The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (2024)

Use this instant mashed potato recipe to make any bag or box of instant mashed potatoes taste just like the real thing.

Jill Nystul·December 21, 2023


The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (2)

The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (3)

Instant mashed potatoes are quick and easy to make, but they aren’t always the most flavorful when prepared according to the directions on the package. Luckily, I’ve a got a great instant mashed potato recipe that has the same delicious taste and texture of “real” mashed potatoes!

Instant potatoes take a fraction of the time to make compared to standard potatoes, so they’re great as a side dish for weeknight dinners. (We eat potatoes at home frequently because they’re gluten free, so I usually pick upa big box of instant mashed potatoes whenever I go to Costco!)

Some people considerhomemade mashed potatoes to be mandatory for special occasions likeThanksgiving. But if you can make instant mashed potatoes that taste just as good (and trust me, they do!), I say why not save yourself the time and effort you’d spend peeling, dicing, and boiling and just useinstant potatoes instead?

The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (4)

What Are Instant Potatoes?

Before we get to the recipe, let’s talk about why instant potatoes get a bad rap. There are two main types of instant potatoes: potato flakes and potato pearls. Potato flakes are made from cooked mashed potatoes that were dried on a drum before being scraped off. So there’s really nothing “fake” about instant potato flakes — just add the water back in and you’ve got mashed potatoes!

The key to making instant mashed potatoes taste more homemade is enhancing those Idahoan spuds (or whatever kind of instant potatoes you’re using) with a few strategic additions. Just follow the recipe below to make instant potatoes that are loaded with a comforting, homemade flavor, but quicker and easier to prepare.

I would happily serve these at Thanksgiving dinner — it’s the best instant potato recipe around!

The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (5)

How To Make The Best Instant Mashed Potatoes (Recipe)

Adapted from eHow.com

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chicken broth or stock (or veggie broth or stock)
  • 2 Tbsp salted butter (or margarine)
  • 1/4 tsp salt (more if using unsalted butter)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2/3 cup instant potato flakes
The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (6)

Directions:

Put the chicken broth, butter, and salt into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. When it starts to boil, remove the saucepan from heat.

The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (7)

Add the sour cream and potato flakes and stir thoroughly with a fork to ensure there aren’t any pockets of dry potato flakes. Allow the potatoes to sit for a minute or two until all the liquid has absorbed.

Season with salt and pepper to taste, and add a dollop of butter on top, if desired.

Makes 2 servings, but you can easily double or triple the recipe!

The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (8)

Tips, Variations & Suggestions

  • Using a small box or bag of instant potatoes? Feel free to prepare them using the directions on the package — just use chicken stock in place of the liquid and add sour cream (1/4 cup of sour cream per 2/3 cup of instant potatoes).
  • If adding spices and seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or minced chives while preparing the potatoes, add them sparingly — you can always add more, but you can’t add less! You could even add a bit of cream cheese with the sour cream to thicken your mashed potatoes.
  • To make your mashed potatoes vegan, use veggie broth, vegan butter, and vegan sour cream.
  • These savory mashed potatoes are perfect to pile on top of mini meatloaf “cupcakes”.
  • If you end up with leftover mashed potatoes, you can easily turn them into potato soup by thinning them out with broth, milk, or both. Heat the soup in your microwave or on your stovetop for a quick and easy lunch!
The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (9)

Toppings To Take Your Potatoes Over The Top

You now know how to make instant mashed potatoes better, but we’re not done just yet! You can make instant potatoes taste great after the fact by piling on a few tasty toppings! Here are some ideas that will elevate and upgrade your instant mashed potatoes:

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  • Green onions, thinly sliced
  • Roasted garlic
  • Crumbled bacon
  • Blue cheese
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Gravy (of course!)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped
  • Crispy onions
  • Extra dollop of sour cream

What’s your stance on instant mashed potatoes?

The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (11)

The Best Instant Mashed Potatoes (Recipe)

Jill Nystul

Why put all that time and effort into making homemade mashed potatoes, when you can make instant mashed potatoes that taste just as good? A must-try recipe!

4 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 235 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chicken broth or stock, or veggie broth or stock
  • 2 tbsp salted butter
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2/3 cup potato flakes

Instructions

  • Add broth, butter, and salt to a small pot, bring to a boil, then remove from heat.

  • Add sour cream and potato flakes, stir with a fork, thenlet them sit until all the liquid gets absorbed.

Nutrition

Calories: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 3gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 846mgPotassium: 280mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 534IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 0.3mg

Read This Next

  • This Is The Mistake Everyone Makes With Their Mashed Potatoes
  • 14 Ways You Should Be Using Instant Mashed Potatoes
  • The Best Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
The Best Instant Mashed Potato Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to instant mashed potatoes to make them taste better? ›

Mix in a Handful of Herbs

Fresh or dried herbs give instant mashed potatoes a flavor boost. Reach for chives if you want to add a slightly oniony taste, or try parsley for freshness. Dill, thyme or herbs de Provence all work, too.

Should you use milk instead of water for instant mashed potatoes? ›

Most instant potato varieties call for you to combine the potatoes with water, but if you want your potatoes to taste a bit more indulgent, use milk instead. Whole milk will yield delightfully rich potatoes, but 2 percent milk works well too.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mashed potatoes? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mashed potatoes are known for their richness and flavor. He typically adds butter, heavy cream, and sometimes crème fraîche to his mashed potatoes for a creamy and indulgent texture. Additionally, he often incorporates roasted garlic or chives for extra flavor.

What thickens instant mashed potatoes? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

How do you make mashed potatoes not taste bland? ›

Not Seasoning the Water

If you leave out the salt at this point, you will get tasteless potatoes, and butter and sour cream simply can't cover the taste of a flat potato. After you mash the potatoes and add your dairy stir-ins, you can season to taste with additional salt, pepper, garlic, herbs, etc.

What kind of instant mashed potatoes does KFC use? ›

Their potato mix is Cyscos instant potatoes (branded for kfc) If you have a gordon food service by you OP go there and buy their instant potatoes and follow the recipe on the package but you alightly more powder then reccomend. That way you get the playdough consistency.

Why are instant mashed potatoes so good? ›

Quick, easy, and fresh weeknight recipes. Good brands of instant mashed potatoes, like Bob's Red Mill, contain one ingredient: dehydrated potatoes. And when you rehydrate them with a bit of butter and milk and—please use a heavy hand—salt and pepper, they taste surprisingly clean and good.

What is the ratio of instant potatoes to water? ›

Then, prepare the potatoes: Bring 1¼ cups water to boil in a small saucepan. Once bubbling away, remove from heat, add 1 cup instant mashed potatoes (2 oz.), and gently fluff with a fork.

Is milk or water better for mashed potatoes? ›

In mashed potatoes, cooking in milk, and preserving that starchy liquid, gives your potatoes a natural creaminess and allows you to skip the weighty heavy cream.

What do professional chefs use to mash potatoes? ›

Ultra-Creamy Mashed Potatoes

The ricer is the most efficient tool because one single pass is all it takes to get the job done. Epicurious food editor Jesse Szewczyk is a staunch advocate for the kitchen tool: “A ricer is something that can't be replicated or replaced.

Why add baking soda to mashed potatoes? ›

Just a pinch of baking soda is all you need to create mashed potatoes as soft as clouds. When you add baking soda, it reacts with the heat of the dish and the acid in the milk or cream to create small air pockets throughout the mash. These air bubbles translate to light and airy bites. Yum!

How to enhance store-bought mashed potatoes? ›

12 Ways To Upgrade Your Mashed Potatoes
  1. Use More Butter. You already know to add butter to your mashed potatoes, but more is more. ...
  2. Extra Salt. This might also seem obvious, but potatoes need more salt than most people think. ...
  3. Add Alliums. ...
  4. Go Green. ...
  5. Garnish With Herbs. ...
  6. Fold in Mayo. ...
  7. Get Cheesy. ...
  8. Turn Up the Heat.
Jan 28, 2023

What is a good spice to add to mashed potatoes? ›

Herbed mashed potatoes pair well with parsley, dill and basil (via Martha Stewart). Rosemary, thyme or sage can also be incorporated into your recipe to add a little extra flavor. For bigger flavor, try adding a single bay leaf to the milk as it warms, but remember to remove it before mashing the potatoes.

What can I substitute for butter in instant mashed potatoes? ›

Add Oil, Margarine and Milk

Drizzling in a little of either oil in makes a great substitute for butter in mashed potatoes. Though oil is healthier, it is even higher in calories than butter, however, so take care if you are weight-watching. A tablespoon of olive oil has 118 calories according to the USDA.

Why are my mashed potatoes always bland? ›

Not salting the water.

Leaving salt out means you're starting off with bland potatoes. Follow this tip: Begin the process of seasoning your mashed potatoes by adding salt to the water when cooking the potatoes. You won't have to add as much salt later and, most importantly, you won't find yourself with bland potatoes.

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