Red skin mashed potatoes are creamy, buttery, and full of flavor with a slightly rustic texture from the potato skins. They're one of the easiest mashed potato recipes to make and pair perfectly with everything from roasted chicken to steak.
As a cookbook author and professional recipe developer, I love recipes like this that transform simple ingredients into a comforting side dish. Red potatoes naturally create a creamy mash without becoming gluey, making them a great choice for mashed potatoes.
This red skin mashed potato recipe is simple, flavorful, and perfect for both weeknight dinners and holiday meals.
If you're looking for more Thanksgiving recipes, check out our Stuffing Muffins, Turkey Tenderloin, Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, and Italian Sausage Stuffing recipes.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Ingredients
- Directions
- Red Potatoes vs Russet Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes
- How to Cut Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes
- Expert Tips and Tricks
- How to Make Mashed Potatoes Creamier
- Kitchen Equipment
- Recipe Substitutions/Variations
- What To Serve With
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recipe Storage and Reheating
- Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Naturally Creamy:Â Red potatoes have a smooth texture that creates creamy mashed potatoes without needing a lot of extra ingredients.
- Rustic Texture:Â Leaving the skins on adds texture, flavor, and beautiful color to the finished dish.
- Simple Ingredients:Â This recipe uses just a few pantry staples like butter, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Versatile Side Dish:Â Red skin mashed potatoes pair well with chicken, steak, pork, and seafood.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this mashed potato recipe:
- Red Skin Mashed Potatoes - I love mashed red skin potatoes. They're creamy, delicious, and the thin skin makes them perfect for mashing. If you can't find them, you can use this method with Yukon gold potatoes or peeled russet potatoes.
- Kosher Salt - Or make it fancy-feeling with Maldon salt
- Unsalted Butter - If you choose to use salted butter, reduce the salt in the recipe
- Whole Milk - You could substitute with half the amount of heavy cream
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
Directions
Let's make this easy side dish recipe together!
Step 1
Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and season with ½ tablespoon salt. Cook until fork tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
Step 2
Gently mash cooked potatoes with a potato masher. Add remaining ½ tablespoon of salt, unsalted butter, warmed milk, and freshly cracked black pepper. Continue to stir until consistency is to your liking. You could use a hand mixer or stand mixer for this, but a potato masher is just fine!
Step 3
Serve with a pat of butter and enjoy!
Cookbook Author Pro Tip!
For the creamiest mashed potatoes, mash the potatoes while they are still hot. This helps them absorb the butter and milk evenly and creates a smoother texture.
Red Potatoes vs Russet Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes
| Potato Type | Texture | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Red potatoes | Creamy and smooth | Rustic mashed potatoes |
| Russet potatoes | Fluffy and light | Classic mashed potatoes |
How to Cut Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes
- For evenly cooked mashed potatoes, cut the red potatoes into uniform pieces about 1-2 inches in size. This helps the potatoes cook at the same rate and prevents some pieces from becoming overcooked while others remain firm.
- If your potatoes are small, you can simply halve them. Larger potatoes should be quartered.
- Try to keep the pieces roughly the same size so they cook evenly in the pot.
Expert Tips and Tricks
Here are some expert tips to make this delicious recipe perfect.
- Cold Water - Make sure you start the recipe with cold water. This will make sure the potatoes have a great texture.
- Complete the Meal - Complete your Thanksgiving table with roast turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Or, make these red mashed potatoes on a weeknight with pork chops.
- Utilize Leftovers - Use leftovers in a new dish. A turkey and leftover mashed potato bowl is always amazing!
How to Make Mashed Potatoes Creamier
If you want extra creamy mashed potatoes, there are a few simple tricks that make a big difference.
- Use warm milk or cream when mixing the potatoes, which helps them absorb the liquid more smoothly. Cold dairy can cool the potatoes and affect the texture.
- Adding butter before the milk also helps coat the starches and prevents the potatoes from becoming gluey.
- Finally, mash the potatoes gently with a potato masher rather than overmixing them with an electric mixer.
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
- Potato Masher - All use need to mash potatoes is an old fashioned potato masher. This one is great and affordable!
- Large Pot - A quality large pot is important for any home cook! It's a go-to for making soups, pastas, and dishes for a crowd.
- Mixing Bowl - Use a really large mixing bowl to mash the potatoes in. This will come in handy for mixing salads or tossing pastas as well!
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy recipe.
- Toppings - You top these mashed potatoes with fresh chives or sliced green onions.
- Add Ins - Some people swear adding in cream cheese makes the best mashed red potatoes. You could also add in cheddar cheese or bacon. Add some even more flavor with roasted garlic, garlic powder, or onion powder.
- Lighter Version - You could lighten this up with using 2% milk instead of whole milk. Or, use ½ chicken broth and ½ whole milk.
What To Serve With
Here are some side dishes you can serve this recipe with:
Frequently Asked Questions
Red potatoes are great for mashing because they are smooth and creamy. They are waxy potatoes, which means they have less starch. The end result of using them in mashed potatoes is a perfect creamy texture that you'll love!
There's no need to peel red-skinned potatoes or yellow potatoes since they have a thin skin that breaks easily and is tasty.
No, there is no need to soak potatoes before mashing them.
Overmixing releases too much starch, which can make mashed potatoes gummy.
Yes. Reheat gently with a splash of milk or cream.
Recipe Storage and Reheating
Here are storage and reheating instructions for this recipe.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.
- Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.
- Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to simply microwave until warm.
These red skin mashed potatoes are creamy, buttery, and easy to make with simple ingredients, creating a comforting side dish that's perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.
Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 lb red skin potatoes
- 1 tablespoon salt divided
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup whole milk warmed
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and season with ½ tablespoon salt. Cook until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
- Gently mash potatoes with a potato masher. Add remaining ½ tablespoon of salt, unsalted butter, warmed milk, and freshly cracked black pepper. Continue to stir until consistency is to your liking.
- Serve with a pat of butter.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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