Julie Clark
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How to Make Instant Potatoes Taste Better
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Have everyone thinking you spent a long time peeling, boiling, mashing and mixing potatoes, when really didn’t! Learn how to make instant potatoes taste better with our recipe!
Did you grow up eating from scratch mashed potatoes or instant? My mom made us real, homemade mashed potatoes 99% of the time. They were amazing! But here’s the weird thing…every now and then I would have a taste of instant potatoes and I thought the flavor and texture were so good. Just because they were different.
So whether you grew up on instant potatoes or real Idaho potatoes, we hope you give our instant mashed potatoes recipe a try. They are a great convenience food. You’ll be surprised at how good instant spuds are!
What readers are saying:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Liz says, “”So happy I found this recipe! Got caught in a pinch and homemade mashed potatoes failed. Thankfully I had a box of instant mashed potatoes and this recipe just helped elevate it. We got plenty of compliments and will definitely use for the next get together.”
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Colleen says, “I have never used chicken broth for these instant potatoes but I am definitely going to try it with the broth the next time I make this recipe. My family members love these so much that I make them for Thanksgiving and sometimes for Christmas. I usually mix these by hand but I am going to try the hand mixer instead. Thank you for posting this recipe!”
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- uses pantry items (instant potato flakes)
- quick and easy for last minute dinners
- easy add-ins for great classic flavor
- goes with just about any main dish
- its an easy holiday season shortcut
Are instant potatoes as healthy as real potatoes?
The short answer is no. Instant potatoes have more sodium and less fiber than Russet potatoes. Real whole potatoes are the best option. But if you’re comparing instant potatoes to fried potatoes or fast food potatoes, then they may be healthier than that.
What are the best instant potatoes?
We tested three variations of instant potatoes:
- Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes: These were our favorite! They had great buttery flavor, a good consistency and were fairly light and fluffy. Some might find them a little salty if they are sensitive to salt.
- Meijer Store Brand Creamy Buttery Mashed Potatoes: These were very thick. The exact opposite of the Hungry Jack potatoes. Because of that they were heavier. They had the consistency most like our traditional fresh homemade mashed potatoes, and the flavor was comforting. Not quite as buttery as the Idahoan, but still flavorful.
- Hungry Jack Mashed Potatoes: These had a familiar flavor that was ok. However, they were really runny compared to the other two. Too runny for my tastes. If I were using this brand again, I would add more flakes to make them thicker.
What to Add to Instant Potatoes to Make Them Taste Better
Many packages of instant potatoes call for just adding water. That is what makes them quick and easy, right? However, if taste is most important to you, try these additions based on your preferences:
- Milk: Milk adds to the richness of the potatoes. Use at least 2% milk, but preferably whole milk.
- Chicken broth: This adds a richer flavor than if you would just use water.
- Butter: Butter is always a good idea. Don’t use margarine. Use real 100% butter, either salted or unsalted.
- Sour Cream: Sour cream and potatoes just go together. So why not mix them in?
- Cream cheese: My grandma always added cream cheese to her potatoes. It thickens them and makes them super creamy.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder are our favorites, but add any seasonings you’d like.
Please be aware that different brands of instant potatoes may put in their own seasonings, so don’t go overboard. Add the ingredients slowly so that you get the perfect flavor that you prefer. Especially if you need less salt.
Our Instant Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- In a medium saucepan bring the milk and broth to a gentle boil and stir continuously while the mixture boils for two minutes.
- Remove the liquid from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Add potato flakes and stir well with a whisk to make sure all flakes are moistened. Let sit for five minutes.
- Use a hand mixer to mix and fluff potatoes on medium speed for one minute.
- Add remaining ingredients and mix on medium to medium high until all ingredients are well combined. You can have small lumps, but should not have very many. They should be slightly fluffy and smooth.
Mashed Potato Toppings
Looking for a way to top this easy recipe? Try a few of these, making it almost like a loaded baked potato:
- shredded cheddar cheese
- a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt
- roasted garlic
- green onions
- bacon bits
- fresh chives or fresh herbs
- parmesan
- and of course, gravy!
How to Serve Instant Mashed Potatoes
- Special Occasions: Whether it is a holiday or a birthday, serve this potato recipe alongside roast turkey, meatloaf, short ribs or pork loin.
- Shepherd’s pie: Use leftover potatoes as a topping for shepherd’s pie or in a mashed potato casserole.
- Make potato cakes. Potato pancakes take time to make, rather than peeling fresh potatoes, use potato flakes as a time saver.
- Make potato bread! Potato dinner rolls and mashed potato bread are two favorites we make with instant potatoes.
How to Store Instant Potatoes
Place the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you are ready to reheat them, warming them in the microwave is the best option.
How to Make Instant Potatoes Taste Better
Have everyone thinking you spent a long time peeling, boiling, mashing, and mixing potatoes, when really didn't! Learn how to make instant potatoes taste better: rich, creamy and full of flavor.
Servings 8
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 8 ounces instant mashed potatoes* (We used 2 4-ounce packages)
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan bring the milk and broth to a gentle boil and stir continuously while the mixture boils for two minutes. 2 cups milk, 2 cups chicken broth
- Remove the liquids from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Add potato flakes and stir well with a whisk to make sure all flakes are moistened. Let sit for five minutes. 8 ounces instant mashed potatoes*
- Use a hand mixer to mix and fluff potatoes on medium speed for one minute.
- Add remaining ingredients and mix on medium to medium high until all ingredients are well combined. You can have small lumps, but should not have very many.They should be slightly fluffy and smooth. ½ cup melted unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ cup sour cream, ½ cup cream cheese, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Garnish with parsley, bacon, cheese, gravy…whatever you choose!
Video
Notes
- We prefer the Idahoan buttery homestyle brand of instant potatoes. Go by ounces rather than cups to measure the potato flakes.
- In the video I say you need a tablespoon of onion powder, but it is a teaspoon. Follow the written recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 866mg | Potassium: 497mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 733IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 1mg
Bought a bunch of instant potatoes because of Rebate apps/sales… no wonder they tasted SOOOO BAD. I microwaved milk (instead of water) with my butter and garlic salt until hot and then stirred in the packet. Ew… thank you for teaching me how to make them (I mean, I could have followed the directions I guess)
JUST AWESOME!!!
Let’s eat!
Great recipe and I didn’t even use my mixer. All blended smoothly and tasted yummy. Would have rated a 5 but they are instant potatoes after all. Definitely worth making… Thanks
For those that may not have realized, the 8oz of potato flakes needs to be by weight or you’re not using enough. For me, the 8oz was roughly 3 1/4 cup. We really like these potatoes, but I may have made the mistake of just using the 8oz in my measuring cup if I’d not have skimmed through comments first.
Once I made real homemade mashed potatoes for a potluck. After all that work, two friends asked me if they were instant! No, do they taste instant? No, but they were so creamy. So you’d better leave a few little lumps so everyone will know that they are real.