Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
These creamy garlic mashed potatoes with sour cream are ready in just 25 minutes and packed with rich buttery flavor. With the perfect blend of sour cream, fresh garlic, and herbs, they’re guaranteed to become your new go-to side dish.
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Looking for the ultimate comfort food side dish? These easy garlic mashed potatoes are incredibly creamy and flavorful thanks to fresh minced garlic, butter, and sour cream. They’re simple enough for weeknight dinners but impressive enough for holiday gatherings.
If you love potatoes as much as I do, you’ll also want to try my Cheesy Crash Hot Potatoes or these Crispy Greek-Style Lemon & Dill Potatoes With Feta.
Table of Contents
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: Ready in just 25 minutes with simple ingredients you probably already have
- Perfectly creamy: The combination of butter and sour cream creates an incredibly smooth and rich texture
- Make-ahead friendly: Can be made in advance and reheated when needed
- Customizable: Easy to adjust the garlic level and consistency to your preference
What Are Gold Potatoes?
Gold potatoes (also called Yukon Gold) have a naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture, making them perfect for mashing. Their medium starch content helps create fluffy potatoes while still maintaining enough structure to avoid becoming gluey.
Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
- Gold potatoes – These medium-starch potatoes create the perfect creamy texture. They have a naturally buttery taste that enhances the final dish.
- Unsalted butter – Room temperature butter incorporates more easily into the potatoes. Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level.
- Sour cream – Adds richness and a subtle tangy flavor that balances the garlic. Make sure it’s at room temperature for the smoothest results.
- Whole milk – Creates the perfect creamy consistency. Room temperature milk blends better with hot potatoes.
- Fresh garlic – Minced fresh garlic provides bold flavor. You can adjust the amount to your taste preferences.
- Garlic powder – Adds an extra layer of garlic flavor that complements the fresh garlic.
- Salt and pepper – Essential for bringing out all the flavors.
- Fresh herbs – Chives or parsley add color and fresh flavor.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Additions
- Sour cream substitutes – Plain Greek yogurt provides a similar tang with less fat, or use heavy cream for extra richness
- Milk alternatives – Any plant-based milk works well
- Butter options – Plant-based butter can be used for a dairy-free version
Add-ins – Try mixing in:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Crumbled bacon
- Caramelized onions
- Roasted garlic instead of fresh
How to Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes (step-by-step directions)
- Place peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. (Photo 1)
- Reduce heat to medium and cook for 12-15 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender. (Photo 2)
- Drain potatoes and return them to the pot or transfer to a large mixing bowl. (Photo 3)
- Add room temperature butter, sour cream, milk, minced garlic, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. (Photo 4)
- Mash until desired consistency is reached, adding more milk for creamier potatoes. (Photo 5)
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with fresh herbs. (Photo 6)
Recipe Tips
- Cut potatoes into equal-sized pieces for even cooking
- Bring butter, sour cream, and milk to room temperature before using
- Mash potatoes while they’re still hot for the smoothest texture
- Don’t overmix, or the potatoes can become gluey
- Warm milk and melted butter incorporate more quickly than cold ingredients
- Season generously – potatoes need plenty of salt to shine
Storing Tips
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Warm in the microwave, stirring occasionally, or heat on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Add a splash of milk or butter if needed to restore creaminess.
- Make Ahead: Prepare up to 24 hours in advance and reheat when ready to serve. You may need to add extra milk or butter when reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These garlic mashed potatoes pair perfectly with my Baked Chicken Parmesan or Maple-Balsamic Boneless Pork Chops. For a comfort meal, serve them alongside my Green Beans Almondine.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Make them up to 24 hours in advance and reheat when ready to serve. You may need to add a splash of warm milk and butter when reheating to restore the creamy texture.
Overworking the potatoes releases too much starch, creating a gluey texture. Avoid this by not overmashing and using room temperature ingredients.
While gold potatoes are ideal, russet potatoes also work well. Avoid waxy potatoes like red potatoes, which can become gummy when mashed.
Use plant-based butter, non-dairy milk, or dairy-free sour cream or additional milk to replace the regular sour cream.
While possible, freezing can change the texture of mashed potatoes, If freezing, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat with additional butter and milk to restore creaminess.
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Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
Ingredients
- 3 pounds (1 ⅓ kg) gold potatoes peeled and quartered
- ½ cup (113 ½ g) 1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
- 8 ounces (226 ⅘ g) sour cream room temp
- ¼ cup (59 ⅐ ml) whole milk room temp 6-8 cloves minced garlic, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh chopped chives or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Place peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat.3 pounds gold potatoes
- Reduce heat to medium and cook for 12-15 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
- Drain potatoes and return them to the pot or transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Add room temperature butter, sour cream, milk, minced garlic, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, room temp,8 ounces sour cream,¼ cup whole milk,1 teaspoon garlic powder,¼ teaspoon black pepper,1 teaspoon salt
- Mash until desired consistency is reached, adding more milk if needed for creamier potatoes.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with fresh herbs.Fresh chopped chives or parsley
Notes
- Cut potatoes into equal-sized pieces for even cooking
- Bring butter, sour cream, and milk to room temperature before using
- Mash potatoes while they’re still hot for the smoothest texture
- Don’t overmix or the potatoes can become gluey
- Warm milk and melted butter incorporate more easily than cold ingredients
- Season generously – potatoes need plenty of salt to shine
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Nutrition Information
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