Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

When making a a roast or turkey dinner for a large crowd this is the perfect recipe and the bonus is you can make them ahead. These mashed potatoes are very creamy and moist. If you need your oven for other dishes you can heat them up in the crock pot

Prep time: 20 minutes

Oven cook time: 40 minutes
Crock Pot (Slow Cooker) cook time: 3 hours
Yields: Makes 12 to 15 servings


Ingredients:
15 medium (5 pounds) potatoes, peeled and quartered
3/4 cup butter
250 grams or 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons onion powder
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
4 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup chopped chives (optional)

4 tablespoons butter

Spray a large casserole dish, foil pan or crock pot dish (if desired) with vegetable-oil cooking spray.

In a large pot of boiling water over medium-high heat, cook potatoes until tender when pierced with a fork; remove from heat and drain.

In the same cooking pot, mash potatoes using a electric hand mixer until there are no lumps.

Note: do not overmix or potatoes will turn gummy.

Add cream cheese, butter, sour cream, onion powder, salt, pepper, and chopped chives, mix well. Dot with additional pats of butter.

If serving right away, cover and bake in a preheated oven at 325°F. for 50 minutes.  However, you can make this recipe up to several days ahead and store in the fridge. If baking cold, let stand at room temperature for1 hour first. Bake at 325-350 F for 1 hour or until heated through.

Crockpot Method:

Cooking the prepared mashed potatoes in the crock-pot is a great way to keep the oven free for the other dishes.

Take the prepared mashed potatoes out of refrigerator about 3-1/2 hours before serving time. Place in crock-pot. Cover and cook on low heat for approximately 3 hours, stirring once or twice. After potatoes are cooked, stir, and then add some additional dollops of butter just before serving.

Link to Recipe: Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Boil potatoes until tender and drain

Using an electric mixer mix until there are no lumps. Add cream cheese, butter, sour cream, onion powder, salt, pepper,and chopped chives (if desired).

Mix well until creamy and fluffy

Dot with butter.

At this point either refrigerate until ready to use or bake for approx. 40-50 minutes