There’s mashed potatoes and then there’s Italian garlic mashed potatoes! This recipe gives you the steps you need to know to make mashed potatoes with an Italian twist… better than what you get at the restaurants!
Everyone loves this recipe and it is no wonder why. By just adding two ingredients, you can transform generic mashed potatoes into a wonderful Italian recipe.
This homemade Italian garlic mashed potatoes recipes which uses real garlic btw, goes great with chicken recipes, turkey, or pot-roast recipes!
Here’s a video I made (yes audio isn’t great) that show exactly how it’s done. I use the same recipe today!
Italian Garlic Mashed Potatoes is Simple to Make!
The two key ingredients are fresh garlic cloves and grated Romano cheese. While garlic is certainly Italian, it is the combination with the Italian cheese that I think makes this dish magical.
I’ve yet to have garlic mashed potatoes while eating out that taste like this. In fact, I won’t even order it because no restaurant ever gets it right.
My husband tries it when they have it on the menu but this usually leads to heartburn due to the garlic powder they use and the excessive amount of sodium.
Type of Potatoes
This is up to you, but I prefer to use red or yellow yukon potatoes rather than Idaho potatoes. I find the consistency is smoother and creamier.
Regardless of what kind you choose, make sure to try and chop the potatoes the same size so when you boil them, they cook at the same rate, making sure they are all evenly cooked through.
When I’m in a hurry, I cut them very small to cook faster and it seems to help.
Also, you’ll notice in nearly all my recipes that call for cheese I say to use Romano cheese. The reason is Romano has a much stronger flavor and is saltier than other cheeses so you don’t have to add additional salt typically. It’s more expensive, but personally I feel I get more bang for my buck and my meals taste a ton better with it.
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Italian Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1-2 lb potatoes 6-8 medium sized potatoes
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese or other Italian cheese
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 TBLE butter
Instructions
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Peel and then boil the potatoes until they are very tender.
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Drain and place in a large bowl.
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Add in the garlic, milk, butter and cheese.
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Use a masher or your mixer to mash the potatoes slightly.
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If using a mixer, turn on and mix until fully well blended. If using a hand held masher, just keep mashing until it is blended to your liking.
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If the potatoes are a bit dry, add more milk.
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Serve warm.
Recipe Notes
TIP #1: The reason I mention mashing the potatoes slightly is because if you turn the mixer on right away, the potatoes may fly out of the bowl a bit. I just used the mixer to do this, then turned the mixer on. You'll see it in the video above.
TIP #2: You can use a mixer or a masher by hand - either way is fine. I make them both ways. Just make sure it is well blended.
TIP #3: You do not need a lot of garlic. I would not recommend more than 2 cloves.
TIP #4: You can use any kind of potato. Sometimes I'll use red, sometimes baking potatoes. It tastes good either way.
TIP #5: This recipe goes great with roasted vegetables and meat dishes.
What types of Recipes does Homemade Garlic Mashed Potatoes Go Well With?
As I mentioned above, this recipe goes great with chicken dishes, beef, or even turkey.
But it also goes very well with roasted vegetables. Remember, this recipe uses Italian cheese so be aware of any conflicting herbs or flavors in your other dishes.
For example, you would not want to use this recipe with a curry recipe or something like that.
Can You Omit the Italian Cheese?
Yes, you can omit the Italian cheese. I recommend using Romano b/c of the flavor. However Parmesan will do fine too, but will be more mild in flavor. Omitting the cheese is helpful if you are trying to cut back on sodium since cheese has a high sodium content.
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This recipe was originally posted in September 2016 and updated November 2019.
