Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Made with cream cheese, parmesan and cheddar, these cheesy garlic mashed potatoes are indulgent and so delicious! Easy to make, they are always popular!

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Cheese mash with garlic in a bowl with a spoon and garnished with fresh herbs.

Last Updated on November 29, 2022 by Betty Davies

Creamy and rich, these cheesy garlic mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food side dish. Made with cream cheese, cheddar and parmesan, this mashed potato recipe is unashamedly indulgent. Simple and easy to make, this fluffy mash is hands down delicious!

Mashed potato with cheese and garlic in a blue bowl.

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Whether you are looking to serve something over the top for Thanksgiving or the holidays, or just fancy treating yourself to something extra delicious, this cheesy mashed potato is everything!

Made with 3 types of cheese and generously seasoned with garlic, this mash is wonderfully creamy and fluffy, and seriously addictive. This is a potato side dish that packs a punch!

Easy to make, level up your everyday mash with this super tasty recipe!

Be sure to try my Boursin Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Garlic Mash too!

Why you will love this recipe!

Quick and easy: This mash recipe will only take you a couple of extra minutes to make compared to regular mash.
Make ahead: Mashed potato is a great make ahead side, so it’s a perfect option for those big feasts.
So delicious: Made with 3 cheeses and plenty of garlic, this is one tasty way to serve your potatoes!
Dietary info: These cheesy garlic mashed potatoes are naturally gluten-free.

Cheesy mashed potato served in a blue bowl with a spoon.

Ingredients

Potatoes: For light and fluffy mash, use starchy potatoes like Russets or Yukon Gold.
Butter: Salted butter adds a delicious richness to the finished dish, trust me, it’s worth the calories!
Cream cheese: The cream cheese creates a silky and creamy texture.
Milk: A little milk is needed to loosen up the potatoes. I used 2%, but 1% or half and half will work well.
Parmesan: Parmesan adds a string cheesy flavor. Use freshly grated for the best taste and texture.
Dijon mustard: Just a little adds a nice tang and helps to balance out the tastes.
Cheddar: Use a strong cheddar for the tangiest flavor. For best results, grate a block of cheese rather than use bagged shredded, though this will work in a pinch.
Seasonings: Garlic powder, salt and black pepper.

How to make cheesy garlic mashed potatoes

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Boil the potatoes til fork tender and drain (photo 1).
Heat together the cream cheese, butter, milk, parmesan, mustard and seasonings (photo 2).
Add the potatoes and cheddar to the melted cheese sauce and mash together (photo 3).

Three step by step photos to show how to make the recipe.

Recipe Variations

This cheesy garlic mashed potato recipe is pretty good as it is, but you can easily make changes to suit your tastes:

Make it healthier: To reduce fat and calories, opt for a low fat cream cheese and half the amount of butter.
To make it vegetarian: Parmesan contains rennet, so it isn’t vegetarian friendly. Simply swap this for a vegetarian friendly parmesan, or try using some nutritional yeast.
Add bacon: Crispy bacon bits work so well mixed in to the mash!
Add some herbs: Try mixing in some fresh parsley, dill or tarragon just before serving for a fresh herby flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use fresh garlic instead of powdered?

Most of the time, I opt for fresh over powdered garlic, but for this mash recipe I found that powdered gives great results. Raw garlic would have to be roasted to be used in this recipe, so while it’s delicious, it wouldn’t have the strong flavor that powdered garlic gives, plus it’s an extra step to the recipe!

Can you use different cheeses?

I wouldn’t substitute the cream cheese or the parmesan, but you can swap out the cheddar for any shredded cheese you like. Gouda, mozzarella, jack or Swiss will all work great.

How do you make fluffy mash?

For perfectly light and fluffy mash, opt for starchy varieties of potato like Yukon Gold or Russet, waxy potatoes like reds and fingerlings will make a creamier, but heavier mash. When you boil the potatoes, take care not to overcook them as they can become water logged, they should be fork tender but not falling apart. Lastly, don’t over mash the potatoes or they can become gluey, stop mashing once they are smooth. For super light and fluffy mash, a potato ricer does a great job every single time.

A bowl of mashed potato with fresh parsley garnish.

Serving Suggestions

This cheesy garlic mash is perfect for special dinners, but easy enough to whip up for a weeknight family dinner. It’s perfect with homemade pies, roasted meats, and pretty much anything else you fancy! Try it with some of these favorites:

Make Ahead, Reheating and Storage

Mashed potatoes are a great make ahead side dish, they can be made several days ahead of time, frozen for longer storage, and are easily reheated.

Store in the fridge: Once made, let the mash cool completely before storing in the fridge in an air tight container. They will keep well for up to 4 days.

Store in the freezer: Mashed potatoes can be frozen for up to 4 months. Let cool fully and store in a freezer bag or container. Thaw frozen mash in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat: For best results, reheat the mash in a pot on the stovetop on a low to medium heat. The potatoes will absorb liquid as they sit, so you may want to add a little extra milk to them as they reheat. Stir during reheating so that they don’t stick.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Cut the potatoes into similar sized chunks so that they cook through evenly. Don’t cut them too small, or they will absorb too much water.
Start the potatoes in cold water, not boiling. If added to boiling water, the middles of the potatoes won’t get cooked through.
Salt the water that you cook the potatoes in to add flavor right from the start of cooking.
Make sure that the cream cheese sauce is smooth and heated through before mashing the potatoes in it.

Cream cheese mashed potato served in a bowl with a spoon.

When you want to treat yourself to something extra special, these cheesy garlic mashed potatoes tick all the right boxes! Easy to make, this versatile side dish is perfect for any meal, or, like me, just eat it straight out of the bowl!

More Mashed Potato Recipes

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