mashed potato bar {in a slow cooker}
This is such a fun way to serve decadent, warm comfort food at a cool weather gathering in the autumn or winter. Guests can serve themselves and make their mashed potato “parfaits” any way they like. This time my toppings were pretty standard but you can get really creative with the toppings if you like. The possibilities are endless! If you’d like to make this a bit more fancy, offer white or black truffle oil, capers, smoked salmon, or caviar as topping choices and serve the mashed potatoes in martini glasses.
4 lb. russet potatoes, washed, peeled and quartered (make the pieces uniform in size.)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Lawry’s seasoned salt
1 to 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 cup water
4 Tablespoons butter, cut into little chunks
8 oz. chive & onion cream cheese
1/3 cup milk
Place potato pieces in slow cooker. Add garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, pepper, water, and butter. Mix well to coat potatoes. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours (or until potatoes are tender.) Once potatoes are tender, mash them well with a potato masher, right in the crock. Stir in the cream cheese until evenly blended. Stir in milk. Serve or keep warm on the LOW setting for up to 2 hours. If you have a WARM setting you cold keep it on for 4 or more hours.
Topping suggestions:
~ gravy
~ fried bacon, crumbled
~ shredded sharp cheddar cheese
~ chopped green onions or fried onions
~ butter
~ sour cream or plain greek yogurt
~ ranch dressing
~ ketchup or BBQ sauce
~ malt vinegar
~ chopped fresh parsley or fresh thyme leaves
~ salt and pepper
Enjoy!
~Melissa
I love this idea. I love that you can take as much or as little as you would like. A great splurge for a winter or fall get together!
Thanks, Althea! I’m so happy you like the idea 🙂
Just made these potatoes for my family last night. They were a hit.
glad to hear it! Thanks for stopping by to let me know 🙂
What a terrific idea, our family will love this and will keep the potatoes warm. Thanks for sharing!
I shared, too!
Sounds great!! If I want to double (or triple) the recipe, would I have to add more time to cook?
Hi Beverley 🙂
If you want to double or triple the recipe you’ll need more than one Crock Pot. This makes a lot and pretty much fills up the slow cooker. Hope that helps! ~M
Thanks!
What a Great Idea!!!! Perfect for Thanksgiving, Our Winter BBQ….
Thank you …..
My pleasure, Sallie! 🙂 Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by to comment!
approximately how many does the recipi serve?
I’d say if you make a 7 quart Crock Pot full of mashed potatoes, you’d have at least enough for 10 people. 🙂
My small group from church is getting together and I wanted to make this. If I cooked the potatoes the night before would it still work?
I believe you could! 🙂 Never tried it, but if they thicken up too much just thin them out with a little sour cream or buttermilk 🙂 enjoy!
Doing this with Christmas dinner. Can’t wait.
I love this idea for Football get together’s everyone loves it !!! Thank you
You’re welcome! Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by, Pam! 🙂
Do you put a little liquid in crock pot to cook potatoes.
the recipe says 1 cup of water and 1/3 cup of milk 🙂
Love idea of using the crockpot. Would it be just as creamy/good if replace the cream cheese with sour cream?
Hi Karen!
I’ve never tried it with sour cream in place of cream cheese 🙂 Please let me know if you try it with good results. ~M
I love using sour cream in making mashed potatoes all the time…and then cream cheese puts it over the top!!!!
YUM! 🙂
Hosting bunco on a Friday in March (christian lent) so I look for creative “meat free” options to serve my guests. This is perfect. What’s more Irish for March Bunco than Potatoes???
Thank you for posting!
Oohhh!!! I like the way you think! Enjoy! Happy Bunco-Patty’s Day! 🙂
🙂
Enjoy!
Want to do this for our next camping trip. We pool our side dishes and each bring their own meat. I’ve read about doing baked potatoes like this but love this. A new thing to share. Always looking for something everyone likes, easy to make and NEW ideas. Thanks.
My pleasure! Enjoy! 🙂
additional thought to my comment. I have some small canning jars…think I’ll use them to serve this in when it’s an adult camping trip, no kids or grandkids. We do this at least once a year so we can relax and have adult talk time
love it!
I’ve never hear of BBQ sauce, ketchup, or malt vinegar on mashed potatoes?
Really? All of them are good depending on the other toppings you choose. So many different possibilities for a mashed potato bar.
I do this a lot for big family dinners. I usually just make my mashed potatoes as usual and pour them into the slow cooker to keep warm.
looks interesting!!
Awesome never thought of this it was a smash at our house lol.
Where’s the comments, I can’t read them?
Hi can I use red potatoes on this re ice instead of russet? Thank you
Do. You put water on potatoes to cook in crockpot
Question…. no liquid in crockpot initially to cook potatoes in ?
Such a terrific idea!
Awesomely unimaginable tasty creation .It is perfect to the T
Good Luck and God Bless