7 Best plant-based mashed potatoes recipes
Most holiday meals make meat the main attraction. The problem? Meat can’t be the star of a plant-based diet. What’s more, side dishes have always been the best part of a holiday meal—especially if we’re talking about mashed potatoes.
Plant-based mashed potatoes are as rich and satisfying as their animal-based counterparts without any of the cruelty that can come with dairy. But if we’ve learned anything on our plant-based journey, it’s that not all plant-based mashed potato recipes are created equal.
Here are some quick swaps to turn any mashed potato recipe vegan, plus 7 of our favorite recipes and why we like them—including a low-carb option and an option that requires hardly any cooking at all.
What are plant-based mashed potatoes made of?
Plant-based mashed potatoes are made of potatoes. Yukon Golds are the most popular for this dish, but you can really use any potato you like—even sweet potatoes. Outside of potatoes, you’ll also need unsweetened, dairy-free milk, plant-based butter, garlic or garlic powder, salt, pepper, and some chives for garnish.
What kind of plant-based milk is best for mashed potatoes?
The best plant-based milk for mashed potatoes is unsweetened, relatively neutral in flavor, and creamy. Soy milk and cashew milk are both creamier milks that yield fluffy mashed potatoes. Oat milk can be too sweet, while coconut milk may change the flavor of the mashed potatoes.
What brand of mashed potatoes are vegan?
There are many brands of vegan mashed potatoes. Some popular options include:
7 plant-based mashed potato recipes to try this holiday season
Bob’s Red Mill Vegan Potato Flakes
This is technically a product, not a recipe, but it’s proof that you can create great plant-based dishes without a full day of cooking. Bob’s Red Mill is available at most grocery stores, ready in just a few minutes, and becomes a super creamy side dish. Add a little butter to make it even richer, or thin it out and use it as the base for a delicious plant-based gravy.
The Best Damn Vegan Mashed Potatoes
The great plant-based mashed potato debate has always been about whether to use non-dairy milk, non-dairy butter, or both. This recipe from the Minimalist Baker is a vote for butter, creating a rich and herbaceous plant-based mashed potato recipe that even the meat eaters in your life will love.
Oil Free Plant-Based Mashed Potatoes
Many plant-based eaters prefer to limit the oil in their diets. With a plant-based diet, you can still pack plenty of punch without any oil at all. Nutriciously’s take on mashed potatoes uses nutritional yeast for flavor and soy milk for creaminess, so you can skip the butter without sacrificing flavor.
Mashed Potatoes With Coconut Yogurt
Coconut yogurt—or any yogurt, for that matter—may not sound like the perfect pair for mashed potatoes, but they’re actually a great way that this recipe adds richness to the dish. Unflavored non-dairy milk keeps this plant-based mashed potato recipe light, while the yogurt adds the silkiness that dairy-forward mashed potatoes are known for.
Garlicky Vegan Mashed Potatoes
If you’re worried that plant-based mashed potatoes will lack flavor, garlic is a great way to amp it up. Roast a whole head of garlic, then smash up the softened cloves and stir those into your potatoes. We recommend a recipe like this one for the plant-based skeptics in your life. No coconut or other non-dairy flavors and tons of garlicky goodness.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
When you think sweet potato, you probably think pie. But a plant-based diet is a great reason to experiment with new flavors. Sweet potatoes master that sweet/salty balance and pack a vitamin punch that many holiday dinners lack. This recipe takes just 30 minutes to cook and uses both nutritional yeast and a dash of cinnamon for a unique yet crave-able flavor.
Vegan Mashed Cauliflower
Yes, we said cauliflower. Many plant-based eaters choose to omit potatoes or can’t tolerate them as part of their diet. Cauliflower is a great, low-carb way to partake in this classic holiday side dish. Boiled and then mashed with butter, milk, and vegan cheese, cauliflower can be as decadent as plant-based mashed potatoes.
Go plant-based this holiday season
For many, the holidays are a time to give thanks, spread kindness, and celebrate the good in our lives and our world. But because of what’s on the table, they’re also a time that often leads to animal suffering. A plant-based diet shares the goodwill of the holidays with the animal world—and may even lead you to some new favorite dishes.
Make the side dishes the main event for your holidays this year, starting with one of these plant-based mashed potato recipes. If you try one, leave a comment below and let us know what you think!