These Easy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream are the most delicious mashed potatoes you will ever have. They’re light, creamy, buttery & easy to make with the help of your stand mixer – No hand mashing required!
May I present you with the most perfect of mashed potatoes?
Light, creamy, buttery and tangy – All the great things you want in a bowl of mashed potatoes. But another bonus? There’s no hand mashing required.
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
The key here begins with boiling your potatoes in salted chicken broth.
You know how you salt your pasta water? This is kind of the same idea. The broth will impart a flavor to the potatoes from the outset and give you that extra flavor that mashed potatoes can sometimes lack.
It’s *magic*.
After the potatoes are cooked, I like to use my stand mixer to get them really smooth. Starting first with the paddle mixer attachment and then moving to the whip. You can also use a handheld mixer. Or, you can go old fashioned, and use a good old potato masher if you don’t have an electronic one.
I always forget how simple it is to actually make these potatoes!
You can peel the potatoes if you like them really smooth. But, if you’re short on time, just go ahead and leave the skins on. Then, just let them cook away while you work on your main dish.
They’re perfect served alongside this Easy Roasted Chicken, Instant Pot Pork Chops or Slow Cooker Osso Buco.
Want to add in even more flavor? Try adding some roasted garlic to your potatoes before mixing them.
PS – You can also make these Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot.
More Side Dish Recipes:
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Mojo Sauce
- Roasted Delicata Squash
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes (with Crispy Skins)
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction & Cranberries
- Shaved Fennel and Celery Salad
- Smashed Brussels Sprouts with Lemon Tahini Sauce
If you loved this Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream recipe I would appreciate it so much if you would give it a star review! 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.
For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
More Creamy Side Dish Recipes:
- Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Mashed Cauliflower // Stovetop or Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (Savory)
- Miso Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
- Creamy Polenta with Parmesan
- Duchess Potatoes
What to serve with mashed potatoes:
- Boston Market Meatloaf
- Marinated Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Garlic
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Classic Steak Diane
- Slow Cooker Osso Buco
Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream Recipe
Easy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes (peeled if desired)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Chives (for topping)
Instructions
- Cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes and place them in a large pot with the chicken broth. Add enough water to cover the potatoes and add about 2 tablespoons of salt. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 to 12 minutes, until the potatoes fall apart easily when pierced with a fork.
- Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan, until the butter is melted. Keep warm.
- As soon as the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander.
- Place hot potatoes in mixing bowl and mix until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Slowly add in milk/butter mixture and sour cream.
- Turn up speed and beat for about 30 seconds, or until milk is absorbed. Gradually turn up speed and mix for 1 minute longer.
- Switch to whipping attachment and beat for about 1 minute, or until fluffy.
- Serve warm topped with extra butter (if desired) and chopped chives.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in November, 2014. It was updated in October 2021. The recipe remains the same – It’s definitely a keeper!
I regularly make mashed potato to accompany dinner but never have added sour cream before. Definitely will be doing so next time I make some!
It really does add extra creaminess and great flavor!
These look delicious! I am in charge of the mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner this year. I may just have to try out this recipe!
I hope you do Sara! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
It look delicious
Erin, such a simple dish, yet so perfect. I think you nailed the proportions in this perfectly!
Thanks so much Kristen!
My mom makes a mean potato casserole with sour cream. I can’t eat my mashed potatoes any other way now – your version looks so velvety and luxurious!!!
Oooohhhh – That casserole sounds amazing too Taylor! Yum!
Erin, you make mashed potatoes look so elegant! Gorgeous photos! And I love mashed potatoes with sour cream (well, dairy-free sour cream for me). YUM.
Thanks Marlynn! That means a lot coming from you!
I love the idea of boiling potatoes in salted chicken broth. Why didn’t I think of that? These look like the perfect Thanksgiving side or a special treat for a Tuesday!
Thanks Karen – These are definitely easy enough to make on a Tuesday! I always think of mashed potatoes as a “feat”, but really, these are simple!
I love the creaminess of mashed potatoes with some alternative dairy instead of milk. I use yogurt in mine. It makes them a little tangy and extra creamy – but without as much fat as sour cream. Plus, we always have yogurt in the house, so I don’t end up with a half-used container of sour cream that I won’t use up later.
Great suggestion Catherine – I swap yogurt for sour cream quite often too. It’s hard to tell the difference sometimes!
I wonder why I’ve never heard of boiling potatoes in chicken broth. That sounds genius!
It gives them such great flavor right from the start Carissa – I don’t make them any other way now!
What a great idea to add sour cream! A nice departure from masses of butter…
Thanks Katrin!
Yum!! Love mashed potatoes and I think that the sour cream would make me fall in love with them all the more. Thank you for the inspiration!
Using chicken broth makes a difference. The flavor is better, but no one can identify what the “secret ingredient” is.!
I totally agree Amanda – It’s kind of like flavoring the potatoes from the inside out!
I love the idea of cooking the potatos in broth, but I have a question. I’m a vegetarian, so do you think I could use vegetable broth without it being an issue? 🙂
Oops. Potatoes.* Also, one more question. If I wanted to make this for someone who prefers nut milk in their recipes, what would you recommend?
As far as nut milk Crystalini, I would maybe try substituting in some cashew milk for that creamy flavor. Enjoy!
Yes – You could definitely use vegetable broth in place of the chicken stock. It would be amazing as well 🙂
Can these potatos be made the day before?
cookiekc405@gmail.com
Hi – You can definitely make the day before! I would reheat them in the oven or microwave.
I am in charge of the mashed potatoes this year for our Thanksgiving Feast. What are your thoughts on keeping them warm in the crock pot as I transport them over to my brother’s house and then attempt to keep them warm for our dinner?
Can you make these ahead of time and reheat in oven later
You sure can Alice! I would reheat at 350 for about 30 minutes.
I’m a bit confused, do you add water and broth when boiling the potatoes? Or just 2 cups of broth?
Hi – You will add both the broth and enough water to just cover the potatoes. The amount of water you use will depend on the size of your pot, etc. Hope that helps!
my family loves homemade mash potatoes i can not wait to try theses!!!!!
WARNING: Directions unclear!!!!! My boyfriend has been panicking and thinking that I’m going to break up with him because the potatoes were very runny for a bit. Please, Erin, PLEASE edit and put in the directions that the potatoes really need to boil down and simmer. He was freaking out that they were way too watery, but now they turned out great! You never steer us wrong Erin, and in fact your short ribs made me cry! So please, help us out, and let the world know that the ratio of these potatoes WILL APPEAR very watery at first.
Thank you!
Much love,
Devin + Mario