoes in the crock pot? 
    Yes! Whether you make them in the crock pot like in this recipe, or make them on the stove top and transfer them to keep them warm until dinner, the crockpot is a great vehicle to keep potatoes warm until ready to serve. 
    Kitchen Gear:
    • Slow Cooker
    • Potato Masher

    Nutrition

    Calories: 215.03kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.01g | Protein: 5.31g | Fat: 11.74g | Saturated Fat: 7.37g | Cholesterol: 30.86mg | Sodium: 125.64mg | Potassium: 798.7mg | Fiber: 4.73g | Sugar: 0.52g | Vitamin A: 372.26IU | Vitamin C: 21.55mg | Calcium: 73.32mg | Iron: 6.12mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!

    Try these make ahead crockpot mashed potatoes and you'll never look back. 

    This post was originally published December 2012, and has been updated with new photos, video and more detailed information.

    Crockpot Make Ahead Mashed PotatoesCrockpot Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Gabby

      March 07, 2024 at 6:15 am

      5 stars
      I didn't have salted butter so added extra salt and it turned out great.

      Reply
    2. Kylie R

      March 07, 2024 at 5:10 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for making these in the crock pot!! Such a time saver. These were delicious!

      Reply
    3. Sha

      March 07, 2024 at 4:20 am

      5 stars
      This is so rich and delicious! Paired it to a grilled pork chop, a perfect combo!

      Reply
    4. jess

      September 28, 2023 at 3:57 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you thank you thank you! this was exactly what I needed to find, and I love that you can make these the day before thanksgiving, so that all I would have to do is warm them up! I cannot thank you enough for sharing this amazing recipe

      Reply
    5. April

      September 28, 2023 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      There's something SO GOOD about slow cooker mashed potatoes. I absolutely love them, and these were no exception!

      Reply
    6. Alicia

      November 27, 2020 at 3:35 pm

      Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. You were absolutely right, this is perfect for Thanksgiving. I made this yesterday and it was fantastic. Oh, and being able to prepare my sides early in the day made for a much more enjoyable evening.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        December 01, 2020 at 1:24 pm

        Oh my gosh you made our day! Thank you so much Alicia, so glad it worked out well for you!

        Reply
    7. Lynnette Beste

      November 04, 2019 at 2:21 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! I can put them on and leave, come back and mash! It works so well on holidays when stovetop room is at a premium.

      Reply
    8. Betsy

      November 03, 2019 at 4:01 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVE mashed potatoes! Seriously one of my all-time comfort foods! Love that these are made in the slow cooker and turn out so well! Delicious!!

      Reply
      • Sarah

        November 04, 2019 at 5:58 am

        Right!? Mashed potatoes were my first love. haha. I will never stop loving them.

        Reply
    9. Trang

      November 03, 2019 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      This is perfect with Thanksgiving coming up. I am trying to utilize the crock pot and instant pot as much as possible since there are so many sides and a turkey to worry about!

      Reply
      • Sarah

        November 03, 2019 at 3:28 pm

        Yes. I'm so glad we have slow cookers, especially on holidays!

        Reply
    10. Toni

      November 03, 2019 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      I just tried this recipe planning ahead for Thanksgiving. So easy and delicious!

      Reply
      • Sarah

        November 03, 2019 at 3:27 pm

        Yay!! Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    11. Lauren Kelly

      November 03, 2019 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      Best comfort food ever! This is such a great recipe that my whole family loves.

      Reply
      • Sarah

        November 03, 2019 at 3:28 pm

        YES! Agree!

        Reply
    12. ND

      November 03, 2019 at 8:21 am

      5 stars
      I love this recipe so much, it is perfect for the Holidays!

      Reply
      • Sarah

        November 03, 2019 at 3:28 pm

        Yay, us too!

        Reply
    13. Karen

      December 08, 2012 at 7:16 pm

      Cool idea! Just pinned it. Thanks!

      Reply
    14. Mique

      December 07, 2012 at 4:46 am

      Mmmm those look awesome! Hi - I just wanted to say thanks for linking up to my special About Me Pity Party last week. I loved reading about the two of you! You're both so cute. I love that you've been friends since you were itty bitty. Thanks for linking up your fun projects on 30days!

      Reply

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