How to Make Simple Mashed Potatoes from Scratch

There’s something about a bowl of simple mashed potatoes that just feels like home. Not the perfectly whipped, ultra-smooth kind—but the kind that’s a little rustic, a little chunky, and full of real flavor.

This is the way I’ve always made them—skin on, simple ingredients, and no fuss. They’re the kind of mashed potatoes that sit perfectly next to a hearty dinner, like a warm slice of venison meatloaf, and make the whole meal feel complete.

If you’re looking for an easy mashed potatoes recipe that you can make without overthinking it, this is it.

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Ingredients

• 8–10 medium red new potatoes (skin on)
  
• 1/2 cup milk (plus more if needed)
  
• 1 stick butter (8 tablespoons)
  
• 1/2 cup sour cream
  
• Salt and pepper, to taste
  

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How to Make Simple Mashed Potatoes

Start by washing your potatoes and cutting them into pieces about 1 inch in size. If you prefer, you can simply cut them into fourths—it doesn’t have to be exact.

Cook them in boiling water for 15 minutes. Be careful when adding them to the boiling water!

To check if they’re ready, pull one out with a fork and press it gently against the side of the pot. If it mashes easily with the fork, they’re done.

Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.

Now comes the simple part. Using either a handheld mixer or something as basic as a meat chopper or potato masher, begin mashing the potatoes. This recipe is meant to be a little rustic, so don’t worry about getting them perfectly smooth. Lumps give them that homemade feel.

Add in the butter, milk, and sour cream while the potatoes are still warm. Then sprinkle in salt and pepper to your taste.

Continue mixing or mashing until everything is combined. You can use an electric mixer for a smoother texture or keep it by hand for a thicker, more traditional consistency.

If the potatoes feel too thick, just add a little more milk until they reach the texture you like.

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Notes on Texture & Flavor

These mashed potatoes are meant to be thick and slightly lumpy—not overly whipped or airy. Keeping the skins on the red potatoes adds both texture and flavor, and it also keeps things simple in the kitchen.

You can always adjust:

• Add more milk for a creamier texture
  
• Add more salt and pepper to taste
  
• Mash more or less depending on how chunky you like them
  

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A Simple Dinner to Pair It With

This recipe fits right into a simple, cozy dinner at home. It pairs especially well with something hearty like a homemade venison meatloaf, where the richness of the meat and the creaminess of the potatoes balance each other perfectly.

It’s the kind of meal that doesn’t require anything fancy—just real food, made simply, and shared around the table.

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A Keep It Simple Anna Sue Recipe

This is one of those recipes that reminds me why keeping things simple in the kitchen works so well. You don’t need a long list of ingredients or complicated steps to make something comforting and good.

Just a pot of potatoes, a few staples from the fridge, and a little time—that’s all it takes to bring a cozy meal together.

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