We’ve shared how to easily make Baked Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes in the microwave. But, did you know you can make creamy dreamy mashed potatoes in the microwave, too? I so excited to share my secret for making “to-die-for” mashed potatoes right in your microwave with you. This post contains affiliate links.
Mashed Potatoes are one of my favorite side dishes. They’re also a perfect quick meal when you just want some comfort food. Plus, you can add so many toppings — cheese, bacon, garlic, etc.
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What kind of potatoes can you use to make microwave mashed potatoes?
I haven’t found a potato that you can’t make mashed potatoes with. You can even use the fancy colored ones, like purple potatoes! Though, I usually stick with russet potatoes, red potatoes, or yukon gold potatoes.
What can you add to mashed potatoes?
Make some roasted garlic in the microwave, and then whip up a single serving of garlic mashed potatoes! Or, top your mashed potatoes with bacon, cheese, onions, and sour cream and have loaded mashed potatoes. This would be a wonderful meal just by itself!
Here’s a few more ideas to change up plain mashed potatoes:
- blue cheese crumbles
- chili powder
- cheddar cheese and jalapenos
- sundried tomatoes
- curry powder
- sour cream
- gouda or mozzarella cheese
- boursin cheese
- hummus
- even mayonnaise!
What’s the secret to making really good Microwave Mashed Potatoes?
It’s cream cheese. It makes the potatoes taste like amazing southern style mashed potatoes. Cream cheese gives mashed potatoes that “bite” that makes you think of restaurant style mashed potatoes served with a big chicken fried steak.
My absolute favorite way to make mashed potatoes is to add butter, heavy cream, and cream cheese. They are so, so good! There are never any leftovers when I make them this way.
How to make Mashed Potatoes in the Microwave?
If you only have a microwave, you might not have necessary tools like a vegetable peeler or a potato masher. But, you can definitely get by without them.
If you have a vegetable peeler, I would recommend peeling your potatoes. But, if you don’t, and you don’t mind a few skins in your potatoes, then just wash your potatoes really well before cubing them and the skins will just mashed up with the potatoes.
Make sure you cube the potatoes fairly small and cook the potatoes long enough in the microwave to get them really soft, so if you don’t have a potato masher or a potato ricer, you can easily mash them with a fork or the back of a big spoon.
I also add enough water to just cover the tops of the potatoes.
When it’s time to mash the potatoes, I like to add butter, heavy cream or half and half (milk will also do), and I keep a container of whipped cream cheese in the fridge just to add a spoonful to mashed potatoes. Then, it’s time to just mash ’em and mix ’em.
Can you make a bigger batch of mashed potatoes in the microwave?
Yes! We are a family of 6, and I often make mashed potatoes for all of us in the microwave when I don’t want to heat up the kitchen. I just use a big enough bowl and usually about 8-10 potatoes, and then I just increase the butter, cream, and creamed cheese I add to those potatoes. They come out just as delicious as a single serving or two.
More Microwave Recipes
- Microwave Fried Rice
- Microwave Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Single Serving Cheddar Broccoli Rice Casserole
- How to make Microwave Mac and Cheese
Mashed Potatoes in the Microwave
Ingredients
- 2-3 small-medium potatoes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1-2 tablespoons cream, half and half (or milk)
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Wash and cube potatoes and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with water just enough to cover potatoes.
- Microwave for 8-10 minutes, until potatoes are soft.
- Drain potatoes.
- Add butter, cream, and cream cheese and let it sit for a minute to melt.
- Mashed potatoes and ingredients together.
- Give it a good stir once it's mashed to incorporate all ingredients.
- Serve immediately!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 337Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 290mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 5gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g
Any nutritional information on justmicrowaveit.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate.