The title of this post came pretty darn close to being, The Year Without Potatoes. Thankfully we were able to land on Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives!
Okay guys, remember when I alluded to a slight mishap in the kitchen on Thanksgiving day? I’m finally ready to share my story.
The day began wonderfully…I was up early, started the coffee, put finishing touches on a few dishes, completed the table setting that was started the day before, assisted hubby with getting his gorgeously brined turkey in the roasting pan and into the oven, heard the kids stirring, and prepared the side dishes that are best made the day of which includes mashed potatoes.
Mmm. These potatoes were the best I’d ever made. I remember thinking, this dish could be the difference between a good meal and a very great meal this year. (I did, I really did.) I know – that’s a lot of pressure for a little potato…poor potatoes – they experienced such a short reign at the top of the heap.
Here’s where the story gets good…
I was so excited. I had read somewhere, actually skimmed quickly, (skimmed being the operative word here) an article that talked about saving time and precious space on the stove top by using a slow cooker. Ahhhh! Happy day! I’ve never done it, but I’m doing it…this is going to be great! So I prepared the mash (as Dom’s family likes to call them) around 10 am for a 5 pm dinner. Threw them in the slow cooker set to keep warm and went about my day.
Dom’s family was due to arrive at 3:00, and just as we were getting ready to settle in to a nice evening, I decided at 2:30 to take a peak at my silky and delicious potatoes. Feeling I had beat the system with my time-saving trick, I experienced that, “I got this!” feeling…which happened to be the same moment the universe decided, “She don’t got this.” (I’m sure the universe speaks correctly, but I also think it has a sense of humor) – and it taught me – never count my chickens before they’re hatched.
I lifted the lid, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but…
Scorched. Burnt. Gummy. Starchy. Potato. Soup.
Yes. They melted into a gloppy mess. Thankfully Nick was ready and offered to scoot to the nearest store to grab me 10 more pounds of potatoes.
He walked back in the house with grocery bags in his hands as our guests arrived. And no sooner did Dom’s sister Teresa take off her coat, she promptly grabbed a knife and started peeling. <—Not part of the plan.
But you know what they say…”All’s well that ends well.” It is true. We had a lovely holiday that included a teachable moment. Who doesn’t love that?!
And now, I have a recipe for slow cooker mashed potatoes with sour cream and chives. A recipe resulting from a fair amount of research, recipe testing, and Pinterest (of course)!
So if you’re planning to make mashed potatoes for Christmas, this is the recipe for you. I promise…potatoes go in…
Creamy, comforting, flavorful potatoes come out.
Buon Appetito!
Print
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives
- Category: Dinner
Ingredients
- 5 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup butter, cut into small cubes
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cup whole milk
- Salt and pepper
- Butter and chives to garnish
Instructions
- Place the cubed potatoes, vegetable stock and butter in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 4.5 hours.
- Once the cook time is up, using a potato masher or a hand held mixer, mash the potatoes.
- Add the sour cream and milk then stir to combine.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Place potatoes in a serving bowl and top with a little more butter and chopped chive.
{Recipe adapted from A Beautiful Mess}
Ciao!
ok Ann, I’m going to experiment today and use 2 1/2 lbs. russet potatoes and split the other ingredients in half. Not having to drain anything REALLY appeals to me! Plus they’re in the crock pot so you can leave them on warm for a little while. If this comes out good, I’m definitely doing it this way for Thanksgiving this year (2016)! Can you use any potato or is there something about Russets that makes it better?
Yay! Let me know how it goes! You can use whatever potato you normally use for your mashed potatoes. Russets just happen to be very common (and popular). Their white, dry, and mealy flesh make them good for mashing, baking and french fries. They cook up light and fluffy. 🙂
I feel for you! I hate it when something goes wrong when guests are coming over for dinner. I’m curious about the slow cooker method. Do the mashed potatoes taste just like the ones made on the stove, or does the slow cooking bring extra flavor?
They’re very similar to those cooked on the stove though I do think there’s a tad bit more flavor because of the vegetable broth that’s added in the crockpot. They’re just really yummy and very hot as you’re ready to sit and eat. 🙂
ahhh what a disaster!!! But looks like you were still able to save the day 🙂 Mashed potatoes are literally one of my all time favorite foods so without them at a holiday dinner…things just arent the same 🙁 Glad you still had a great holiday Ann!
They’re not the same! Especially since Hubby would take potatoes over turkey any day of the week! Thanks, my dear! 🙂
These potatoes look like pure comfort food, I would have never thought to put potatoes in the slow cooker. Trial and error are some of the best teachers, lol. I had a potato mishap, it was the first Christmas dinner with the hubbies side of the family (actually my first Christmas dinner ever). I decided to use the food processor to “mash” my potatoes, lol, what was I thinking? I got a gummy, starchy glue like bowl of potatoes, lol, you could’ve mortared bricks with this stuff. This slow cooker method is giving me hope and the courage to try it again :-)…Take care!
Oh my…we all have our moments, don’t we?! I can’t believe that was your first Christmas dinner with the in-laws – hopefully you’re laughing about it now! Hahhah! Hey – here’s the good news – you learned the lesson very early on! I say, try again! This slow cooker method works! Thanks, friend!
I’ve been waiting for this story. What a horrible feeling to remove the lid and ahhhhhh!
You have always given me the impression of a maker of lemonade when thrown lemons, so this did indeed turn out great. Back into solution instead of crying over burnt potatoes I say! I will give this a go since you went through all that research for me. 🙂
Hahaha! You’re so sweet! Oh yeah…can’t cry over burnt potatoes – though I thought about it for a minute! It’s probably a good thing that Dom’s family was due to arrive any second – no time for tears! Thanks, friend! 😉
I hate that that potato mess happened to you on Thanksgiving but thank goodness it did cause it’s freaking hilarious!! hahahaha! Glad you got it all figured out and posted a recipe for it. It is quite brilliant to cook potatoes in the slow cooker, especially during a holiday when stove top space is at a premium. Great recipe and beautiful pics, but wouldn’t expect any less of you, Annie dear 🙂
Hahahah! It feels good to be able to look back at that moment and laugh! This newfound recipe is a yummy one! Thanks, dear! 🙂
Oh no, so happy Nick was able to pick up more potatoes though 🙂 Slow cooker mashed potatoes are my favorite way to free up the stovet! These look perfect, Annie! So creamy and delicious!
I know! Nick saved the day…and the fact that the store was still open was a very lucky thing! Thanks, dear! 🙂
Slow cooker potatoes are my favorite! I made them a few months ago and I’m hooked. Sorry you had a bad experience, but I’m so glad these worked out for you! Sounds delicious, Annie!
I think I’m hooked too! I’ve definitely found a new way to make them, especially for busy holidays! 🙂
I’ve never tried slow cooker mashed potatoes, but I might just have to switch to these after my Thanksgiving disaster. I have this no fail method where I mash in the butter and then add a bit of warmed cream, which always yields perfectly fluffy mashed potatoes. But somehow this time (probably because it was Thanksgiving) they came out a stiff gluey mess, I’m still not sure what happened, but I definitely made another batch because they weren’t edible!
Okay – what was the deal?! We both had issues? Well, luckily we both survived! Give these a try, I think you’ll like them. Yours sure do sound amazing, though! 🙂
Now THAT sounds like really good mash. I wonder if I can halve the recipe and do it up in my little slow cooker as it’s just me and this is probably two years worth of mash for just little old me. Cheers!
It is really good, Robin! You can definitely halve it…no need for two years worth of mash hanging around! 😉 Cheers, my friend!
Oh no Annie – nothing like a food crisis on Thanksgiving – glad it all worked out and now you have a fun story to tell. Mashed potatoes are one of my faves – so I am definitely going to be trying this version. Pinning! Happy holidays to you and your family!
You bet! This is one holiday we won’t soon forget! Mash are one of my favorites too! Especially now that I know I can throw them in the crock pot and forget about them…for a little while anyway! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Oh wow, these mashers look so creamy and tangy! Love all the chives 🙂
Yep – just the right amount of tang! Thanks, dear! 🙂
Ahh I would have been so stressed out but you handled it wonderfully! I’ve never made slow cooker mashed potatoes but these look soo silky and creamy. I wish I had a big bowl of them right now!
Hahaha! Yeah, it got pretty tense there for a minute! But thankfully it all worked out! These are super creamy and delish! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Oh no, Annie!! I was waiting for you to share this story, when you were ready and the culinary war wounds healed. Wish I had a more elegant way to say, “That sucks”. But, That sucks! 😉 You are much better than me, because I would have had a melt down and threw the dang slow cooker across the kitchen. I kid. I would have thought about it, though. hehe. Well, I am sooooo glad you did the research and are sharing THIS recipe, because these taters look silky, creamy, and absolutely perfect! I have never cooked potatoes in the slow cooker because I was scared of exactly what happened to you! So, thank you a million times over for sharing this recipe! Can’t wait to try them! Cheers, my dear friend! xo PINNED!
Hahhaah! You nailed! There is no better way to say it! But you know what? I wouldn’t have discovered this awesome recipe…soooo, I feel better! 😉 Try ’em my dear – you’ll be glad you did! Cheers! xo