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March 19, 2019

The Best Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

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Indisputable life fact: Everyone needs an ultra creamy, rich, buttery mashed potato recipe, and that's exactly what these brown butter mashed potatoes are. Made with a mixture of heavy cream and sour cream and then processed in a potato ricer, these mashed potatoes boast the most velvety, smoothest texture, and then we make this recipe even more delicious by giving it a flavor kick from the brown butter. Essentially, these brown butter mashed potatoes are perfection in a bowl.

A pan of the best brown butter mashed potatoes with melted butter and chopped parsley.

I know. Perfection is a high bar, but I like to think of myself as a mashed potato connoisseur. If there's one side dish I can't get enough, it's definitely mashed potatoes.

So as someone who loves, loves her mashed potatoes, I feel confident in calling out perfect potatoes, and once you taste this recipe, I have a feeling you'll be right there with me. All right, let's start cooking.

A pan of the best brown butter mashed potatoes with a fresh pat of butter.

Best Potatoes for Mashing

For the creamiest consistency, we want to use a nice and starchy potato, so you can't go wrong with russets. Yukon Gold potatoes also work well and have good flavor. Either way, you can't go wrong with the two varieties.

On the flip side, I recommend avoiding red potatoes. While I love red potatoes for roasting, they don't give us the creamy texture we want here.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Now that we have our potato variety selected, it's time to begin cooking by peeling our potatoes. I don't trust anyone who likes skins in mashed potatoes, so this step is a must for me. I mean, why? Why would you ruin a perfectly creamy bowl of mashed potatoes with skin? I don't get it, so let's do the right thing here.

With our potatoes peeled, we cut them into quarters, give them a good rinse and place in a large pot of cold water with plenty of salt. We bring the potatoes to a boil and then drop the temperature to a simmer until we can easily pierce the potatoes with a fork.

Peeled and quartered russet potatoes on a cutting board.

As the potatoes cook, we get busy with a little multitasking but don't worry. We're talking low-key multitasking: browning our butter and gently heating the heavy cream and sour cream together.

If you've never made brown butter, the process is easy. Just melt butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it looks golden brown and foamy like this. Pretty, huh?

A small pan of browned butter.

For the heavy cream and sour cream, you might wonder why we even bother to heat the two. Cold cream doesn't absorb as well, and if those potatoes don't absorb that delicious cream, we won't get the perfect texture. The cream doesn't need to be screaming hot --- just warm. You could take care of this step in the microwave, but I think it's easier to simply put a small pot on the stove.

An aerial view of the mashed potatoes with butter that's mostly melted.

Best Potato Mashing Methods

Once our potatoes finish cooking, we're ready to mash, so let's chat mashing methods. Of course, you could use a classic potato masher, but oddly enough, that's my least favorite method. The results aren't quite as creamy as other methods.

I'm absolutely in love with my potato ricer for the job. If you've never used a potato ricer, you basically put your cooked potatoes into the chamber of this handheld device and press down to push the potatoes through these small holes. The potatoes come out light and fluffy in small pieces, making for perfectly creamy mashed potatoes. Now we pour the browned butter all over the potatoes, stir to coat and then add the warm cream mixture.

We can also use a stand or hand mixer for more of a whipped texture. Just be careful not to overmix or you'll be left with gluey potatoes.

Potatoes that have been riced in a bowl.
Brown butter poured all over the riced potatoes.

Can You Make Ahead of Time?

Absolutely. In fact, we hosted Thanksgiving last year, and with the exception of the deep-fried turkey, I made everything ahead of time, including these brown butter mashed potatoes --- which were quite the hit. Simply cover the finished mashed potatoes, refrigerate and reheat with a little extra heavy cream to rehydrate. When reheating, you have a few options.

  • Warm the mashed potatoes on the stove over low to medium-low heat. Stir every so often and add a little heavy cream to return the mashed potatoes to their original consistency.
  • Spoon the refrigerated mashed potatoes into a room-temperature 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish and pour a splash of cream on top but don't mix. If you refrigerate your mashed potatoes in the baking dish, take it out 30 minutes before putting the dish in the oven. Cover with foil and bake in a 350-degree oven until warm --- about 30 minutes. Stir to fluff up and add a little more cream if necessary to return the potatoes to your desired consistency.
  • Pour a splash of heavy cream into a slow cooker, add the mashed potatoes and set to low. Stir occasionally to keep the potatoes together. Once the mashed potatoes heat through, turn to the warm setting for up to four hours. Or you could even make the mashed potatoes, immediately put them in the slow cooker, set it to warm, stir occasionally and then serve the mashed potatoes four hours later.
  • Microwave the mashed potatoes in a covered dish in short intervals and stir. Keep doing this until the mashed potatoes heat through. Like the other methods, add a little heavy cream at the end.

Can You Freeze?

You bet. When I first tried freezing mashed potatoes, I have to admit that I was skeptical. I freeze a lot of leftovers, but something about frozen mashed potatoes didn't sound right to me. Usually, I don't love being wrong, but I was OK with it in this instance. Frozen mashed potatoes are still delicious, especially this particular recipe. You can thaw by placing the mashed potatoes in the refrigerator overnight or using that thaw setting on your microwave.

Perfect Pairing

When we brown butter, we get these delicious nutty notes that pair well with beers that show off a caramel-like malt. With that in mind, I recommend reaching for a Scotch ale, dunkel or dubbel. All three are delicious with these mashed potatoes and go well with big, hearty meals.

If you're in the mood for a glass of wine, you can't go wrong with a chardonnay. Those buttery notes in the chardonnay are a natural match for all the brown butter and cream. An oaked chenin blanc is another tasty option that works well with cream-based dishes.

Whether you're craving some classic comfort food or need the perfect holiday side dish, I hope you try these brown butter mashed potatoes. Please let me know how you enjoyed this brown butter mashed potatoes recipe in the comment section and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You can also catch me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers!

A pan of the best brown butter mashed potatoes with the butter starting to melt.

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A pan of the best brown butter mashed potatoes with melted butter and chopped parsley.

The Best Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes


★★★★★

5 from 10 reviews

  • Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: About 10 servings 1x
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Description

Made with a mixture of heavy cream and sour cream and then processed in a potato ricer, these mashed potatoes boast the most velvety, smoothest texture, and then we make this recipe even more delicious by giving it a flavor kick from the brown butter. Essentially, these brown butter mashed potatoes are perfection in a bowl.


Ingredients

Scale

5 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
2 tablespoons salt
Cold water
1 cup butter
1 ½ cups heavy cream
½ cup sour cream
Parsley, for garnish, optional


Instructions

  1. Peel potatoes, cut into quarters and rinse well.
  2. In a large stockpot, add potatoes, salt and enough cold water that it covers the potatoes by an inch or two. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Continue to simmer until you can easily pierce the potatoes with a fork, about 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter until it turns brown and foamy. Remove from heat.
  4. Once the butter browns, combine the heavy cream and sour cream in a separate saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat. Don't boil --- just heat until warm. Remove from heat once warmed. Alternatively, you can heat the heavy cream and sour cream in the microwave until warm.
  5. When a fork easily pierces the potatoes, drain, pat dry with paper towels and return to the pot or a mixing bowl if you plan to use a stand or hand mixer. If using a potato ricer, pass the potatoes through the ricer before adding them back to the pot.
  6. Begin to roughly mash the potatoes to break them up. Pour the brown butter over the potatoes and continue to mash. Once the potatoes absorb the brown butter, add the warm cream mixture and keep mashing until smooth and creamy. If you prefer a stiffer mashed potato, you may not need all the cream mixture, but for more of a whipped texture, I like to use all of it. Taste and add salt if necessary. Serve immediately or see notes for making these mashed potatoes ahead of time. Enjoy!

Notes

  • To make these mashed potatoes ahead of time and reheat, you have a few options. Warm the mashed potatoes on the stove over low heat. Stir every so often and add a little heavy cream to return the mashed potatoes to their original consistency.
  • Spoon the refrigerated mashed potatoes in a room-temperature 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish and pour a splash of cream on top. If you refrigerate your mashed potatoes in the baking dish, take it out 30 minutes before putting them in the oven. Cover with foil and bake in a 350-degree oven until warm --- about 30 minutes. Stir to fluff up and add a little more cream if necessary to get to your desired consistency.
  • Pour a splash of heavy cream into a slow cooker, add the mashed potatoes and set to low. Stir occasionally to keep the potatoes together. Once the mashed potatoes heat through, turn to the warm setting for up to four hours. Or you could even make the mashed potatoes, immediately put them in the slow cooker, set it to warm, stir occasionally and then serve the mashed potatoes four hours later.
  • Microwave the mashed potatoes in a covered dish in short intervals and stir. Keep doing this until the mashed potatoes heat through. Like the other methods, add a little heavy cream at the end.
  • These mashed potatoes can also be frozen. Thaw by placing in the refrigerator overnight or using the thaw setting on your microwave.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
  • Category: Side Dishes
  • Method: Stove-Top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: About ¾ cup
  • Calories: 480
  • Sugar: 3
  • Sodium: 1,429
  • Fat: 33
  • Saturated Fat: 0
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 41
  • Fiber: 0
  • Protein: 7
  • Cholesterol: 93

Keywords: mashed potatoes, brown butter mashed potatoes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dan from Platter Talk says

    March 21, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Mashed potatoes by themselves are a wonderful comfort food but adding brown butter and cream to the mix brings them to an entirely new level; I'm drooling a the mere idea. Fantastic post!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 22, 2019 at 10:45 pm

      Haha, totally! I hope you get a chance to try the recipe.

      Reply
  2. Anna says

    March 22, 2019 at 12:38 pm

    Oh yes! Everyone loves a good potato mash! Your version looks so creamy and so smooth, I will happily eat a big portion on its own! Perfect side dish for any family meal!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 22, 2019 at 10:52 pm

      Right? Mashed potatoes hold up on their own just fine. 😀

      Reply
  3. Dominique | Perchance to Cook says

    March 22, 2019 at 6:19 pm

    GET IN MY BELLY! These mashed potatoes look so incredibly fluffy and perfect. I am just drooling looking at your photos! YUM

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 22, 2019 at 10:54 pm

      Thank you! 😂

      Reply
  4. Veena Azmanov says

    March 22, 2019 at 7:00 pm

    Potatoes are my favorite and this recipe looks delicious. My family enjoys such amazing dishes.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 22, 2019 at 10:55 pm

      Thanks so much! Hope y'all enjoy.

      Reply
  5. Tammy says

    March 22, 2019 at 9:51 pm

    Brown butter you say?? That's all I needed to hear! Your mashed potatoes look perfect . Rich and creamy, just as they should be. Loving this brown butter version and definitely want to try asap!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 22, 2019 at 10:56 pm

      I'm a tad obsessed with brown butter. Just love the flavor it adds. Hope you love the recipe!

      Reply
  6. Lorie says

    March 23, 2019 at 2:00 pm

    Ooooh I’ve never done browned butter in my potatoes. This is next level amazing!!! On my list for sure!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 1:38 am

      Yay! Hope you love it.

      Reply
  7. Michelle says

    March 23, 2019 at 3:14 pm

    These are the ultimate mashed potatoes! Brown butter with that cream? Heaven! Can't wait to make a bit batch of this!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 1:38 am

      I mean, I'm biased, but I have to agree! 😀

      Reply
  8. Linda says

    March 23, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    This mashed potato looks magical. I love anything brown butter, including brown butter pasta. So, this is a must-make recipe, and I'm glad it's freezer-friendly, too.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 1:39 am

      It's amazing how delicious butter is after you brown it. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  9. Karyl Henry says

    March 24, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    I have not yet mastered making my own brown butter, but I absolutely love the flavor it adds to dishes! I would absolutely eat this whole platter of mashed potatoes. Looks perfect for dinner

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 1:45 am

      Hey, practice makes perfect, right? 😀

      Reply
  10. Natalie says

    March 24, 2019 at 8:57 pm

    Oh wow! I make mashed potatoes with butter all the time. But never tried making and adding brown butter before. I must give this a try. Sounds really delicious. I bet browned butter give so much flavor. Yum!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 1:46 am

      For sure! I hope you enjoy.

      Reply
  11. Andrea says

    March 24, 2019 at 10:08 pm

    I'm drooling all over your mashed potatoes pictures, it looks so creamy and rich! Can't wait to make it for my family, I'm sure they'll love it too.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 1:47 am

      Thank you! I hope y'all do love it.

      Reply
  12. Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says

    March 25, 2019 at 12:07 am

    Brown butter? Oh my gosh - YES! This looks and sounds so good. I can't wait to try! What a way to make mashed potato even better!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 1:48 am

      Isn't brown butter the best? Hope you love it!

      Reply
  13. GUNJAN C Dudani says

    March 25, 2019 at 1:26 am

    Burrata is my favorite cheese. I simply love adding it to almost all my dishes. It gives a creamy and delectable flavor to any recipe. With the addition of potatoes this recipe is simply mind blowing.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 1:50 am

      Thank you, Gunjan!

      Reply
  14. Julie says

    March 25, 2019 at 3:05 am

    I usually find mashed potatoes too boring, but a brown butter variant sounds like the perfect way to add extra flavor!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 6:48 pm

      For sure! Total flavor-maker. 😀

      Reply
  15. Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says

    March 25, 2019 at 4:42 am

    Wait, wait, wait... Hold the phone... BROWN BUTTER MASHED POTATOES?! I can't get over how amazing this sounds and also slapping myself in the forehead a la "How have I not thought of this before??" Brown butter is my favorite when it comes to baking, but I've never thought to add it to anything outside the realm of sweet things. I'm definitely going to have to change that ASAP!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      March 25, 2019 at 6:49 pm

      I'm glad to hear! As a brown butter lover, I'm sure these potatoes will be perfect for you.

      Reply

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About Me

I'm a Denver-based lady and believe life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor. Read More…

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