Black Folks Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
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Mashed potatoes are a beloved side dish at Sunday dinners, holiday tables, and soul food spreads alike. But Black folks’ creamy mashed potatoes take this comfort food classic to a whole new level! Rich, buttery, soulfully seasoned, and whipped to smooth, dreamy perfection with a touch of Southern love. It’s the kind of recipe that feels like home with every warm bite.
How to make the perfect mashed potatoes
The secret to unforgettable mashed potatoes is cooking them the soul food way—rich, creamy, and seasoned far beyond just butter, salt, and pepper. It’s all about layering flavor with creamy texture. In my old-school Black folks’ recipe, that starts by boiling the potatoes in rich chicken stock instead of plain water, adding depth from the very first step, then finishing with my curated blend of seasonings and herbs.
For the perfect creamy texture, I use both heavy whipping cream and milk. These two essentials go into every batch of my made-from-scratch mashed potatoes, working together to infuse the dish with that irresistibly smooth, velvety finish.
Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make my rich, buttery, and oh-so-creamy soul food mashed potatoes.
- Potatoes – Use red or gold potatoes, peeled or unpeeled to your liking. (I love leaving the skins on for extra texture and flavor!)
- Chicken stock – A secret Southern ingredient! Boiling the potatoes in chicken stock or broth (instead of water) infuses them with rich flavor without relying on excessive salt.
- Heavy whipping cream and milk – The dream team for that smooth, velvety mashed potato texture.
- Butter – Adds richness and that classic, buttery comfort.
- Seasonings and herbs – A soulful mix of garlic and herb seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley for depth and freshness.
What type of potato makes the best creamy mashed potatoes?
Yukon Gold potatoes are the top choice for irresistibly creamy mashed potatoes. They’re naturally buttery with just the right amount of starch, giving them a smooth, velvety texture that mashes beautifully. Fluffy yet moist, Yukon Golds hold their shape during cooking, so you get rich, creamy potatoes without them turning to mush. Just pure, buttery perfection!
How do you make Black folks’ creamy mashed potatoes?
Here’s what to expect when whipping up this soulful side dish!
- Boil the potatoes until tender.
- Mash the potatoes.
- Fold in the broth, milk, seasonings, and butter, then serve and enjoy!
Pro tip: Cut your cooking time in half with my Instant Pot creamy mashed potatoes recipe HERE!
Storing and reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk or chicken stock if necessary to restore the creamy texture.
What to serve with creamy mashed potatoes
This soulful, goes-with-almost-anything side dish shines alongside your favorite Southern mains. All-time classics include crispy Southern fried chicken or savory soul food meatloaf.
At Thanksgiving or Christmas, this creamy, soul food favorite pairs beautifully with holiday mains. Think golden roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, or a juicy Christmas pot roast. All made even better with a big scoop of mashed potatoes on the side!
Equipment
- Large pot
- Potato masher
- handheld electric mixer optional – to blend the mashed potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds potatoes small red potatoes or gold potatoes
- 32 oz. chicken stock
- 1 cup chicken stock or vegetable stock or broth for vegetarians
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted, melted
- 1 teaspoon seasoning Weber garlic and herb seasoning, or similar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup parsley fresh and finely chopped
Instructions
- Wash and scrub the potatoes.
- Fill a large pot with approximately two-thirds chicken stock, then add the potatoes, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let them simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
- Remove the pot from the stove and drain the potatoes.
- Mash the potatoes in the pot with a potato masher until they are smooth and creamy, being careful not to overwork them so they stay fluffy.
- Use a rubber spatula to gently fold in 1 cup of chicken stock, milk, whipping cream, melted butter, seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley to the mashed potatoes. (Optionally, combine with a handheld electric mixer.)Then, serve right away and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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Yummy recipe to level up those boring potatoes!
I made these mashed potatoes yesterday and I made it a meal for myself! I added some bacon bits and a little dill. It was so good!! Thank you!
I made these potatoes a couple days ago and they are the best mashed potatoes my family and I have ever had. The chicken broth really brings the mash up to a whole new level. Thanks!!