Rustic Mashed Potatoes with Butter: creamy, buttery comfort with skins left on for extra texture. It's your go-to side for cozy, homemade meals.
These Rustic Mashed Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food-creamy, buttery, and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. Perfect for everyday dinners or special occasions, this family-favorite side dish recipe delivers rich flavor and a satisfying rustic texture every time. For a complete traditional meal, pair these potatoes with traditional corned beef and cabbage.
With helpful tips, key ingredients, and ideas for flavorful variations, you'll learn how to make mashed potatoes that are always delicious, perfectly seasoned, and sure to impress.
🔍 Quick Look: Rustic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- Ready in: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Calories: ~344 kcal per serving
- Main Ingredients: Small golden potatoes, heavy cream, salted butter, salt, and black pepper
- Flavor & Texture: Buttery, Salty, & Creamy
- Cooking Technique: Boiling
- Mixing Technique: Mix the butter and cream into the potatoes; Fold in flavor additions.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Why You'll Love It: These easy, skin-on mashed potatoes have a rich, creamy flavor and rustic texture, and can be served simply or customized with your favorite additions.
Jump to:
- 🔍 Quick Look: Rustic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- About This Rustic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- Ingredient Notes
- Substitutions
- Simple Flavor Additions
- Ways to Flavor Rustic Mashed Potatoes
- How to Make Rustic Mashed Potatoes with Butter
- What to Serve with Rustic Mashed Potatoes
- My Top Tips
- Equipment
- Make-Ahead & Storage
- How to Reheat Leftover Mashed Potatoes
- More Potato Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
About This Rustic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Who doesn't love a comforting bowl of creamy mashed potatoes?... And these rustic mashed potatoes with butter are a timeless side dish for any meaty main course like my Baked Chicken Leg Quarters or a Glazed & Baked Ham.
This recipe has six simple ingredients and one easy technique for mashing the potatoes, and trust me, it is not hard to mash and mix them quickly. In short, you don't need to peel the potatoes!
When made rustic style, mashed potatoes have incredible texture and flavor simply by leaving the skins on the potatoes and mashing and mixing them very quickly with hot cream and melted butter.
The seasonings for these mashed potatoes are simple: salt and freshly ground black pepper. Potatoes require a great deal of salt to taste delicious, which is why I use salted butter and add additional salt.
However, it is a personal preference as to how much salt is enough - some people like more, and others like less. I recommend cooking the potatoes with ½ teaspoon of salt in the water. Then add ½ teaspoon when you add the melted butter and cream. If you prefer more salt, you can always add more.
~ Jan
Ingredient Notes
Here's everything you'll need to make Rustic Mashed Potatoes. Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
- Small Potatoes - You can use any small, waxy new potatoes in this recipe. Baby potatoes cook quickly and are my first choice. Great varieties to use in this recipe are Yukon Gold potatoes, small red potatoes, and white potatoes. Russet potatoes are not ideal for this rustic, skin-on recipe because their thicker skins and fluffy texture produce a different result.
- Cold Water - Always start to cook potatoes in cold water for the best texture and flavor.
- Fine Sea Salt - Potatoes need salt to taste delicious and it may surprise you just how much you need. I use salt to cook the potatoes and I add more salt when I mash them.
- Heavy Cream - Heavy cream is the magic that makes these potatoes extra rich and creamy.
- Salted Butter - A good amount of salted butter is essential for creamy, delicious potatoes. I mix a specific amount of melted butter into the potatoes when they are mashed and you can add more to top the mashed potatoes when they are served. Don't miss my post on How to Measure Butter for a quick way to measure butter.
- Black Pepper - Freshly ground black pepper is flowery and peppery and pairs well with potatoes.
Substitutions
Use these simple swaps when ingredients are not available:
- Whole Milk or Lower-Fat Version. Substitute whole milk for the heavy cream for lighter, less-rich potatoes. To reduce the fat further, use less butter and replace part of the milk with chicken broth for additional savory flavor.
- Unsalted Butter. Substitute unsalted butter for the salted butter and adjust the added salt to taste.
Simple Flavor Additions
Any one of these additions will enhance the flavor of the potatoes. Set dairy and other refrigerated additions out while the potatoes cook so they are not refrigerator-cold when folded into the hot potatoes.
- Fresh Herbs. Fold in several tablespoons of mild fresh herbs, such as chopped chives, parsley, or dill. For stronger fresh herbs, such as rosemary, sage, or thyme, start with 1 to 2 teaspoons. When using dried herbs, add ½ to 1 teaspoon to the heavy cream and butter as they warm, then let the mixture stand briefly so the flavor can develop.
- Sour Cream Version. Replace all or part of the heavy cream with sour cream for a pleasant tang. Let it soften at room temperature while the potatoes cook, then fold it into the hot potatoes with the melted butter.
- Roasted Garlic. Mash a few cloves of roasted garlic and add them with the butter and cream.
- Parmesan Cheese. Add ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese and you will have Parmesan "smashed" potatoes.
- Cream Cheese. Fold in up to ½ cup plain cream cheese or a savory cream cheese spread, such as Garlic and Herb or Chive and Onion.
- Boursin Cheese. Fold in your favorite flavor of Boursin cheese. Caramelized Onion and Herbs is my favorite and makes a delicious shortcut.
- Prepared Horseradish. Add up to 2 tablespoons of cream-style horseradish for a subtle tang or prepared horseradish for a stronger flavor.
- Bacon. Fold in crisp, crumbled bacon for salty, smoky flavor.
Ways to Flavor Rustic Mashed Potatoes
This rustic mashed potato recipe is also an easy starting point for building more complex flavors. In most cases, simply add one of the following combinations after mixing the warm cream and butter into the potatoes. For the best texture, fold in the additions gently and avoid overmixing.
- Steakhouse Mashed Potatoes: Fold in sour cream, crumbled bacon, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and chopped chives. Reserve a little bacon, cheese, and chives for the top.
- Brown Butter and Sage: Brown the butter in a small skillet. Add chopped fresh sage toward the end of the cooking time and cook briefly, just until fragrant. Add the brown butter and sage to the potatoes with the warm cream. Browning gives the butter a toasted, nutty flavor, while warming the sage in the butter releases its aroma.
- Roasted Garlic and Parmesan: Mash roasted garlic into the warm butter and cream, then gently fold the mixture into the potatoes with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
- Horseradish and Chives: Fold in cream-style horseradish and chopped chives for potatoes that pair especially well with roast beef or steak.
- Caramelized Onion and Herb: Fold in caramelized onions with thyme or chives.
How to Make Rustic Mashed Potatoes with Butter
♡ So, let's cook!
- Prepare Potatoes. Wash and scrub the potatoes well. Put the whole, unpeeled potatoes in a pot large enough to hold no more than 2 layers of potatoes. Cover them with at least 1 inch of cold water and add ½ teaspoon salt.
- Boil Potatoes. Bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender but not falling apart. A toothpick, fork, or thin knife should easily pierce the center of a potato.
- Heat Cream & Butter. As the potatoes cook, heat the heavy cream and the butter in a 1-cup measuring cup in the microwave for 1 minute, or until the butter is melted and the cream is hot. You can also use a small saucepan on the stove over low heat.
- Drain & Mash. Drain the potatoes of all of the water. Use a potato masher to mash the hot potatoes using a single up-and-down motion for each potato or group of potatoes, leaving the potatoes in large chunks.
- Season & Mix. Sprinkle in the freshly ground black pepper and remaining ½ teaspoon of salt to the potatoes and add the warmed cream and melted butter. Using a large spoon, mix just enough to blend in the melted butter, cream, and seasonings.
Serve with additional butter and a sprinkling of chopped fresh chives.
What to Serve with Rustic Mashed Potatoes
My Top Tips
♡ Do not overwork the potatoes by stirring them with the potato masher! Use only a single up-and-down motion to mash a potato or a group of potatoes. Overworking the potatoes releases too much starch and makes them sticky and gluey.
♡ Never add a cold liquid or cold ingredient to mashed potatoes. Cold ingredients will immediately cool the potatoes, so they won't be hot when you serve them. They will also make the potatoes less creamy.
♡ These mashed potatoes are "rustic" and should have chunks of potatoes and not be perfectly smooth. So, don't use a hand mixer, food processor, or blender to make these mashed potatoes.
Equipment
You will need a large pot to cook the potatoes and a potato masher is the best tool to mash the potatoes. If you do not have a potato masher you can also use a large serving fork to break the potatoes into large chunks.
Make-Ahead & Storage
- Make-Ahead: You can make this mashed potato recipe in advance and refrigerate it to reheat and serve later.
- Storage: Store leftover mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How to Reheat Leftover Mashed Potatoes
- Microwave. Gently reheat in a microwave-safe container. Stir them midway through the reheating time.
- Oven. If you have a larger quantity of leftover mashed potatoes, place them in a buttered baking dish, top with grated cheese, and bake in a 350° oven until heated through.
- Pan Fry. Leftover mashed potatoes can be formed into small patties, coated with seasoned panko, and gently pan-fried over medium heat in a large skillet with a tablespoon each of olive oil and butter.
More Potato Recipes You'll Love
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📖 Recipe
Rustic Mashed Potatoes
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Equipment
- 1 Potato Masher
- 1 Large 2-Quart Pot with Lid
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Small Golden Potatoes
- Cold Water
- 1 Teaspoon Fine Sea Salt, Divided
- ⅓ Cup Heavy Cream
- ¼ Cup Salted Butter
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper, Freshly Ground
Instructions
- Prepare Potatoes. Wash and scrub the potatoes well.Put the whole, unpeeled potatoes in a pot large enough to hold no more than 2 layers of potatoes. Cover them with at least 1 inch of cold water and add ½ teaspoon salt.2 Pounds Small Golden Potatoes, Cold Water, 1 Teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
- Boil Potatoes. Bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender but not falling apart. A toothpick, fork, or thin knife should easily pierce the center of a potato.
- Heat Cream & Butter. As the potatoes cook, heat the heavy cream and the butter in a 1 cup measuring cup in the microwave for 1 minute, or until the butter is melted and the cream is hot. You can also use a small saucepan on the stove over low heat.⅓ Cup Heavy Cream, ¼ Cup Salted Butter
- Drain & Mash. Drain the potatoes of all of the water. Use a potato masher to mash the hot potatoes using a single up-and-down motion for each potato or group of potatoes, leaving the potatoes in large chunks.
- Season & Mix. Sprinkle in the freshly ground black pepper and remaining ½ teaspoon of salt to the potatoes and add the warmed cream and melted butter. Using a large spoon, mix just enough to blend in the melted butter, cream, and seasonings. Serve with additional butter and a sprinkling of chopped fresh chives.½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
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katherine brooks says
This has to be the ultimate comfort food! I will be making this in the coming week during all the Christmas festivities!