15 Beyond-Basic Mashed Potatoes

Upgrade one of the most-loved dishes on your dining table with these souped-up spud recipes. 

Photo By: Armando Rafael Moutela ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved. 2014, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Photo By: Armando Rafael Moutela ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved. 2014, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Photo By: Armando Rafael Moutela ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved. 2014, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Photo By: Adrian Mueller ©2012, Adrian Mueller / AMueller.com, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Photo By: Armando Rafael Moutela ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved 2014, Cooking Channel, LLC All Rights Reserved

Photo By: Adrian Mueller ©2012, Adrian Mueller / AMueller.com, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Photo By: Tara Donne ©2009, Tara Donne

Photo By: Armando Rafael Moutela ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved. 2014, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Truffled Cheese Mash

Here's one way to instantly increase the richness of already-indulgent mashed potatoes: Add the creamy cheese Sottocenere. It will infuse the potatoes with subtle truffle flavor without overpowering them completely.

Get the Recipe: Truffled Cheese Mash

Red, White and Blue Mashed Potatoes

Red potatoes, blue cheese and heavy cream (the white), along with crispy bacon, make this an American dish worthy of a celebration. Allow your dairy ingredients to come to room temperature by taking them out of the fridge an hour in advance.

Get the Recipe: Red, White and Blue Mashed Potatoes

Best Old-Fashioned Mashed Potatoes for a Crowd

A classic country mash means two things: unpeeled potatoes and plenty of butter. Take time when running the russets through a food mill so they remain tender and fluffy.

Get the Recipe: Best Old-Fashioned Mashed Potatoes for a Crowd

Carbonara Potatoes    

This dish is decadent, rich and well worth the effort. Upgrade the pancetta to guanciale, if you can find it, which is traditionally used in carbonara. Keep the egg whites for meringues, or to make scrambled whites the next day as penance for your unbridled potato joy.

Get the Recipe: Carbonara Potatoes

Baked mashed potatoes with parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs

Butter, mozzarella, Parmesan and whole milk jazz up hearty russet potatoes in Giada's crowd-friendly recipe. 

Get the Recipe: Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumbs

Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Smoky peppers add depth to otherwise gently seasoned sweet potatoes in Alton Brown's easy recipe. 

Get the Recipe: Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Bacon and Rosemary Red Bliss Hash

Red Bliss potatoes are perfectly suited to this happiness-evoking recipe. Take time to simmer them until fork-tender or they won’t cook evenly in your pan.

Get the Recipe: Bacon-Rosemary-Red Bliss Hash

Root Vegetable Mash

Try Chuck's twist on the classic mash: His combination of carrots, celery root, potatoes and other root vegetables results in a dish with incredible texture and great flavor.

Get the Recipe: Root Vegetable Mash

Mashed Potatoes with Olive Oil and Pancetta

Yukon gold potatoes are perfect for mashing, thanks to their intensely creamy centers. Olive oil adds a gently nutty flavor to this wonderful recipe. 

Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes with Olive Oil and Pancetta

Indian Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Fragrant and rich, this side has a creamy texture without any cream. With only about a half tablespoon of clarified butter per serving, the calorie count is not too bad, either.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Sweet Potato Mash With Ghee

Lemon Herb Olive Oil Smashed Potatoes

The herbs –– in this case parsley and thyme –– lend nuanced flavors to this otherwise run-of-the-mill recipe. It never disappoints. 

Get the Recipe: Lemon Herb Olive Oil Smashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Mascarpone Cheese

Though mild in flavor, mascarpone cheese adds great texture to Bobby Flay's mashed potato recipe.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Mascarpone Cheese

Pommes de Terre a La Boulangere

This recipe is as rich in flavor as it is easy in execution: Simply bake layers of potatoes and onions in a robust beef broth in a low oven and voila – perfectly tender, incredibly tasty spuds.

Get the Recipe: Pommes De Terre a la Boulangere: Potatoes a la Bakery

Southwest Mashed potatoes

This ultra-chunky, flavorful mash was a major hit in our kitchen. The charred flavor is unique and a great counter to the tang from the crema. Save some leftovers to make potato quesadillas (if you can).

Get the Recipe: Southwest Mashed Potatoes

Malt Vinegar Mashed Potatoes with Dill

Light and zippy, this mash also gets a great tang from the vinegar.

Get the Recipe: Malt Vinegar Mashed Potatoes with Dill