Imagine a side dish so incredibly rich, smooth, and full of flavor that it effortlessly elevates any meal, from a simple weeknight dinner to a grand holiday feast. These Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Chicken Broth are exactly that – a culinary revelation that combines ultimate convenience with unparalleled taste. The subtle yet profound addition of chicken broth infuses the potatoes with an extra layer of savory depth, making every spoonful a creamy, comforting delight. This easy potato recipe is a true game-changer, especially when you’re navigating a busy kitchen and need a dependable, delicious side that practically cooks itself.
For anyone who has ever hosted a holiday dinner, whether it’s the elaborate spread of Thanksgiving or the festive meal of Christmas, you know the kitchen can quickly become a chaotic battlefield. Stove-top burners are precious real estate, ovens are constantly in use, and your attention is pulled in a dozen different directions. That’s where this slow cooker mashed potato recipe truly shines. It’s an absolute lifesaver, allowing you to prepare the most incredibly creamy mashed potatoes with minimal fuss and zero stove-top space. Just set it and forget it, letting your slow cooker work its magic while you focus on carving the turkey, stirring the gravy, or simply enjoying your guests. The best part? You can even mash them directly in the slow cooker, minimizing dirty dishes and keeping them perfectly warm until serving time.
This hands-off approach to a classic side dish not only reduces stress but also consistently delivers perfectly cooked, fork-tender potatoes every single time. The low and slow cooking process in the chicken broth ensures maximum flavor absorption and a wonderfully consistent texture that’s difficult to achieve with traditional boiling methods. Once you experience the ease and deliciousness of slow cooker mashed potatoes, you might just find yourself adopting this method for every meal.
Why You’ll Love These Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Effortless Hands-Off Cooking: This recipe is a dream come true for busy cooks. Simply chop your potatoes, add them to the slow cooker with broth and garlic, and let it do all the hard work. This frees up your valuable time and stove-top space, making it perfect for holiday meals, potlucks, or any occasion when you want a delicious side without constant attention.
- Keeps Warm & Ready to Serve: One of the biggest challenges with mashed potatoes is keeping them warm and fresh until everything else is ready. Your slow cooker solves this problem beautifully. Once cooked, you can switch it to the “warm” setting, and your creamy mashed potatoes will stay at the perfect temperature and consistency for hours, ready to be served directly from the pot. No more last-minute reheating!
- Unbelievably Creamy and Flavorful: The magic of slow cooking in chicken broth infuses the potatoes with an incredible depth of flavor that boiling just can’t match. Combined with butter, sour cream, and half-and-half, these potatoes achieve a supremely creamy, velvety texture that will have everyone asking for your secret. Once you try them this way, you’ll find it hard to go back to any other method.
- Saves Precious Stove-top Space: For holiday entertaining, every inch of stove-top real estate counts. By utilizing your slow cooker, you keep a large pot of potatoes off your range, leaving more room for gravies, sauces, and other essential dishes. This simple swap significantly reduces kitchen congestion and makes meal prep much smoother.
- The Perfect Versatile Side Dish: These rich and savory mashed potatoes are not just for holidays. They are the ultimate comfort food companion for a wide array of main courses, from roasted chicken and juicy steaks to hearty stews and meatloaf. Their robust flavor and creamy texture make them a welcome addition to any plate, any night of the week.
- Minimal Prep for a Hearty Meal: With just a few minutes of peeling and chopping, you can have these potatoes ready to slow cook. The simplicity of the preparation belies the complexity of the flavor, offering a hearty and satisfying side that feels gourmet with barely any effort.
- Deep Flavor Infusion: Cooking the potatoes directly in chicken broth allows them to absorb its savory essence over several hours. This creates a foundation of flavor that penetrates every fiber of the potato, resulting in a more complex and satisfying taste profile compared to potatoes boiled in plain water.
- Consistent Texture Every Time: The gentle, even heat of a slow cooker helps the potatoes break down uniformly, preventing overcooked exteriors and undercooked centers. This leads to a consistently smooth and lump-free mash, especially when finished with the right dairy and seasonings.
Essential Ingredients for the Best Mashed Potatoes
Creating truly exceptional mashed potatoes starts with quality ingredients. While the full list with precise quantities can be found in the recipe card below, here’s a brief overview of what you’ll need to gather:
- Potatoes: The star of the show! We recommend Yellow Potatoes (like Yukon Golds) for their naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture, but Russets or even Red Potatoes can work beautifully. Choose firm, blemish-free potatoes.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves, crushed, provide a subtle aromatic warmth that complements the savory broth perfectly.
- Chicken Broth: This is the secret ingredient that imparts an incredible depth of flavor. Low-sodium chicken broth is recommended to control the overall saltiness of your dish.
- Unsalted Butter: Essential for richness and flavor. Using unsalted butter allows you to season the potatoes to your preference without overdoing the salt.
- Sour Cream: Adds a delightful tang and helps achieve that signature creamy consistency. Full-fat sour cream works best for maximum richness.
- Half and Half: Contributes to the luxurious texture, making the mashed potatoes incredibly smooth and velvety.
- Seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper are your basic flavor enhancers. Feel free to adjust these to your taste.
- Fresh Parsley: A lovely garnish that adds a touch of color and fresh herbaceousness.
For exact measurements and a detailed ingredient list, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step-by-Step Guide to Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
This is a simplified overview of the cooking process to guide you through making these delicious mashed potatoes. For more detailed instructions and essential tips, please consult the complete recipe card found further down this page.
Chef’s Tip: For the ultimate creamy texture and rich flavor, I always reach for Yukon Gold potatoes. Their naturally buttery flesh makes them perfect for mashing. However, you can achieve great results with other varieties like starchy Russet potatoes for a fluffy mash or waxy Red potatoes for a slightly denser texture.
Delicious Recipe Variations and Substitute Ideas
This slow cooker mashed potato recipe is incredibly versatile! Feel free to customize it to your taste or dietary needs with these creative variations:
- Vegetable Broth: For a delicious vegetarian or vegan version, simply swap out the chicken broth for an equal amount of high-quality vegetable broth. The flavor will still be wonderfully savory.
- Loaded Mashed Potatoes: Elevate your mash to a decadent side dish by adding a block of cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, crispy crumbled bacon, and extra sour cream. Mix these in during the final mashing step for a truly indulgent experience.
- Richest Creaminess: Instead of half and half, use heavy cream for an even more luxurious and rich mashed potato. Alternatively, whole milk can be used for a slightly lighter but still creamy result.
- Healthy Twist with Greek Yogurt: Swap the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt. It adds a similar tang and creaminess while boosting protein content and reducing fat.
- Fresh Herb Garnish: While parsley is classic, experiment with other fresh herbs. Finely chopped green onions or chives make excellent garnishes, adding a subtle oniony bite and vibrant color.
- Sweet Potato Mash: For a delightful twist, use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes. You might want to adjust the seasonings to complement the natural sweetness, perhaps adding a touch of cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Roasted Garlic Infusion: For an even deeper garlic flavor, roast a whole head of garlic until soft and caramelized before crushing and adding it to the slow cooker. This mellows the garlic’s pungency and adds a wonderful sweetness.
- Cheese Lovers Dream: Beyond cheddar, consider stirring in Parmesan, Gruyère, or Monterey Jack cheese during the last few minutes of mashing for an extra cheesy delight.
- Herb-Infused Broth: Add a sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme to the slow cooker along with the potatoes and broth. Remove the herbs before mashing for a subtle aromatic flavor infusion.
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Essential Gear: Equipment
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Making these slow cooker mashed potatoes a breeze requires just a few key pieces of kitchen equipment. You’ll definitely need a reliable slow cooker, ideally a 6-quart model or larger, to accommodate the volume of potatoes and ensure even cooking. A sturdy potato masher is indispensable for achieving that classic creamy texture. If you prefer an extra smooth, lump-free mash, a potato ricer can deliver superior results. For those who love an exceptionally airy and fluffy texture, an electric hand mixer can quickly whip your mashed potatoes to perfection after the initial mashing.
I’ve included links to the specific equipment I use and recommend within the recipe card below, making it easy for you to find the right tools for this recipe and many others.
More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love
If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and deliciousness of slow cooker cooking, you’re in for a treat! We have a treasure trove of other fantastic crockpot recipes that make mealtime easy and flavorful. Explore some of our favorites below:
- Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Cajun Red Beans and Rice
- Crockpot Cracker Barrel Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
- Crock Pot Pinto Beans
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili is another fabulous crock pot recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
One of the many perks of these slow cooker mashed potatoes is how wonderfully they keep! Whether you’ve made a large batch for meal prep or simply have some delicious leftovers from dinner, storing and reheating them is straightforward.
For short-term storage, transfer any leftover mashed potatoes to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will maintain their delicious flavor and creamy texture for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, gently reheat them on the stove-top over low heat, stirring occasionally, or in the microwave. Add a splash of milk, cream, or a small pat of butter during reheating to restore their original creaminess and prevent them from drying out.
These slow cooker mashed potatoes also freeze exceptionally well, making them an excellent make-ahead option for future meals or busy weeks. Simply portion the cooled mashed potatoes into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. To reheat from frozen, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat as directed above, adding a bit of liquid or butter as needed. The texture may be slightly different after freezing, but the flavor will remain fantastic.
Pro Tips for Success from Melanie Cagle
If you’re keeping your mashed potatoes warm in the slow cooker for an extended period, it’s a good idea to stir in a few butter pats periodically. This simple trick will prevent them from drying out and maintain their beautiful creamy texture and rich flavor. Another tip: warming your butter, sour cream, and half-and-half slightly before adding them to the hot potatoes can help prevent lumps and ensure a smoother, more emulsified mash.
About The Author
Melanie Cagle
Melanie is a professional cook, passionate food photographer, and a true connoisseur of Cajun cuisine. Since 2020, she has dedicated herself to sharing rigorously tested, heartwarming recipes and insightful tutorials right here on her blog. Her commitment to flavor and quality has earned her recognition, with her work being featured on prominent platforms such as Fox News channels, Yahoo News, Southern Living, and more. Melanie’s expertise ensures that every recipe you find here is not only delicious but also reliable and easy to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs
Absolutely! The slow cooker is an excellent tool for keeping mashed potatoes warm for extended periods without them drying out or getting cold. After mashing, simply set your slow cooker to the “warm” setting. To maintain their creamy consistency and prevent them from drying, stir in a few pats of butter, a splash of milk, or a bit of cream intermittently. This will keep them perfectly ready to serve for several hours, making them ideal for holiday entertaining or potlucks.
The best potato for mashed potatoes often depends on the texture you prefer. Russet potatoes are highly favored for their high starch content, which makes them incredibly fluffy and absorbent when mashed. They break down easily, resulting in a light and airy mash. Yukon Gold potatoes, my personal favorite, offer a naturally buttery flavor and a wonderfully creamy, velvety texture. They hold up well to mashing without becoming gluey. Red potatoes can also be used; they have a lower starch content and waxy texture, resulting in a slightly denser and creamier mash, often with their skins left on for added texture and nutrients.
Lumps in mashed potatoes typically occur for a couple of reasons. The most common cause is not cooking the potatoes thoroughly enough; if they are still firm in the center, they won’t mash smoothly. Ensure your potatoes are truly fork-tender before mashing. Another culprit can be adding cold milk, cream, or butter to hot mashed potatoes. The sudden temperature change can cause the starch cells to seize up, leading to a lumpy texture. To prevent this, always warm your dairy ingredients slightly before incorporating them into the hot potatoes.
Gluey mashed potatoes are often the result of over-mashing. When potatoes are over-processed (especially with an electric mixer at high speed), their starch molecules can break down too much, releasing excess starch and creating a gummy, gluey consistency. To avoid this, use a potato masher or ricer and mash just until smooth. If using an electric mixer, use it on a low speed for a very short duration, just until combined and creamy.
Yes, you can absolutely use milk instead of half and half. Whole milk will provide a rich and creamy texture, similar to half and half but slightly less decadent. You can also use lower-fat milks, but you might notice a slight difference in the richness and overall creaminess of the final mashed potatoes. If using a thinner milk, you might want to add a little extra butter or sour cream to compensate for the reduced fat content.
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Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Chicken Broth
10 mins
6 hrs
6 hrs 10 mins
8
Potatoes, Slow Cooker
Melanie Cagle
Video
A video demonstration for this recipe can be found on our site!
Equipment
- Potato Masher
- 6 Quart Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 5 Pounds Yellow Potatoes peeled and cut into even sized pieces
- 4 Cloves Garlic peeled and crushed
- ¾ Cup Chicken Broth
- ¼ Cup Unsalted Butter
- ¼ Cup Sour Cream
- ½ Cup Half and Half
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley chopped (garnish)
Instructions
- Peel and cut your 5 pounds of Yellow Potatoes into even 2-inch pieces. Uniform chunks ensure they cook evenly.
- Add the prepared potatoes to your slow cooker (a 6-quart or bigger is recommended).
- Add the 4 crushed Garlic Cloves and pour in the ¾ Cup of Chicken Broth. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the low setting for 6 hours. Alternatively, you can cook on the high setting for 4 hours, or until the potatoes are completely fork-tender.
- Once cooked, remove the lid and mash the potatoes thoroughly using a sturdy potato masher directly in the slow cooker.
- Add the ¼ Cup of melted Unsalted Butter, ¼ Cup Sour Cream, ½ Cup Half and Half, 1 teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, and season with Salt and Pepper to taste.
- Mash again until all the ingredients are fully incorporated and the potatoes are smooth and creamy.
- Serve hot, topped with extra pats of butter and a sprinkle of 1 Tablespoon of freshly chopped Fresh Parsley for garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
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