Ranch Mashed Potatoes
These creamy ranch mashed potatoes are buttery, smooth, and full of flavor. The perfect side dish for everyday dinners or holiday meals.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds peeled russet potatoes cut into evenly sized chunks (approximately 4½ pounds before peeling)
- Salt for the cooking water
- 8 tablespoons 1 stick butter
- 1 teaspoon salt add more to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- ¼ cup sour cream
Half Batch
- 2 pounds peeled russet potatoes cut into evenly sized chunks (approximately 2¼ pounds before peeling)
- Salt for the cooking water
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon salt add more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly sized chunks.
- Place the potatoes in a large pot or Dutch oven. Cover them with cold water and salt the water.
- Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes until completely fork-tender, about 10 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a colander..
- With the burner turned off, add the butter to the pot so it can begin to melt.
- Add the cooked potatoes and use a handheld potato masher to mash the potatoes.
- Add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, milk, heavy cream, ranch dressing, and sour cream. Continue mashing and stirring until everything is thoroughly combined and the potatoes are creamy.
- Taste and add more salt if needed. Serve immediately, or transfer the potatoes to a slow cooker or warming dish to keep them warm.
Half-Batch Instructions
- Follow the same preparation and cooking instructions. The cooking time should remain approximately the same as long as the potato chunks are cut to the same size.
Notes
Cutting the potatoes into similarly sized chunks helps them cook evenly. Make sure they are completely fork-tender before draining so they mash easily without leaving firm pieces.
Taste the potatoes before serving and adjust the salt as needed. Potatoes need plenty of seasoning, and the amount needed may vary depending on how much salt was added to the cooking water.