Brown Butter Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Posted: 11/21/2017
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No boiling or draining of the potatoes required, these brown butter slow cooker mashed potatoes will become a favorite! Especially on busy days!
If you don’t have a mashed potato game plan in place for Thanksgiving, I’m here to save the day. You barely have to think about these easy slow cooker mashed potatoes but they’re just as creamy and perfect as they are if you make them on the stovetop. Plus, when your stovetop is already loaded up with other Thanksgiving dishes, you’ll be glad you don’t need another big pot taking up space on your stove.
This recipe is the ultimate shortcut and you’ll find these a lifesaver for weeknight dinners and Sunday dinners alike.
Okay, but now it’s time to fess up. Mashed potatoes aren’t my favorite. I like them, especially when they’re as creamy and flavorful as these (hello, brown butter!), but they’re not something I crave. In fact…and I’m a little scared to admit this…we’re not even serving them on Thanksgiving. We host Thanksgiving and this year my sister is going to her in-law’s for Thanksgiving dinner, so we only have six adults and our two kids coming.
The kids will likely just eat a roll and dessert, if we’re being honest. Maybe some green beans. So that leaves the six of us. Most of us prefer sweet potatoes over mashed potatoes, and we really don’t need both. I’m all for leftovers, but we also need to be reasonable about this situation. Plus we’ll have a GIANT batch of stuffing thanks to my slow cooker stuffing – that’s non-negotiable. There will be no shortage of carbs, rest assured.
However, I know we’re probably one of the few that won’t be partaking in a giant scoop of mashed potatoes with gravy this Thanksgiving – and maybe every other day. I love crispy roasted potatoes, though!
Now with all that said, if you’re a mashed potato fan, these guys are for you. Mashed potatoes go perfectly with Instant Pot pot roast or Instant Pot short ribs. And for me, honestly, because if you put brown butter in or on anything, I’m supportive of that scenario.
Tip: These potatoes will brown a bit on the top when they first start cooking since they aren’t submerged in water. It’s okay because you’re mashing it all together and no one will notice. Don’t stress!
Speaking of brown butter, I will say that it is optional…kinda. You can easily make this recipe with butter that hasn’t been browned if you want to skip that step, and it will still turn out fantastic. However, the brown butter gives it an extra layer of nutty flavor that will have everrrrrryone asking for the recipe. The garlic in the recipe is also optional. Again, it’s an extra layer of flavor but if you’re not a garlic person, skip it!
One final note – you can use whatever type of potato you like best for these slow cooker mashed potatoes. I love using red potatoes and leaving the (scrubbed clean) peelings on. I also love Yukon gold, they have such a creamy texture and great flavor. I kept things classic this time with Russet potatoes.
More great potato recipes:
These flavorful potatoes barely need anything but a little butter, but if you need some gravy recipes, these two look great:
- Turkey Gravy from Center Cut Cook
- 5 Minute Gravy from Crazy for Crust
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
servings
With no boiling or draining required, crockpot mashed potatoes will become your favorite way to make mashed potatoes, especially on busy days!
Ingredients
- 5 pounds potatoes (russet or Yukon gold)
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 garlic clove, minced (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (see note)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup whole or 2% milk, more as needed
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Peel and wash potatoes and cut into large chunks, roughly 2 inches. Try to keep the size somewhat uniform.
- Lightly spray a 6- or 7-quart crockpot with nonstick spray. Place potatoes inside. Add broth, optional garlic, and salt; stir. Cover and cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours or High for 3 to 4 hours, stirring once during cooking time.
- When potatoes are fork tender, don’t drain them. Add butter, sour cream, and milk. Mash using a potato masher. For whipped potatoes, use a hand mixer. Add more milk as needed to achieve desired consistency. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed.
- Leave the mashed potatoes in the slow cooker on warm until ready to serve.
Notes
- Brown Butter Option: When potatoes are nearly done cooking, brown butter in a small pan over medium heat. Hint: Use a light color pan so you can see the color of the butter. Keep cooking, swirling or stirring to prevent burning. Once the melted butter is golden brown in color and smells nutty, remove the pan from heat. Pour the butter into a bowl so it stops cooking and doesn't scorch, or add it directly to the potatoes before mashing.
- Optional Add-Ins (stir into potatoes after they are mashed): fresh chopped parsley and/or chives); shredded Parmesan or cheddar cheese.
- Cooking note: When we tested this recipe, potatoes were fully cooked in 3 hours on High.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 250kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 262mg, Potassium: 1010mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 238IU, Vitamin C: 45mg, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 2mg
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Husband’s take: Ben isn’t a huge mashed potato fan either, but he won’t complain much if I’m cooking. Another bonus about this slow cooker method is that he kept commenting on how good the house smelled.
Changes I would make: None are necessary but this recipe is perfect for experimenting with. Add cheese or herbs to make it your own! I opted for no cream cheese in this recipe but adding it would make them even creamier. I added chives on top but they’d be great stirred through the potatoes too. The sky’s the limit!
Difficulty: Easy.
Bonnie McGinnis says
What an easy do ahead idea for those big meals! Lots of us mashed potato fans out there :)
Rachel Gurk says
Yes! It’s always good to figure out what can be made ahead when you’re cooking a feast.
Brett says
As a result of a mistake in semantics (sweet potato vs yam), I had some white sweet potatoes that I needed to use up after thanksgiving. I used that slow cooker mashed potato recipe with the white sweet potatoes and it was one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten. Just used sweets instead of regular potatoes. It was incredible.
Rachel Gurk says
Thanks for the comment! So happy that you had success with this recipe!