Wondering what to eat with mashed potatoes? In this post I’ll give you over 40 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 40 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:
Most vegetables go well with mashed potatoes, but if you’re looking for some nutritional variation, I would recommend going with vegetables that are less carb heavy, like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and leaf greens.
Yes, mashed potatoes are considered a side dish, or starchy side that accompanies proteins, vegetables and salads.
Vegetarian main dishes go great with mashed potatoes. Dishes like mushroom bourguignon, cauliflower steaks, veggie meatloaf, lentil loaf and vegetarian stuffed peppers are all great vegetarian main dishes that go well with mashed potatoes.
Yes, mashed potatoes can be a main dish by itself with some mix-ins and creative pairings. To make it more of a hearty main, I would recommend adding shredded cheese (like Parmesan or Cheddar), and/or mixing in some diced ham or bacon, and pairing with another hearty side like a chickpea salad with quinoa or roasted Brussels sprouts salad with Kale.
This is rather subjective, as it entirely depends on what meats you prefer. Because mashed potatoes have a very neutral flavor palate, it goes with most meats and proteins. Many people prefer mashed potatoes with beef dishes like meatloaf, steak and Stroganoff, but mashed potatoes also go wonderfully with chicken, turkey and seafood.
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.
Brown beef, creamy chicken and turkey gravy all go well with mashed potatoes. Creamy mushroom sauces, onion sauce, red wine sauce, garlic butter sauce, Bearnaise sauce and cheddar cheese sauce all go wonderfully with mashed potatoes.
Top Ten Main Dish Ideas for What to Eat with Mashed Potatoes
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Beef Stroganoff with Mashed Potatoes
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
Lamb with Mashed Potatoes
Lamb is a wonderful holiday main dish, especially for Easter. Here are some delicious lamb recipes that go well with mashed potatoes:
- Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe by Kylee Cooks
- Garlic Butter Lamb Chops by Primavera Kitchen
- Irish Lamb Stew by Feasting at Home
- Grilled Rack of Lamb with Garlic Herb Crust by Garlic and Zest
Vegetarian & Meatless Mains to Serve with Mashed Potatoes
Getting creating with hearty vegetables is a delicious way to offer a hearty meal while still meeting your vegetarian needs. Here are some delicious vegetarian main dish options that go well with mashed potatoes:
- Tofu en Crema de Chipotle (Dairy-Free Recipe) – by Nancy at Mexican Made Meatless
- Easy Mushroom Bourguignon – by Easy Cheesy Vegetarian
- Cauliflower Steaks – by Our Salty Kitchen
- The Best Vegan Meatloaf – by Nora Cooks
- Vegan Lentil Meatloaf Muffins – by Amy at Veggies Save the Day
- Bean Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Ancho-Guajillo Chile Sauce – by Nancy at Mexican Made Meatless
Vegetable Side Dishes that Pair with Mashed Potatoes
These are some delicious vegetable side dishes that go with mashed potatoes. These will complete your plate with color, texture and flavor contrast. Here are some of our favorites:
- Sauteed Green Beans with Mushrooms
- Roasted Rainbow Carrots
- Sauteed Broccoli with Garlic
- Sauteed Carrots
- Balsamic Honey Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Roasted Butternut Squash Medley
- Lightened Up Creamed Spinach
Gravy and Sauce Recipes that go well with Mashed Potatoes
Most people really love a creamy or broth based gravy to go with their mashed potatoes. Sauces are also an excellent way to pull the protein and potatoes together as one cohesive dish. Here are some delicious gravy and sauce recipes to go with your mashed potatoes:
- Beef Broth Brown Gravy – by Crem de la Crumb
- Easy Homemade Chicken Gravy – by Taste Better From Scratch
- Turkey Gravy – by Budget Bytes
- Creamy Mushroom Sauce – by Wholesum Yum
- Red Wine Sauce – by CakeNKnife
If you loved this potato recipe, check out some of our other popular potato recipes:
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Delightful E Made.
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
Speak Your Mind