What to Serve with Mashed Potatoes: 20+ Main Dishes

Wondering what to serve with mashed potatoes? I’ve got you covered with this guide of the 20+ main dishes that pair best with mashed potatoes.

Mashed Potatoes are of the most simple side dishes that you can make. They make a perfect side dish to compliment hearty, saucy dishes like these red wine braised short ribs, turkey Swedish meatballs, or pork chops & gravy, because they soak up all that delicious sauce.

In this roundup, I list 20+ of the most popular main dishes to serve with mashed potatoes.

What to Eat with Mashed Potatoes

Mushroom Chicken is a simple, yet elegant meal to enjoy for quick dinners or fancy events. Pan-fried chicken and mushrooms are smothered in a rich and creamy garlic sauce and ready to eat in just 30 minutes.

Mushroom Chicken

This is the perfect easy roasted chicken recipe. The skin is perfectly crisp and crackly, there’s no basting, and it results in a lovely pan gravy at the finish. Easy enough for a weeknight dinner!

Easy Roasted Chicken

These red wine braised short ribs are the perfect, savory dinner party recipe! Easy to make ahead and then just pop in the oven to cook, this mouthwatering short ribs recipes lets you enjoy the night while also serving a delicious, home-cooked meal.

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs

Instant Pot Pork Chops cook up deliciously tender and juicy in your electric pressure cooker, and they’re finished off with an irresistible gravy.

Instant Pot Pork Chops

Easy Ground Turkey Swedish Meatballs are a lightened-up version of traditional Swedish Meatballs. Served in a delicious, creamy sauce. Serve them over mashed potatoes, rice or egg noodles. 

Turkey Swedish Meatballs

Sous Vide Roast Beef is tender, juicy and perfectly cooked every time. It’s a perfect dish for the holidays, especially when it’s served with a Creamy Mushroom Sauce and my easy Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes. 

Sous Vide Roast Beef

These sous vide short ribs are the perfect, savory dinner party recipe! Easy to make ahead and then just finish in a hot skillet. This mouthwatering recipe lets you enjoy the night while also serving a delicious, home-cooked meal.

Sous Vide Short Ribs

This Air Fryer Meatloaf recipe is just as delicious as the classic baked version, but so much quicker. This recipe makes two tender meatloaves with crisp, caramelized surfaces and juicy, tender centers. Making homemade meatloaf has never been easier!

Air Fryer Meatloaf

This foolproof recipe makes flavorful and tender air fryer chicken breasts every time, seasoned with herbs and spices.

Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Steak Diane is a classic recipe that tops your favorite steak with a sauce made with cream, cognac, shallots, beef stock, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s perfect for special occasions but also quick & easy enough for weeknight dinners.

Steak Diane

This Slow Cooker Osso Buco is super flavorful and tender. Serve it over mashed potatoes for the most delicious and amazing dinner. 

Slow Cooker Osso Buco

This creamy French Onion Chicken is a simple yet crave-worthy dinner that’s made in one skillet! Tender chicken breasts are covered in a rich gravy with caramelized onions, then piled with Gruyere and baked to form a perfectly melty, cheesy layer on top.

French Onion Chicken

Learn how to make Smoked Beef Short Ribs! Smoking them low and slow with a tangy spritz and red wine braising liquid results in delicate and perfectly seasoned meat every time.

Smoked Beef Short Ribs

30 Minute Easy Chicken Marsala is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, but it’s also elegant enough to serve at a dinner party. The Marsala wine, bacon, butter sauce will have you licking your plate!

Chicken Marsala

This 30 Minute Easy Pork Piccata makes a quick and easy weeknight dinner, but it’s also elegant enough for a dinner party at home. The lemon, garlic, butter sauce will have you licking your plate every time!

Pork Piccata

Instant Pot Beef Stew is the perfect cozy meal for chilly days. With this easy recipe, tender chunks of beef, potatoes and carrots cook together in a flavorful sauce with red wine. This hearty and savory dish will be on your menu over and over all season!

Instant Pot Beef Stew

This 30-Minute Easy Chicken Piccata makes a quick and easy weeknight dinner, but it’s also elegant enough for a dinner party at home. The lemon, garlic, butter sauce will have you licking your plate!

Chicken Piccata

Marinated Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Garlic is an easy summer grilling recipe you can cook in minutes. Each chop is saturated with rich and earthy flavors thanks to an herbaceous marinade made with simple ingredients.

Marinated Lamb Chops

Chicken in White Wine Sauce is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Crispy pan-fried chicken cutlets are nestled in a rich, creamy, and extra garlicky white wine sauce. It’s a 30-minute meal done in one skillet!

Chicken in White Wine Sauce

This Boston Market Meatloaf (Copycat Recipe) tastes just like they make at Boston Market – It’s kicked up with a barbeque ketchup sauce that tastes so amazing!

Boston Market Meatloaf

This air fryer recipe makes juicy and flavorful chicken thighs an absolute breeze.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

What type of potatoes to use for mashed potatoes?

I prefer to use Yukon Gold potatoes for my mashed potatoes. I find them buttery and delicious. However, Russet potatoes are another great variety that produces fluffy mashed potatoes. You can also use baby red potatoes.

Can you make mashed potatoes ahead of time?

• Mashed potatoes will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store them tightly wrapped in a serving dish. To reheat, bake them covered with tin foil in a 325-degree oven for 50 minutes.
• To reheat in the microwave, cover the potatoes with plastic wrap, and poke about 5 holes in the plastic wrap. Microwave at 75% power for about 12 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Favorite mashed potato recipes

• Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
• Miso Mashed Potatoes
• Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes

More side dish recipes

• Sides for Burgers
• Sides for Pork Chops
• Sides for BBQ
• Sides for Salmon
• Sides for Steak
• Sides for Ribs
• Sides for Chicken

Did you Make Any of These Easy Meals with Mashed Potatoes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of what goes with mashed potatoes. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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Wha to Serve with Mashed Potatoes: 20+ BEST Main Dishes

Wondering what to serve with mashed potatoes? I've got you covered with this guide of the 20+ main dishes that pair best with mashed potatoes. Try them with this Mushroom Chicken. Pan-fried chicken and mushrooms are smothered in a rich and creamy garlic sauce and ready to eat in just 30 minutes.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Created by Platings and Pairings

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 chicken breasts (boneless , sliced in half horizontally)
• Kosher salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 8 ounces mushrooms (cremini or white mushrooms, sliced)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 shallot (minced)
• 4 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• ⅔ cup heavy cream
• 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (+ 1 Tablespoon lemon juice)
• 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (to garnish)

Instructions

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour and garlic powder in a shallow bowl and coat the chicken pieces in the flour.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden, about 5-6 minutes per side, working in batches if needed, so as to not overcrowd the skillet.
• Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
• Add the butter to the now empty skillet. Once melted, add the mushrooms, season with Italian seasoning, and allow them to brown for about 6-8 minutes. Once golden, remove and set aside with the chicken.
• Add the shallots and a pinch of salt and pepper to the empty skillet. Cook 1-2 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook about 30 seconds longer.
• Add the broth and wine and bring to a simmer, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cream, soy sauce, lemon zest and juice and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Return the chicken and mushrooms to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes, or until warmed through. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Equipment

Large Skillet

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 480mg | Potassium: 822mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 885IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2mg