Smashed Potatoes are not a staple in my household, but they do occasionally appear on our table. This dairy-free yet satisfying and luscious recipe is basic, straightforward, and super-easy to achieve in no time. Moreover, it pairs well with myriad dishes. Make it for a cozy, satisfying weeknight dinner or a holiday feast. It will always turn out amazing!
This recipe is:
Table of Contents
5 Reasons to Love This Recipe
The top reasons why this recipe has made it to my family’s dinner table several times are:
- Easy to make.
- Creamy and delicious.
- Dairy-free.
- Minimal ingredients.
- Perfect side for multiple dishes.
Are Smashed Potatoes Low Carb?
No, smashed potatoes are not low-carb because their primary ingredient, potatoes, is super-high in carbs.
This recipe is not low-carb. I created it when I was only following a gluten-free diet. Each serving contains about 175 g of net carbs. If you are strictly low-carb or paleo, then this popular side dish is off your menu.
Smashed Potatoes Ingredient List
To make delicious rustic smashed potatoes, you will need the following basic ingredients:
- 2.5 pounds potatoes (preferably waxy, new potatoes)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup shallot, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Ingredient Substitutions
Substitute some of the ingredients for these superb alternatives. You will still get sinfully delicious and crispy smashed potatoes:
- Potatoes: To make a low-carb version of the classic, use mashed turnips.
- Garlic: Roasted garlic massively heightens smashed potatoes’ flavors. Fresh garlic will give you similar results.
- Fresh thyme: Use ½ teaspoon of dried ground thyme for an intoxicating aroma.
- Olive oil: Use coconut or avocado oil.
Additional Ingredients
Add these optional ingredients for a depth of flavor and extra lusciousness:
- Cheese: Parmesan smashed potatoes are a wonderful delight. Grate fresh parmesan cheese and add it to the potatoes. BE WARNED: Adding cheese will not make the dish dairy-free.
- Bacon: Make crispy smashed potatoes with some yummy homemade bacon bits or bacon croutons (lardon)
Note: The ingredients additions are not part of the recipe’s nutritional value. Use them to spruce up the mashed potatoes recipe.
Cooking Tools
You only need a few basic tools for this mashed potatoes recipe:
- Large pot
- Knife and chopping board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Potato Masher
- Wooden spoon
How to Make Smashed Potatoes: Step-by-step Guide
Cooking Method
- Boiling
Preparation Steps
- Fill a large pot with approximately 12 cups of cold water and place it over medium-high heat.
- Add 3 teaspoons of kosher salt to the pot (watch out, the water will bubble up a bit).
- Toss in the garlic, shallots, and 2 thyme sprigs into the pot.
Cooking Instructions
- Add potatoes to the boiling pot of water. Be careful to avoid splashing.
- Boil the potatoes until fork-tender, about 15 minutes
- Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the potato cooking liquid.
- Drain the potatoes and return them to the pan over medium heat to cook off any excess water for 1-2 minutes.
- With a wooden spoon, roughly smash the hot potatoes.
- Pour the oil over the potatoes, the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and cracked pepper.
- Gradually add some of the reserved cooking liquid until you achieve your desired consistency.
- Adjust the seasoning as needed and serve hot, garnished with fresh thyme leaves.
Step 1: Gather up all the ingredients needed for the smashed potatoes. Chop the potatoes, garlic and shallots roughly.
Step 2: After 15 minutes, the potatoes should be fork tender. Reserve 1 cup of cooking liquid, then drain and return the potatoes to medium heat to dry.
Step 3: I use a wooden spoon to smash my potatoes. I find a masher gets clogged with the skins. Smash away and have fun with it!
💡 My Pro Tip
Boiled potatoes are more delicious with added flavor. When I was in cooking school, we always made mashed potatoes with stock instead of water. Chicken, beef, or vegetable stock will add incredible flavors. Now, I know that stock can be difficult to make and expensive to buy, so I use a bouillon cube to improve the potatoes’ flavor profile.
⏲️ Time-Saving Tips
- Use a potato masher. However, with the skins on, the masher gets clogged easily, but it is still the quickest, most efficient tool.
- Smaller or thinner potatoes cook faster. However, don’t dice the potatoes smaller than 1 cm, as they will fall apart when cooking.
- Boil the water as you prep the ingredients to cut the overall cooking time.
What to Serve with Smashed Potatoes?
Mashed smashed potatoes are among the most delicious side dishes ever. They pair well with a multitude of dishes, including:
- Stuffed Chicken Breast With Mushroom Gravy: Smashed potatoes complement this juicy chicken and add extra flavor.
- Oven-Baked Chicken Legs: Pair oven-baked chicken legs with these crispy potatoes for an impressive-looking holiday dinner dish.
- Savory Smothered Pork Chops: This pork dish’s creamy texture and savory flavors go well with this dairy-free crispy perfection!
- Porterhouse Steak: The creamy side dish of mashed potatoes accompanies the tender, buttery, flavorful sous vide porterhouse steak.
Storage and Reheating
Storage
- Transfer your leftover smashed potatoes to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for a week.
Reheating
- Reheat the leftovers in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add a bit of oil or butter to the pan. Add the leftovers to the pan in a single layer and let them cook undisturbed for a few minutes. Do not overcrowd the pan; work in batches if you have to for great results.
Note: I do not recommend freezing smashed potatoes because their high water content forms ice when frozen and changes the dish’s texture when thawed.
Recipe Conclusion
Smashed Potatoes are a quick and easy holiday side dish. I am not the biggest fan of potato, but this delicious recipe occasionally appears on my table. It is dairy-free yet satisfying. The garlic, shallot, and fresh thyme heighten the flavor of the oven-roasted potatoes massively. If you need a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving side dish, look no further. You will have these damn delicious mashed potatoes ready in minutes. Since the ingredients list is basic, you probably have all the requirements.
Did you try the recipe? Was it smashing good? Share your feedback with me and don’t forget to rate this recipe!
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes
Want to try more delicious side dish recipes? Check out these:
FAQs
Mashed potatoes have a creamier and softer texture than smashed potatoes. Smashed potatoes also have an earthier flavor because they are made with a bit of potato skin.
Boiling potatoes in a pressure cooker or instant pot is the quickest method. Depending on the size of the potatoes, you only need 5 to 10 minutes.
Yes, if you use healthy methods like boiling and steaming to prepare smashed red potatoes and only stick to healthy toppings and additions, it can be a healthy dish. However, you must also control your portions to enjoy smashed potatoes healthily.
Easy Smashed Potatoes Recipe 🥘
Ingredients
Smashed Potatoes Ingredient List
- 2.5 pounds potatoes preferably waxy, new potatoes
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup shallot roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and roughly chopped
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Fill a large pot with approximately 12 cups of cold water and place it over medium-high heat.
- Add 3 teaspoons of kosher salt to the pot (watch out, the water will bubble up a bit).
- Toss in the garlic, shallots, and 2 thyme sprigs into the pot.
Cooking Instructions
- Add potatoes to the boiling pot of water. Be careful to avoid splashing.
- Boil the potatoes until fork-tender, about 15 minutes
- Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the potato cooking liquid.
- Drain the potatoes and return them to the pan over medium heat to cook off any excess water for 1-2 minutes.
- With a wooden spoon, roughly smash the hot potatoes.
- Pour the oil over the potatoes, the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and cracked pepper.
- Gradually add some of the reserved cooking liquid until you achieve your desired consistency.
- Adjust the seasoning as needed and serve hot, garnished with fresh thyme leaves.
Notes
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
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20 Responses
I think I’m going to add these smashed potatoes to my Thanksgiving menu!
Hi Amy:
Glad to inspire you.
Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful day today!
Scott
These looks SO good! I took a cooking class in France and the two mottos that stuck with me were “nothing goes to waste in the kitchen” and “everything is better than water”. Since then, I use leftover veggies to make stock and try to use it as much as I can instead of water. I love the idea of adding aromatics to the liquid, especially if I only have water to work with! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Rachel:
Haha, that’s so funny “everything is better than water.” But it’s so true- adding flavors to the water makes all the difference in the world!
I appreciate you taking the time to write and happy cooking!
Scott
Wow! These sound great, I would much rather have olive oil in my mashed potatoes than butter! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Lauren:
Olive oil gives it a different flavor, but butter is good too.
Thank you for visiting the recipe.
Have a fantastic day in the kitchen!
Scott
Great recipe! Can’t wait to try it 🙂 Check out my website, you can find some really delicious recipes 🙂
Hey there:
Thank you so much for your appreciation. Love your website, lots of cool recipes to use for inspiration.
Hope you have a wonderful day and happy eating!
Scott
NEED. ALL. THE. POTATOES!!! These look SO darn creamy and yummy and delicious and wow, I just need to go make them before I start drooling uncontrollably.
Hi Karly:
Haha, this is the perfect reaction to a good recipe. Did you get a chance to try them?
Thank you for posting and have a delicious day in the kitchen!
Scott
My little one loves mashed potatoes. This is a keeper! Definitely save this for Thanksgiving menu!
Hi Amy:
Thanks for writing and for putting this in your list of dishes for your Thanksgiving line-up. That’s awesome. I’m putting together a fantastic fingerling potato recipe soon that our kids love! Should be in about a week or so…
Hope that you have an awesome day-
Take care-
Scott
They look and the recipe seems to be delish. I need to get my man to try it. He is my potatoe smasher and he takes pride in them. Honey it is my turn for doing potatoes tonight. I eill see if he will go for it .
Hi Debbie:
Thanks for writing- I really appreciate it! Did you get a chance to make the recipe? I hope that your husband loved it!
Take care-
Scott
Wonderful with your sauteed chicken recipe. Two perfectly simple recipes make one very happy cook!
Hey Cal:
It seems like you found your winners. How did they come out?
I appreciate you took the time to write your thoughts.
Take care and happy cooking!
Scott