Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
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These dairy free mashed potatoes are super creamy, and so quick and easy to make! This recipe makes a delicious dish to serve with dinner or a holiday meal.
Mashed potatoes are nearly everyone’s favorite side dish, and they go with just about everything.
However, not everyone can enjoy mashed potatoes loaded with dairy products. Vegans and anyone with lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy knows this first hand. Many recipes contain butter, heavy cream, sour cream, milk, and even cream cheese.
The great news is, nobody has to suffer without them. Dairy free mashed potatoes is the perfect solution!
Why This Recipe is a Favorite
These mashed potatoes are the perfect dairy free Thanksgiving side that everyone will love! They’re creamy and dreamy and have a fantastic flavor despite being totally dairy-free. Nobody will know the difference!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
These mashed potatoes were as creamy and delicious as they sound! Thank you for the recipe. Excited to try other recipes of yours!
–wonderfulcook
Just like my recipes for Air Fryer green beans, roasted parsnips and carrots, and healthy sweet potato casserole, this mashed potatoes recipe can be made ahead to save you time.
It’s also a versatile recipe! You can use dairy free mashed potatoes to make a healthy cottage pie or mushroom croquettes.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested cooking tips for making this recipe! I’ve made this countless times, so I can save you from a failed attempt.
- Use starchy potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes are the best choice for mashed potatoes, and russet potatoes are a great second choice. Don’t use waxy red or white potatoes.
- To ensure even cooking, dice the potatoes into pieces that are the same size, so they cook at the same speed.
- Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl of cold water until you’re ready to boil them.
- To tell if the boiled potatoes are cooked, pierce a fork into one of the potatoes. It should easily slide through.
- Don’t over whip the potatoes. Too much mixing can quickly turn creamy mashed potatoes into a gummy, pasty mess.
- To keep the potatoes hot and creamy, gently warm the plant-based milk and soften (but don’t melt) the dairy free butter before adding it to the potatoes. This will help keep the potatoes hot!
Ingredients and Substitutions
These dairy free mashed potatoes are made with six ingredients, plus any other seasonings you might want to add: potatoes, garlic powder, salt, plant-based butter, unflavored oat milk, and chives.
Best Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes
There are so many different types of potatoes. They all have their time and place, but what is best for mashing?
Yukon gold potatoes have a high starch content and creamy texture, so they are easy to mashing and have a great texture. They have a slight buttery flavor, which works well in this dairy-free mashed potatoes recipe.
Russet potatoes also have a high starch content so they are a good option as well. However, avoid using waxy potatoes with thin skin, like red potatoes and white potatoes. Their lower starch content makes them difficult to mash, which can result in lumpy potatoes that don’t hold up.
How to Make Creamy Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
Let’s tackle the recipe step by step together.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full step by step instructions! ⬇️
- Prepare and cook the potatoes.
Wash the potatoes and optionally, peel them. Yukon gold potato skins are smooth and not tough at all, so they can definitely be eaten. They have a nice texture, but this is just a preference thing.
While you’re peeling and dicing, set the potatoes in a bowl of cold water. This will keep them from browning while you’re working.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a low boil. Add the potatoes and cook them over medium heat until they are soft enough to easily pierce with a fork.
- Drain and mix.
Drain the cooked potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl. Add the butter and seasonings and let the mixture sit for a moment to allow the butter to start to melt.
Add the dairy free milk, then use an electric mixer on medium-high speed to combine mash and combine the ingredients. Avoid over mixing!
If you don't have a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, you can mash the potatoes by hand with a potato masher or ricer.
- Season to taste, then garnish.
After mixing, taste the mashed potatoes. You may not need any additional seasoning, but if so, this is when you should stir it in. If you're using chives, fold them in as well.
Storing Leftovers
Let the leftovers cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container or bag. Seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
The best way to reheat mashed potatoes is in a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. If they seem dry, you can stir in some nut milk or dairy free butter to add some moisture.
You can also reheat them in a covered oven-safe dish in a 300°F. oven.
Mashed Potatoes Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can save time by making the dairy free mashed potatoes ahead, then freezing them for up to 3 months. Allow the mashed potatoes to cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Squeeze all the air out, then seal tightly and freeze.
If there is too much starch from either overcooking or mashing too much, the potatoes will have a glue-like consistency.
One quick fix for gluey or gummy potatoes is to add more fat. This can be tricky if you can't have dairy butter or heavy cream. However, stirring in some coconut milk will help a lot! For every pound of potatoes, stir in one tablespoon of melted coconut oil.
I'd love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- Stand Mixer or electric hand mixer
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
- 8-10 cups cold water for soaking the potatoes
- 1 big pinch salt
- 12 cups water
- 8 stalks fresh chives to yield about 2 tablespoons (optional)
- ½ cup oat milk or other dairy free milk
- 3 tablespoons plant-based butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder or 4 garlic cloves
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and dice the 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes in 1-inch cubes. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl of 8-10 cups cold water until you're ready to cook them.
- Bring a large pot of 12 cups water and 1 big pinch salt to a slow boil. Add the potatoes and simmer over medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Mince the 8 stalks fresh chives, if using, and set them aside.
- Drain the potatoes through a strainer, then transfer them to a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Add the ½ cup oat milk, 3 tablespoons plant-based butter, 2 teaspoons garlic powder and 1 ½ teaspoons salt.
- Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat the mixture on medium-high speed, stopping as soon as the mixture is creamy. Over mixing will make them gummy and gluey.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired. Gently fold in the minced chives, if using, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Be sure to use starchy potatoes like Yukon gold or russet potatoes.
- To ensure even cooking, dice the potatoes into pieces that are the same size, so they cook at the same speed.
- To know when the potatoes are cooked through, pierce a fork into one of them. It should easily slide through.
- Don't over whip the potatoes. Too much mixing can quickly turn creamy mashed potatoes into a gummy, pasty mess.
- To keep the potatoes hot and creamy, gently warm the plant-based milk and soften (but don't melt) the dairy free butter before adding it to the potatoes.
- You can substitute the oat milk with any unsweetened plant-based milk.
- Optionally, add a pinch of minced fresh rosemary to add even more herbal flavor.
Nutrition
2025 Update: This recipe is still a family favorite and has been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and add extra cooking tips for our readers. We hope you love it as much as we do!
These mashed potatoes were as creamy and delicious as they sound! Thank you for the recipe. Excited to try other recipes of yours!
Where do I. Get yucon potatoes from havnt seen any in aldi
Hi Victor! Yukon potatoes are available at most larger grocery stores. I haven’t seen them at Aldi either, but Kroger, Walmart, and Food Lion in my area all carry Yukon gold potatoes! -Laura