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Top view of a green bowl full of mashed potatoes topped with butter and chives on top of a wooden board

Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream

5 from 1 vote
These easy mashed potatoes with sour cream are the perfect, low-maintenance, budget-friendly side for any time of year.
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Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:30 minutes
Total Time:45 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds yellow potatoes (Yukon gold or baby Dutch) cubed in equal sizes
  • Cold water to fill pot
  • 1 tbsp sea salt
  • 8 tbsp salted butter
  • ¾ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp salt plus more, if needed
  • ½ tsp cracked black pepper
  • 2 tbsp diced chives (optional)

Instructions

  • Add cubed potatoes to a pot filled with cold water seasoned with 1 tbsp of sea salt.
    3 pounds yellow potatoes (Yukon gold or baby Dutch), Cold water to fill pot, 1 tbsp sea salt
  • Cook on high heat for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the water begins to boil.
  • Boil the potatoes for 15 minutes until they’re fork-tender (tender enough to be easily pierced or cut with a fork), then remove from the heat.
  • Drain the potatoes and place them back in the pot.
  • Mash the potatoes with a potato masher.
  • Mix in the butter, sour cream, milk, salt, pepper, and chives, if using. You can also leave the chives out if you're looking for a mashed potato dish that would pair better with gravy.
    8 tbsp salted butter, ¾ cup sour cream, 1 cup milk, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp cracked black pepper, 2 tbsp diced chives (optional)
  • For extra creamy mashed potatoes, you can use an electric hand mixer to mix them up. Just make sure not to mix them too much or they’ll become gummy.

Notes

If you're making these potatoes to pair with gravy, we recommend leaving the chives out. You may also want to go low on the salt level since gravy is usually salty.