Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes is an easy, classic side dish. Buttermilk adds creaminess plus a hint of tangy flavor to the potatoes, while butter and simple seasonings give richness and extra flavor. Ideal for weeknight meals as well as special holiday dinners!

Easy Mashed Potatoes Recipe

I think that buttermilk is a great addition to so many recipes. And these Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes are no exception!

Buttermilk mashed potatoes is an easy, classic side dish. Buttermilk adds creaminess plus a hint of tangy flavor to the potatoes, while butter and simple seasonings give richness and extra flavor.

You’ll only need a few basic ingredients for this recipe. Just boil the potatoes until tender, then mash with the other ingredients until smooth and creamy. That’s it. Really!

Buttermilk potatoes are an incredibly versatile side dish. They’re ideal for weeknight dinners like Italian meatloaf muffins and grilled pork chops – and for fancier meals like Steak Diane, stuffed pork chops, and Swedish meatballs (I hesitate to call Swedish meatballs “fancy”, but this is always a special meal for us, our family adores it!).

These potatoes also make a great side for the holidays – perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter!

Why Use Buttermilk?

Why use buttermilk in your mashed potatoes? The answer is simple – flavor and texture!

Buttermilk adds a bit of tangy flavor as it’s high in lactic acid. It also lends a creamy and slightly thicker texture. It’s a lovely little twist to your classic creamy mashed potatoes.

We often have buttermilk on hand for making buttermilk pancakes, buttermilk waffles, caramel buttermilk syrup, and buttermilk ranch dressing. Yes, we love buttermilk around here!

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need just a handful of basic ingredients to make this easy side dish. See the recipe card below for measurements.

• Potatoes – See notes below.
• Whole buttermilk – Allow it to sit at room temperature first.
• Milk – In addition to the buttermilk, you’ll need a bit of regular milk as well.
• Salt & pepper – This dish is best when it’s seasoned super simply!
• Chives – Add a pop of color and a little fresh onion-y flavor to the potatoes.

What Potatoes Are Best For Mashed Potatoes?

For these buttermilk mashed potatoes, I recommend either Yukon Gold potatoes or Russet. You want potatoes that are fairly starchy, so avoid red potatoes.

Yukon Golds add a nice naturally buttery flavor which is why I prefer them in my traditional mashed potatoes recipe, and I use them here as well. Russets will give you a little fluffier, drier texture. Just use what you like best.

Make Your Own Buttermilk

Since these creamy mashed potatoes use a decent amount of buttermilk, I 100% recommend picking up some buttermilk at the store. I just think the texture and flavor is superior to making your own.

But if you’re hard-pressed to eat buttermilk mashed potatoes and don’t have buttermilk… here’s how to make your own buttermilk:

• add two tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice to a scant 2 cups of regular milk
• let it sit for a few minutes to curdle, then stir to incorporate

This method will make more than you need for this recipe, but you can use the leftovers for pancakes, waffles, etc.

How to Make Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Here’s how to make this simple and easy side dish.

• Cook the potatoes. Cut peeled potatoes into 1″-2″ chunks. Cover with cold water in a pot and season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are super tender and easily pierced with a fork. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
• Mash the potatoes. Add the butter to the potatoes and mash until smooth. Add the buttermilk, milk, salt, and pepper. Combine until the mixture is well incorporated and to your desired consistency. Leave it a bit chunky or mash until it’s completely smooth, whatever you personally like.
• Enjoy. Serve immediately, garnished with more butter and herbs (we love fresh chives!) if desired.

Tips for Success

This side dish is very straightforward but here are a few tips for creamy and smooth mashed potatoes.

• Use starchy potatoes. As mentioned above, you’ll want to use starchy potatoes like Yukon Gold or Russet, instead of less starchy varieties, like red potatoes. Yukon Golds are less starchy than Russet, which gives them a little softer, buttery texture and flavor.
• How do I know when the potatoes are done? The easiest way to tell when your potatoes are ready to mash is to poke them with a fork. If the fork easily pierces the potatoes, they’re done.
• Adjust the seasoning before serving. After all ingredients have been added and combined, I always like to give my potatoes a little taste test and add more salt or pepper as needed.
• Buttermilk alternatives. I highly recommend using buttermilk. But if you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own with the instructions I gave above. Or you can try substituting sour cream or Greek yogurt, which provide a similar tanginess (though they’re thicker and creamier).

Serving Suggestions

Buttermilk potatoes can be served as a side dish with a variety of main dishes, including chicken, steak, or pork chops. And they’re a natural go-to for any meatballs or meatloaf meal.

They’re also great for the holidays as a twist on classic mashed potatoes too.

And one of our most recent favorite pairings is with Steak Diane. The tanginess in these potatoes matched with the rich, creamy Diane sauce is perfect. I’ll be sharing that recipe with you SOON, so hold tight!

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover mashed potatoes will keep well, stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. You may want to add a bit of milk or butter to loosen them up again.

Can You Freeze Homemade Mashed Potatoes?

Yes, you can also freeze these buttermilk potatoes.

Allow them to cool completely, transfer to a freezer-safe container, and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat as directed above.

More Easy Potato Recipes:

• New Potatoes with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
• Cheesy Grilled Skillet Potatoes
• Potato Knishes
• Loaded Baked Potato Bites
• German Potato Salad

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