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    Recipes » Side Dish » Potato Sides

    Mashed Red Potatoes

    Published: Mar 15, 2018 · Modified: Nov 19, 2020 by Marissa Stevens · 52 Comments

    Gluten FreeVegetarianMediterranean

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    mashed red potatoes in a ceramic bowl with melting butter

    Mashed Red Potatoes are delicious enough to serve as a holiday side dish, but easy enough to make on a busy weeknight. Lightly salty and rich with olive oil, butter and garlic, you'll want to serve these potatoes with everything!

    Mashed Red Potatoes photographed from above

    Whether I'm making this Mashed Red Potatoes recipe or traditional mashed potatoes, I've learned one important trick: steam the potatoes, don't boil them. When you steam potatoes, there's no need to worry about the potatoes becoming overcooked or water logged as they can when you boil them.

    Jump to:
    • Red Potatoes FAQ
    • Serve With
    • How to Make Mashed Red Potatoes
    • Recipe Video
    • Mashed Red Potatoes
    • 💬 Comments
    Mashed Red Potatoes served in a ceramic bowl

    Red Potatoes FAQ

    Are red potatoes good for mashing?

    Red potatoes are considered waxy, meaning they have more moisture / less starch. They are great for mashing because they are naturally smooth and creamy. That said, take care to not over-mash as they can become gluey faster than russet or Yukon gold potatoes. The key is to steam them until they are very tender and mash easily.

    Do you have to peel red potatoes?

    You don't have to peel red potatoes. What a time saver! Their skins have a delicate flavor (not bitter) and are very thin and tender. They also add a pretty pop of color!

    How many red potatoes are there in 2 pounds?

    If you don't feel like hunting down a scale at your grocery store or farmer's market, a good rule of thumb is 7 or 8 small red potatoes, or 14 or 15 red new potatoes.

    Serve With

    I love to serve these potatoes (when I'm not making Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Twice Baked Potatoes or Italian Roasted Potatoes) with everything from Turkey Meatloaf or Meatloaf with Oatmeal, Bacon Wrapped Pork Chops and Roasted Lamb Chops or Pan-Fried Lamb Chops to Duck Confit during the year and alongside Turkey Roulade or Dry Brine Turkey and Cornbread Dressing with Turkey Gravy without drippings for our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

    And if you love potatoes like I do, don't miss these Breakfast Potatoes or these Skillet Potatoes - both are impossibly crispy because of an unusual technique!

    How to Make Mashed Red Potatoes

    Step 1: Steam cubes of red potato until very tender.

    Steaming Red Potatoes Until Tender

    Step 2: Cook and stir garlic in melted butter then stir in salt and olive oil.

    Warming Butter Garlic Salt and Olive Oil

    Step 3: Pour olive oil mixture over tender red potato cubes in a large bowl and mash to desired consistency. Serve!

    Pouring Olive Oil Mixture Over Tender Steamed Potatoes
    Smashing Potatoes with Olive Oil Mixture
    Smashed Red Potatoes served

    Recipe Video

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    Mashed Red Potatoes photographed from above featured

    Mashed Red Potatoes

    Marissa Stevens
    Mashed Red Potatoes make an ideal side dish for your holiday table and are easy enough to make any time! 
    5 from 16 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 280 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pounds red potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes (7 or 8 small red potatoes)
    • 4 tablespoons butter ¼ cup
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic about 3 large cloves
    • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • minced chives for garnish, optional

    Instructions
     

    • Place raw red potato cubes in a large steamer basket over a large pot of boiling water. Cover and steam until very tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
    • When potatoes are nearly tender, melt butter in a small saucepan. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add salt and olive oil; stir until just heated through. Remove from heat.
    • Transfer tender potatoes to a large bowl. Pour olive oil mixture over and mash with a potato masher to desired consistency. Garnish with chives if desired and serve.

    Notes

    1. If you don't have a steamer, feel free to boil potatoes instead. To a large pot, add cubed potatoes and enough cold water to cover by 1-inch. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat and let summer until potatoes are tender. Drain and proceed with recipe.
    2. If you're not a fan of olive oil in these mashed red potatoes, no problem! Just increase the butter to 10 tablespoons and skip the olive oil. Likewise, if you want to use just olive oil for a vegan / dairy-free version, use 10 tablespoons of olive oil (½ cup + 2 tablespoons) and skip the butter.
    3. To make Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes, mash in the roasted garlic cloves from one or two heads of roasted garlic along with the olive oil mixture before serving. To roast heads of garlic: remove the outer papery skin and cut off the top ½ inch of the head to expose garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive and wrap in aluminum foil. Transfer to a baking dish or baking sheet to catch any drips and roast at 400˚F for 35-40 minutes until tender and lightly brown. Let cool slightly before squeezing cloves out with your fingers or lifting out with a cocktail fork.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 288mgPotassium: 687mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 245IUVitamin C: 13.4mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1.2mg
    Keyword Christmas, creamy, easy, fluffy, Thanksgiving
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Potato Sides

    • Roasted Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
    • Roasted Green Beans and Potatoes
    • Cheesy Potatoes
    • Skillet Potatoes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. ricki says

      January 17, 2022 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      This is a VERY GOOD RECIPE!! Thank you. We both loved it and, 10 days later are making it again. RH

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 20, 2022 at 1:20 pm

        I love it! Thanks so much for coming back to let me know, Ricki!

        Reply
    2. Melinda Jones says

      January 02, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      It was a hit with no alterations needed. Even my in-laws were impressed and my FIL is a food snob. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 03, 2022 at 9:22 am

        So glad these were a hit with you and your family, Melinda! Sweet of you to come back and let me know.

        Reply
    3. Robin Coffey-Hopkins says

      January 02, 2022 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious 😋Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 03, 2022 at 9:21 am

        My pleasure, Robin! So glad you enjoyed them.

        Reply
    4. Dee says

      November 02, 2021 at 6:38 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe. The next time I make it, I want to use some truffle salt.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        November 03, 2021 at 8:20 am

        So glad you're enjoying it, Dee! Truffle salt is a nice addition.

        Reply
    5. Steve says

      June 14, 2021 at 5:23 am

      5 stars
      I will keep making these mashed red potatoes, they were awesome!!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        June 14, 2021 at 9:26 am

        That's wonderful to hear, Steve! Thank you for letting me know!

        Reply
    6. Tracy says

      July 14, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      These are amazing!! I boiled the potatoes since I don’t have a steamer...and they were amazing. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        July 15, 2020 at 8:36 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed these, Tracy! Thank you for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    7. Baby says

      April 09, 2020 at 8:23 pm

      These literally look amazing, cooking them tonight with my garlic, brown sugar pork loin

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        April 10, 2020 at 2:39 pm

        Sounds like a great combo!

        Reply
    8. Joanna Dillon says

      April 09, 2020 at 12:13 pm

      Can you boil these instead of steaming them?

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        April 09, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        Hi, Joanna. Yes, absolutely! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Lynn Gerebi says

      November 02, 2019 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      These were easy and delicious. I used avocado oil. Mild easy flavor for our fussy family. They loved. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        November 05, 2019 at 8:54 am

        That's wonderful to hear, Lynn! Thank you for coming back to let me know!

        Reply
    10. Lupe says

      March 28, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      Omgeeeee!!! I will definitely be preparing these tonight with my Mexican meatloaf, thank you so much for sharing this looks so yummy!!!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 29, 2019 at 12:00 pm

        Perfect combination. Thank you, Lupe!

        Reply
    11. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      March 19, 2018 at 9:22 am

      Your potatoes certainly do look good. I've got red potatoes that I was going to make this evening so I'll be trying your version.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:46 pm

        I love to hear that, Karen. Thank you!

        Reply
    12. annie@ciaochowbambina says

      March 19, 2018 at 7:24 am

      5 stars
      This post gives me all the feels! As does the video! I love smashed red potatoes - and yours are the best!!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:46 pm

        aww, Annie! Thank you, my friend. xo

        Reply
    13. Neha says

      March 18, 2018 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      Gosh these smashed potatoes look so rich with all the butter and olive oil. I am super tempted to make these in my kitchen.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:46 pm

        I hope you do, Neha! Thank you.

        Reply
    14. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

      March 16, 2018 at 8:13 pm

      This looks better than anything you can get at a restaurant!! I love the bits of potato peel in there - and just perfect with a little pat of butter 🙂 YUM!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:47 pm

        Thank you, Katherine! Don't you love the peels on new potatoes - I love the texture they add!

        Reply
    15. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      March 16, 2018 at 7:57 am

      5 stars
      I could do some serious damage to this pot of tatos!! I second David...these are making me hungry right now!! Happy Friday! XO

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:47 pm

        haha, thank you so much Dawn!

        Reply
    16. Kevin O'Leary says

      March 16, 2018 at 7:47 am

      Steaming the potatoes is GENIUS! These look absolutely amazing. 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:48 pm

        Thanks, Kevin! It's so nice to not have to worry about waterlogged potatoes!

        Reply
    17. David @ Spiced says

      March 16, 2018 at 5:04 am

      Yes, yes and more yes to these smashed potatoes! You know, I heard that same trick about steaming potatoes somewhere, and it works beautifully! And I love a good smashed potato. Red potatoes are always one of my favorites, and I'm thinking I might need to whip these up as a side dish soon. These photos are making me hungry! 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:48 pm

        If you're hungry, then I've done my job, haha! Thank you, David!

        Reply
    18. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

      March 15, 2018 at 7:56 pm

      Oh the texture reminds me of Japanese potato salad. So comforting and soft! 😀

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:49 pm

        I've never had Japanese potato salad! Off to research... thank you, my friend!

        Reply
    19. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

      March 15, 2018 at 7:06 pm

      I don't have the words to tell you just how much I love potatoes. Especially mashed! Or smashed :). These look fabulous and I'm totally going to steam my potatoes next time I make them. Awesome tip! Have a great weekend, Marissa!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:49 pm

        I'm with you, Kelsie - mashed or smashed, just hand 'em over. 😉

        Reply
    20. Ben|Havocinthekitchen says

      March 15, 2018 at 3:57 pm

      5 stars
      I love potatos and (especially in a mashed form), and I can literally eat a huge bawl (And this is the reason I try to stay away from it as much as possible). This one, with garlic, butter, and olive oil, is irresistibly delicious.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 21, 2018 at 4:50 pm

        haha, thank you so much Ben!

        Reply
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