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Cream Cheese Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes: Family Favorite

Cream Cheese Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes - featured image
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These Cream Cheese Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes are incredibly creamy, rich, and easy to make. Perfect for family dinners or holiday feasts, they deliver nostalgic comfort food with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 pounds russet potatoes (about 8–10 medium, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese (one full block, softened to room temperature)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick, cut into pieces)
  • ½ cup whole milk (warm)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1½ teaspoons salt (plus more to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives or parsley (chopped, for garnish, optional)
  • 1 tablespoon extra butter (for melting on top, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the potatoes: Peel all 5 pounds of russet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch chunks. Rinse the cut potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch, then drain well.
  2. Layer in the slow cooker: Place the potato chunks in your slow cooker. Add the ½ cup of butter pieces, 1½ teaspoons of salt, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. Do not add any liquid.
  3. Cook on low: Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  4. Add the cream cheese: Once the potatoes are tender, add the 8 ounces of softened cream cheese (cut into pieces). Let it sit on top of the hot potatoes for about 5 minutes to soften.
  5. Mash to your preference: Use a potato masher to break everything together. For smoother potatoes, use a hand mixer on low speed. Do not over-mix.
  6. Add the warm milk: Pour in the ½ cup of warm whole milk while mashing. If the potatoes seem too thick, add another ¼ cup of warm milk.
  7. Taste and adjust: Taste the potatoes and add more salt or pepper if needed.
  8. Keep warm until serving: Set the slow cooker to the ‘warm’ setting. The potatoes will stay creamy for up to 2 hours. Stir every 30 minutes and add a splash of warm milk if they thicken.

Notes

Don’t skip rinsing the potatoes to avoid a gluey texture. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth blending. For holidays, start early on low, mash an hour before serving, and keep warm. Potatoes release their own moisture, so no extra liquid is needed. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 5 days and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: mashed potatoes, slow cooker, cream cheese, comfort food, holiday side dish, easy mashed potatoes

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/cream-cheese-slow-cooker-mashed-potatoes-family-favorite/