Nobody can deny the appeal of warm, velvety mashed potatoes. But there are a number of variations on this classic side dish worth exploring. Try any of these recipes and you may never go back to the original.

1. Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Mascarpone Cheese (pictured above)

Bobby enhances the already rich and velvety texture of mashed potatoes by folding in a hearty dose of mascarpone cheese. Mascarpone’s mildly sweet flavor also helps to balance out the saltiness of traditional mashed potatoes.

2. Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan and Breadcrumbs

Giada’s mashed potatoes are twice-cooked to achieve a savory crust. Start by preparing a buttery batch of mashed potatoes enriched with grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses — but don’t stop there. Spread the mixture evenly into a baking dish, add a Parmesan-breadcrumb topping and bake until golden brown.

Just a bit of Greek yogurt and a pinch of cayenne pepper go a long way in this recipe, making for a creamy mash that’s more savory than sweet. It’s a good stand-in for traditional mashed potatoes and would go well with pork or chicken.

Sunny treats boiled, red new potatoes to a full makeover by roughly mashing them with garlic, bacon and Gorgonzola cheese. It’s hard to imagine the true depth of flavor involved in this indulgent side dish, so you’ll just have to try for yourself.

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