If you want to make creamy mashed potatoes without spending hours in the kitchen, you’ll love this Instant Mashed Potatoes recipe. Discover the magic behind how to make instant potatoes taste like homemade mashed potatoes! Follow our easy steps to infuse a burst of homestyle flavors into your ready-to-make spuds.
Leave a comment and tell us your favorite food to serve with mashed potatoes.
Table of contents
- 🔑 Key to Success #1 – Use Instant Mashed Potatoes with Real Potato Flakes
- 🔑 Key to Success #2 – Use Microwave for Speed and Convenience
- 🔑 Key to Success #3 – Butter Them Up (aka The Secret to Homemade Taste)
- How to Add The Flavor
- Mixing Technique
- 🥘 How to Use Instant Mashed Potatoes in Other Recipes
- ❓ FAQ
- 📌 Get the Printable Recipe for Instant Mashed Potatoes That Taste Homemade
My mom’s Homestyle Instant Mashed Potatoes are the perfect easy recipe for those occasions when we get together for family dinners.
This comfort food side dish is perfect for many applications, from game days to simple Sunday dinner.
She has to make a huge – HUGE – bowl of them because everybody loves them and they are often one of the first things to go.
I finally got her to share all her tips for making instant mashed potatoes taste like homemade.
By the end, you’ll be armed with the knowledge and confidence to enjoy restaurant-quality mashed potatoes in a fraction of the time.
And don’t miss the best mashed potatoes recipe out there—our Large Batch Mashed Potatoes recipe that uses two pounds of potatoes and a special ingredient to take them over the top.
🔑 Key to Success #1 – Use Instant Mashed Potatoes with Real Potato Flakes
The secret to truly unlocking the magic of instant mashed potatoes lies in my choice of potato flakes.
I’ve learned from experience that reaching for those made from real potatoes, especially russets, changes the game.
Russet potatoes are my go-to because they’re packed with that delicious potato starch and have a creamy texture that’s perfect for mashed potatoes.
By choosing high-quality, real russet potato flakes, I’m ensuring my dishes have that rich, authentic potato flavor that makes every bite more memorable.
It’s tempting to grab any packet off the shelf, but I’ve found that sticking to flakes without artificial flavors or preservatives makes all the difference.
That little extra effort means I’m bringing not just convenience, but also incredible taste and a touch of home to the table.
🔑 Key to Success #2 – Use Microwave for Speed and Convenience
One of my favorite kitchen hacks is using the microwave to make cooking quicker and easier.
Seriously, it’s like my kitchen cheat code.
I just heat the water in there until it’s boiling, which only takes a few minutes, and it’s a total time-saver, especially when I’m juggling a bunch of dishes.
Plus, it cuts down on the cleanup since I’m not using so many pots and pans.
I simply put the water in a microwave-safe bowl and cover it loosely to help it boil faster without losing too much to evaporation.
Then, once it’s bubbling away, I carefully mix in the potato flakes with my electric mixer.
It’s amazing how quickly those flakes turn into creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes.
Just a minute or two of mixing, and I’ve got the perfect side dish for my hungry family.
It’s a small hack, but trust me, it makes a world of difference on those busy weeknights or cozy Sunday dinners.
🔑 Key to Success #3 – Butter Them Up (aka The Secret to Homemade Taste)
The secret to instant mashed potatoes with a homestyle taste and texture is all in how much butter, salt, and milk you add to the potato flakes.
Butter has long been a staple in homemade mashed potato recipes, and for good reason.
The easiest way to transform your fluffy potatoes into a homemade delight that will have everyone coming back for seconds is to add in a little extra butter.
Believe me, the way a bit of extra butter can elevate the flavor and texture of mashed potatoes is nothing short of miraculous.
After I’ve mixed boiling water with my potato flakes, that’s when the real magic happens by adding in all that wonderful flavor.
How to Add The Flavor
To start, add a full stick of butter that has been cut into cubes to your bowl of hot potatoes.
By adding the butter to the hot potatoes first, you’ll allow it a moment to melt and blend perfectly with the potatoes.
Next, go ahead and add in the salt to bring out all the delicious flavors.
Then, use an electric mixer to combine the butter, salt, and potatoes for a creamy and consistent texture.
When it comes to adding in the milk, I always add it in last so that the butter can fully melt and blend with the hot potatoes.
Mixing Technique
I always start by stirring in about 1/2 cup or more of cold milk into the bowl, keeping at it until everything blends seamlessly together.
With my electric mixer in hand, blending all these ingredients becomes a breeze.
I make sure to mix for about 1-2 minutes, just until all of the potato flakes are thoroughly moistened and I’ve hit that dream level of extra creaminess we all love.
And for anyone wanting their mashed potatoes a bit thicker or thinner, I’ve learned it’s easy to play around with the milk quantity to get it just right.
Really, sticking to these simple steps and choosing quality ingredients is my not-so-secret formula for whipping up the perfect bowl of mashed potatoes time and time again.
🥘 How to Use Instant Mashed Potatoes in Other Recipes
One of my favorite ways to use instant mashed potatoes is with a batch of loaded mashed potatoes.
It’s a fun new spin on a loaded baked potato where you mix cheddar cheese, crispy bacon bits, creamy sour cream, and a sprinkle of fresh chives or other herbs into the fluffy potatoes.
And when I’m in the mood to bring a bit of international flair to the dinner table, shepherd’s pie is my go-to.
This classic from the heart of British cuisine feels like a warm family embrace, layering veggies, meat, and that all-important potato topping into one delectable dish that fills the kitchen with its delicious smells.
But my adventures with instant mashed potatoes don’t stop there.
I’ve found they’re amazing for adding a creamier texture to soups or giving casseroles an extra layer of richness.
Even my dinner breadbasket gets an exciting makeover with potato rolls that leave everyone asking for more.
Indeed, having instant mashed potatoes in my pantry means I’m always ready to whip up something delightful, proving that convenience and creativity in the kitchen can go hand in hand, and you never have to sacrifice taste for time.
❓ FAQ
Can you double the recipe?
YES! The good news is that doubling the recipe is easy to do so and requires minimal effort!
Begin by ensuring that your microwave-safe bowl is large enough to hold at least 8 cups of hot liquid.
If it does, follow the steps outlined in the original recipe, but double the amount of ingredients that are required.
Once the water comes to a boil, add the additional ingredients to create a larger batch of mashed potatoes.
With this simple technique in mind, you can effortlessly expand the yield of your mashed potato recipe and enjoy it with more people than ever before.
Can you make this recipe in a pot on the stove top?
YES! To make this recipe on the stove top, simply use a pot with a capacity of at least 4 quarts to bring the water to a boil.
Then follow the same instructions for mixing in the other ingredients.
When making mashed potatoes on the stovetop, it is important to keep a close eye on the water to make sure it does not boil over
Additionally, the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the pot and the heat source used.
📌 Get the Printable Recipe for Instant Mashed Potatoes That Taste Homemade
Creamy Mashed Potatoes Using Instant Potatoes
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat 4 cups of water on high power for 3-5 minutes until it starts to boil.
- Carefully remove boiling water from the microwave and add in potato flakes.
- Using a hand mixer, blend the potato flakes into the water for 1-2 minutes, until fully combined.
- Add butter and salt. Mix well to combine.
- Add milk and mix until smooth. May add more milk to the desired consistency.
Notes
- Use boxed real potato flakes, not instant mashed potato packets.
- I prefer the Idahoan brand of potato flakes.
- Black pepper, garlic salt, or other seasonings can be added if desired.
- The amount of butter and salt listed in the recipe card is a starting point. You can always add more!
- Taste the mashed potatoes after mixing and add more butter, salt, or milk if needed to reach the desired flavor and texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tom Burnsey
Sunday 11th of February 2024
We made this mashed potatoes with this recipe for a birthday dinner last week and nobody knew it was instant potatoes. Will use this from now on
Jennifer
Sunday 11th of February 2024
That’s amazing! So good
Patricia
Thursday 8th of February 2024
I make these mashed potatoes every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's like my little secret because nobody knows that I've used instant potatoes. They're very good.
Jennifer
Thursday 8th of February 2024
That's amazing! I'll never tell.
Megan
Thursday 7th of December 2023
This was really awesome@ I've made them from the instructions from the box and they've never came out quite like this. I'm glad those extra 2 steps of using the mixer and extra butter was so helpful! I thought it would turn out gummy with the butter so I didn't add as much and it was still pretty amazing! Thank you!
Carrie
Thursday 30th of November 2023
These are that good. And I used to never make instant potatoes because I didn't like them!
Jacqueline Marsden
Wednesday 1st of November 2023
The tip to add extra butter is the key here it seems.