Boxed mashed potatoes are okay as is, but with only a few additional ingredients you can make them delicious! A lot of times boxed mashed potatoes are easier and quicker to make, but they are avoided because they don’t have as much flavor or texture as freshly made mashed potatoes. Check out some swaps that you can make that will make your boxed mashed potatoes better in just a few minutes!
If you’re looking for ways to improve boxed food, here’s our recipe for improving boxed brownie mix!
Are boxed mashed potatoes real potatoes?
Yes! Boxed mashed potatoes are potatoes that have been cooked, mashed, and then dehydrated.
Are boxed mashed potatoes healthy?
Boxed mashed potatoes have a similar nutritional value to fresh mashed potatoes. However, they may have lost some of the nutrients in the cooking and dehydrating process.
Do I have to use flavored cream cheese in this recipe?
You can definitely use plain cream cheese or any flavored cream cheese your family prefers. We have been blessed to be gifted a lot of chives and onion cream cheese, so that’s the type we’ve been using.
If you like chives, check out our garlic and chive sourdough biscuit bread!
Here are two of our favorite recipes to have with mashed potatoes:
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How to Make Boxed Mashed Potatoes Better:
Special Equipment:
No special equipment is needed, but I use a large stock pot and beautiful measuring spoons that you can get from Amazon below.
Ingredients:
Boxed mashed potatoes
Chicken Stock (here’s our recipe for homemade chicken stock)
Butter
Salt
Buttermilk (or milk of your choice and lemon juice)
Cream Cheese
I don’t have specific measurements for this because the recipe is completely adaptable to how many servings you want for your family!
Recipe Steps:
Decide how many servings you want and follow the quantities for the recipe on your box of dried mashed potatoes. You will be replacing the water with chicken stock and the milk will be replaced with buttermilk or adding a tablespoon of lemon juice. Additionally, at the end, you will add cream cheese and the ratio that we recommend is 8 ounces of cream cheese per 6 servings of mashed potatoes that you are making. If you don’t have enough, feel free to decrease the quantity of cream cheese, or increase it if you would prefer!
In a large pot on the stove, bring the butter, salt, and chicken stock to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the buttermilk (or milk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice), and the potato flakes. Once incorporated, add at least 8 ounces of cream cheese per 6 servings of mashed potatoes. Mix until the cream cheese is thoroughly mixed in. Serve hot!
How does your family serve mashed potatoes? Let us know in the comments below!
Improved Boxed Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- Boxed mashed potatoes
- Chicken Stock here’s our recipe for homemade chicken stock
- Butter
- Salt
- Buttermilk or milk of your choice and lemon juice
- Cream Cheese
Instructions
- I don’t have specific measurements for this because the recipe is completely adaptable to how many servings you want for your family!
- Decide how many servings you want and follow the quantities for the recipe on your box of dried mashed potatoes. You will be replacing the water with chicken stock and the milk will be replaced with buttermilk or adding a tablespoon of lemon juice. Additionally, at the end, you will add cream cheese and the ratio that we recommend is 8 ounces of cream cheese per 6 servings of mashed potatoes that you are making. If you don’t have enough, feel free to decrease the quantity of cream cheese, or increase it if you would prefer!
- In a large pot on the stove, bring the butter, salt, and chicken stock to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the buttermilk (or milk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice), and the potato flakes.
- Once incorporated, add at least 8 ounces of cream cheese per 6 servings of mashed potatoes. Mix until the cream cheese is thoroughly mixed in. Serve hot!
Save it for later!
Yum! I love your ideas for boxed mashed potatoes! We love doing this!😁
Thank you!
What great ideas to improve on boxed mashed potatoes. I do feel they need improvement and I think they would taste amazing with your additions!
Thank you! I used to hate boxed mashed potatoes but with these additions, we make them pretty regularly for our family!