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Looking for a delicious mashed potato recipe that you can make ahead of time? Look no further than this delicious Company Mashed Potatoes casserole!
This dish is perfect for Thanksgiving, as you can make it the day before and then bake it in the oven while you're preparing the rest of your feast. The potatoes are creamy and flavorful, and everyone will love the added cream cheese! Make this dish once and you'll be making it year after year!
Check out all the other easy recipes for Thanksgiving to help you have the best holiday celebration ever!
One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is the food. And one of my favorite Thanksgiving Make Ahead Side Dishes is mashed potatoes. I love the creamy texture and the rich flavor. But what I don't love is all the work that goes into making them.
That's why I was so excited when I found this recipe for mashed potatoes that can be made the day before Thanksgiving and then baked in the oven as a casserole.
Now, all I have to do on Thanksgiving Day is pop it in the oven and let it bake. This dish is a hit with my family as well as my other vegetable side dishes like roasted butternut squash, roasted Brussels sprouts or acorn squash.
Don't stress about making everything from scratch on Thanksgiving day! This make-ahead mashed potatoes recipe will save you time and hassle. Impress your guests with this delicious dish, and enjoy a stress-free holiday!
Table of Contents
- What are Company Potatoes?
- What's a Potato Ricer?
- How to make mashed potatoes ahead of time?
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Step-by-Step Directions
- Baking Instructions
- Before You Begin!
- ⏲Preparing mashed potatoes ahead of time
- 🍶Storage Tips
- ❄️Freezing Tips
- 🔁 Thawing and Reheating Tips
- 🌟Try these recipes next...
- Recipe FAQ
- 📇Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
What are Company Potatoes?
Company potatoes are a fancy term given to a mashed potato casserole that can be made ahead of the time you're planning on serving them. Usually a day or two in advance.
They're not to be confused with "funeral potatoes" that are made with frozen hash browns. These are real potatoes and a few extra added ingredients to make them a little more special than regular Sunday dinner mashed potatoes.
Start by boiling the potatoes until they're soft, then mash them with some butter, half and half, cream cheese and salt to taste. Once they're mashed to your liking, transfer the potatoes to a baking dish and cover with foil.
When you're ready to eat, simply reheat the potatoes in the oven or microwave until they're warm throughout. This easy hack will save you precious time on Thanksgiving so that you can enjoy spending time with your loved ones.
What's a Potato Ricer?
A potato ricer is a kitchen gadget that is used to create light and fluffy mashed potatoes. It consists of a handheld device with a series of small holes that can be squeezed together.
To use a potato ricer, the cook simply boils potatoes until they are soft, then puts them through the ricer one at a time. The cooked potatoes will come out in long, thin strands that can be easily mixed with other ingredients.
Potato ricers can also be used to make other dishes, such as cauliflower mash or pumpkin puree. They are often used by professional chefs to create smooth, consistent results. For home cooks who want to make perfect mashed potatoes, a potato ricer is an essential tool.
How to make mashed potatoes ahead of time?
You can definitely make mashed potatoes ahead of time! If you don't want to follow this creamy recipe below, simply make the mashed potatoes ahead of time and reheat them when you're ready to serve. You can reheat the potatoes in the microwave until they're warm throughout.
These mashed potatoes are also one of my favorite recipes to serve alongside my family's favorite Breaded Italian Chicken Cutlets Recipe. Or as a side dish for my Pot Roast Recipe or Dutch Oven Whole Chicken recipe. Pure comfort food!
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Main Ingredients Needed
This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.
- Russet or Yukon gold potatoes
- Butter
- Cream cheesesoftened
- Half-and-half
- Salt and pepper
Step-by-Step Directions
- Step 1: Peel and cut the potatoes and add them to a large pot of water. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a large colander. Place them back into the dry pot and mash the potatoes using an electric mixer. A potato ricer works well too.
- Step 2: Using your hand held electric mixer, add the butter, cream cheese and about ½ cup of half-and-half and mash. Adding more of the half-and-half as needed. (I usually use the whole amount). Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 3: Transfer the potatoes to a 9X13 size casserole dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Step 4: Add a few tablespoons of butter over the top of the potatoes.
- Step 5: Cover them with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator.
Baking Instructions
- Remove the casserole dish from the refrigerator about an hour before you need to serve them. Allow them to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes or so.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until heated through.
They look great on the buffet table. And you don't have to peel potatoes Thanksgiving morning. There are so many other things you need to be doing instead of peeling potatoes!
Before You Begin!
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⏲Preparing mashed potatoes ahead of time
- Always make sure you fill the pot with cold water. Make sure the potatoes are completely covered as well.
- If you are preparing the potatoes ahead of time, allow them to sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes to come to room temperature the next day before baking in the oven. This is especially important if you're using a glass baking dish. You should never put a glass baking dish directly from the refrigerator into the oven. You need to allow the contents of the casserole dish to come to room temperature so there's no chance of the glass casserole dish shattering when it's suddenly exposed to high heat from an oven.
- Mix up the seasonings by adding garlic, bacon and cheddar cheese.
- You can even try flavored cream cheese instead of the traditional cream cheese used in this recipe. I think cream cheese with chives would be delicious!
🍶Storage Tips
- Allow the mashed potatoes to cool down to room temperature.
- Transfer the mashed potatoes to an airtight container,
- Store the mashed potatoes in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
❄️Freezing Tips
- Add any leftover mashed potato casserole to a freezer-safe container.
- Label and place the container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
🔁 Thawing and Reheating Tips
- Thaw the container in the refrigerator overnight.
- Transfer the mashed potato casserole to a oven-safe casserole dish.
- Reheat in the oven until warmed through.
🌟Try these recipes next...
- A new family favorite is my mother's recipe for Cheesy Corn Pudding Casserole that starts out with a box of Jiffy Muffin Mix.
- Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce made in the Instant Pot you can use a crock pot too!
- This recipe for Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing can be made ahead of time and either frozen or wrapped in aluminum foil the day before Thanksgiving.
- Candied Sweet Potatoes - one of my favorite side dishes for Thanksgiving!
- Tips on Roasting the PERFECT Turkey for Thanksgiving plus a free roasting chart to use on Thanksgiving morning.
- Turkey Breast cooked in the crock pot - I always cook another turkey breast in the crock pot so we have extra white meat. That way you can send home extra with family members and have enough on hand the next day to make turkey sandwiches.
Recipe FAQ
How far in advance can you prepare mashed potatoes?
The great thing about mashed potatoes is that they can be prepared in advance, freeing up time on busy days. In general, mashed potatoes can be made up to two days ahead of time and stored in the fridge. When you're ready to eat, simply reheat the potatoes on the stove or in the microwave. For best results, add a little splash of milk or cream before reheating, as this will help to restore their creamy texture. With a little planning, you can enjoy homemade mashed potatoes any day of the week.
📇Recipe Card
Company Mashed Potatoes - Prep Ahead Recipe
Yield: 16 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
These incredibly creamy mashed potatoes can be prepped a day ahead and then baked in the oven when you're ready for them to be served which makes them perfect for Thanksgiving Day or any other special occasion!
Ingredients
- 5 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes
- 1 stick butter plus more for topping
- One 8-ounce package cream cheese softened
- 1 cup half-and-half
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Peel and cut the potatoes and add them to a large pot of water.
- Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a large colander.
- Place them back into the dry pot and mash the potatoes using an electric mixer or a ricer.
- Using your electric mixer, add the butter, cream cheese and about ½ cup of half-and-half and mash. Adding more of the half-and-half as needed. (I usually use the whole amount).
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the potatoes to a medium-sized baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Add a few tablespoons of butter over the top of the potatoes.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until the butter is melted and the potatoes are warmed through; about 30 - 40 minutes.
Notes
- If you prepare these potatoes the day before Thanksgiving, you will need to cover them with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator.
Reheating takes about 30 minutes or so. I like to take them out of the refrigerator to bring to room temperature for about an hour.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 251Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g
The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.
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This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2017 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
