Name: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: 4 Pounds Potatoes; 8 oz Cream Cheese; 1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt; 1/8 tsp Pepper; 2 tsp Salt; 1 clove Garlic-Minced (About 2tsp or more!); 2 tsp Butter (Within the mashed potatoes); 2-4 tsp Butter (Dotted on top ); Splash Cream/half n half ((optional-if too dry)); 1 cup Bacon ((optional- for added flavor))

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Why it works: These Creamy garlic mashed potatoes loaded with smooth cream cheese and optional savory bacon — an easy, cozy comfort food side dish everyone loves. This Classic comfort pairing that balances the savory turkey dinner perfectly.

Hello everyone! This is one of our family favorites — especially with a little bacon added in. I’m always surprised by how often this side makes its way onto our table during the busy school year. It’s incredibly easy to prepare ahead of time. I usually cook and mash the potatoes with the other ingredients the evening before, then transfer everything to a 9×12 casserole dish and refrigerate it until the next day. When dinnertime rolls around, all that’s left to do is bake. We love how the flavors come together even more after resting overnight — almost like they’ve had time to marinate. I hope you enjoy it just as much as we do!

Plus Potatoes have many health benefits, everything in moderation, but here’s an article why they are a healthy choice, by Good Food is Good Medicine from UCDavis.edu.

Ingredients

1.Potatoes, cut up (peeled or not..your choice)

2. Cream Cheese -This makes the potatoes so creamy and smooth. Vegan Cream cheese works well too. Dairy is not my sister’s friend, so I’ve substituted Vegan options for all the Dairy and it’s worked out great.

3. Plain Greek Yogurt- A little tang flavoring, could substitute sour cream, we just like the healthier option of yogurt.

4. Salt & Pepper- Classic seasonings to help bring out the natural flavor of the ingredients.

5. Garlic– minced (about 2 tsp) I sometimes use more depending on the crowd!! That’s when it gets super tasty!! More garlic.

6. Butter- to mix into the potatoes, don’t you worry there will be more! I’ve also made these with Vegan Butter with much success.

7.. More Butter for patting on top before baking

8. Cooked Bacon– (optional) cut into small chunks. Have you tried cooking bacon in the oven on a cookie sheet covered in foil? It works so well. See how I’ve done it here.

All ingredients listed below with exact amounts needed.

Boil Potatoes

Steps 1:

Boil potatoes until done (approximately 15-20 minutes). If a fork pokes easily through a chunk of potato, you know they are ready. Then mash. I use my stand up mixer to mash and then mix the next ingredients. Our family likes the texture of the peel so I cook and mash it with them.

Steps 2:

2. To the hot potatoes in the mixing bowl, I add cream cheese, yogurt, salt, pepper, garlic, and 2 tsp butter. Mix until smooth. Then add bacon until just incorporated.

Steps 3 & 4:

3. Pour mashed potato mixture into a buttered 9×12 casserole dish

4. Dot top with remaining butter. At this point you can choose your own adventure to either bake right away or put a casserole dish covered in the refrigerator up to 2 days before baking.

Steps 5 & 6:

5. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes. If you are pulling this out of the refrigerator, it’s nice to let it warm up to room temperature for about 30 minutes before you bake.

6. Enjoy this savory classic comfort.

✨ Optional upgrades:

Add cooked bacon chunks, for a great umami taste
Add more garlic or chopped chives.
Shredded Sharp cheddar can elevate the flavor as well.

These scrumptious Mashed Potatoes go great with my Juicy Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Loaf, or right along side a Simple Salmon filet.

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