Wondering what to eat with mashed potatoes? In this post I’ll give you over 30 delicious main dish ideas for what to serve with mashed potatoes. I’ve included recipes for everything from turkey, to meatloaf, pot roast, pork, seafood and everything in between.
Love potatoes? Try our Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole recipe and our Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes recipe.
Wondering what to eat with mashed potatoes? Maybe you have extra leftovers from a big holiday meal. Maybe you and your family just love spuds and need more ideas on what to serve with those creamy, delicious taters.
In this post I’ll give you over 30 recipe ideas in ten different categories on what to serve with mashed potatoes. Additionally, at the bottom of this post I’ve included my recipe for mashed potatoes. You can find all of my tips, tricks and idea tools for making Parmesan Mashed Potatoes or my Boursin Mashed Potatoes here.
Ideal ingredients for making the best mashed potatoes:
- Russet Potatoes – Russet potatoes are ideal or Yukon Gold are also a great choice anytime you’re making mashed potatoes.
- Cream Cheese – cream cheese will give you a delicious, creamy texture for your potatoes.
- Butter – you can use either salted or unsalted butter – your preference. I prefer salted butter as it offers better flavor. I keep it on hand for all of my cooking and baking needs.
- Sour Cream – the addition of sour cream will give your potatoes a smooth, creamy texture and add to the flavor as well.
- Half and Half – the addition of half and half (half and half is half milk and half cream) you can also use milk or heavy cream.
- Parmesan Cheese – you can either shred a wedge of Parmesan or buy pre-shredded Parmesan cheese. This is located in the refrigerated foods section with the rest of the shredded cheeses. It is a great time-saver!
- Salt and Pepper – add a slight sprinkling of each. Taste the potatoes to see if more is needed.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe. Thanks!
Frequently asked questions about what to eat with mashed potatoes:
Russet, Yukon Gold and Red potatoes are all great for making mashed potatoes. Red potatoes are sweet and skin can be left on if you prefer, Yukon Gold have the perfect texture and a beautiful yellow color. Russet are the most traditional, as their starch content is ideal for making mashed potatoes.
When stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, mashed potatoes will last for up to 5 days.
DON’T over-work the potatoes. I prefer a simple, hand potato masher over an electric hand mixer. Mixers often over-process the potatoes, resulting in too much starch being released from the potatoes. This creates gluey, gummy and unappealing mashed potatoes.
A simple, manual hand masher is the tool for making mashed potatoes. Some people prefer a hand mixer or a potato ricer, however a hand masher creates the perfect texture for mashed potatoes. Some would say that a hand mixer over-processes potatoes, making them gummy or gluey.
Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese and jack cheeses are ideal for making cheesy mashed potatoes. It is best to add shredded cheese into the potatoes making it easier for melting.
Make the mashed potatoes according to the recipe. When complete, place in a baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 24-48 hours, prior to your holiday meal. When ready to reheat, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Dot the top of the potatoes with extra butter (2-4 Tbsp.) As the potatoes heat through in the oven, the butter will melt and help keep the potatoes moist, and not dry out. Heat in the oven at 325 for 20-25 minutes or until completely heated through. Just before serving, stir the melted butter throughout the potatoes to fluff. Serve right away.
Yes, mashed potatoes are great served out of a crock pot. Make your mashed potatoes according to recipe directions. Pour the prepared potatoes into a crock pot or slow cooker. Keep the potatoes warm on low or the warm setting. I don’t recommend heating on high, as the potatoes will burn to the bottom of the crock.
Top Ten Main Dish Ideas for What to Eat with Mashed Potatoes
1. Turkey with Mashed Potatoes
When it comes to just about any holiday meal, if turkey is served it is given that mashed potatoes will be served alongside. Turkey, mashed potatoes and a great turkey gravy are ideal for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Our top Turkey recipes that go perfectly with mashed potatoes:
- Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
- Apple Cider Turkey Brine
- Citrus Turkey Brine
- How to Dry Brine A Turkey
2. Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes
As a classic comfort food combination, meatloaf served with mashed potatoes is perfect for a warm, delicious dinner. There are numerous meatloaf recipes – below are some of our favorite meatloaf recipes that pair perfectly with potatoes.
- Lipton French Onion Meatloaf
- Mini Turkey Meatloaf – Italian Meatloaf Recipe
- Best Meatloaf Recipe at Kylee Cooks
3. Chicken Thighs with Mashed Potatoes
Super flavorful and juicy, chicken thighs are amazing served with mashed potatoes. Made on the grill, in the air fryer or baked, chicken thighs are fantastic paired with mashed potatoes. Here are some of our favorite recipes:
- Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs (pictured above on left)
- Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs
4. Steak and Mashed Potatoes
If you go to a steak house and order a thick, juicy steak, one of the top sides to order is always potatoes. If you’re a meat and potatoes lover, these steak recipes are definitely for you:
- Balsamic Steak Marinade
- Grilled Steak Kabobs
- Bacon Wrapped Steak at Homemade Heather
5. Chicken Breasts with Mashed Potatoes
If you’re wondering what to do with those chicken breasts that you have in your fridge or freezer, look no further. Below are some of our top chicken breast recipes, that pair perfectly with mashed potatoes.
- Honey Dijon Chicken
- Brown Sugar Balsamic Grilled Chicken
- Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken
- Baked Italian Chicken
6. Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes
Roast beef and pot roast are another one of those main dishes that pair perfectly with mashed potatoes. Some consider roast beef and pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy to be the ideal comfort food. Here are some of our favorite beef recipes:
- Garlic Herb Roast Beef
- Slow Cooker Pulled Beef
- Mississippi Pot Roast at On My Kids Plate
7. Salmon with Mashed Potatoes
No matter how you cook it – grilled, baked or air fried – salmon goes wonderfully with mashed potatoes. Here are some of our favorite salmon recipes that are idea for just about any season:
- Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon
- Sheet Pan Salmon & Asparagus
- Maple Glazed Air Fryer Salmon
- Baked Bruschetta Salmon – from Busy Day Dinners
8. Crab and Shrimp with Mashed Potatoes
Whether it be a holiday or celebratory dinner, crab and shrimp go wonderfully with mashed potatoes. Here are some of our top shrimp and crab recipes perfect for just about any occasion:
- Oven Baked Snow Crab Legs
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Lemon Pepper Shrimp with Vegetables
- Easy Crab Cakes
9. Pork Chops with mashed potatoes
Hearty and delicious, pork chops are fabulous served with mashed potatoes. Try bone-in for great flavor or a pork loin chop if you want an extra-lean cut of meat. Here are our favorite pork chop recipes:
- Apple Cider Glazed Pork Chops
- Honey Bourbon BBQ Pork Chops
- Garlic Butter Pork Chops at Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- How to Cook A Costco Ham
10. Beef Stroganoff
Creamy and savory, beef stroganoff can be served with either egg noodles or on a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes. Here are some of our favorite recipes:
- Classic Beef Stroganoff
- Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff at Five Heart Home
If you loved this potato recipe, check out some of our other popular potato recipes:
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Easy Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan
Equipment
- Sauce Pan This 3 qt. Sauce Pan includes a glass straining lid, perfect for potatoes and vegetables!
- Potato Masher This potato masher is perfect for making mashed potatoes!
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs. Russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1″ pieces
- 1 tsp. salt
- 4 oz. cream cheese 1/2 of 8 oz. pkg
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
- 4 Tbsp. butter melted
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- Minced parsley or chives for garnish if desired
Instructions
- To a sauce pan, add the peeled and cut potato pieces and submerge the potatoes with water until they are completely covered. Add 1 tsp. salt.
- Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium, and simmer the potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender. Drain the water and keep the cooked potatoes in the pan.
- To the hot potatoes, add the cream cheese, sour cream, half and half, shredded Parmesan, and melted butter. Mash with a potato masher until added ingredients are melted and the potatoes are creamy and fluffy. Fold in salt and pepper. Taste for proper seasoning.
- Serve right away while hot.
Notes
Nutrition
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