Healthy Low-Fat Mashed Potatoes Recipe: So Creamy!
Last Update: 1/13/2025
It’s easy to make healthy mashed potatoes!
In fact, potatoes are a vegetable, and are actually good for you. It’s the way they’re prepared that can make them unhealthy.
Traditional mashed potato recipes are usually laden with heavy cream and butter, both of which are high in fat and cholesterol.
However, you can make low-fat mashed potatoes that you’ll not only love but feel good about eating!
Why You’ll Love This Low-Fat Mashed Potatoes Recipe
They’re Delicious
Even the most discerning pallet will love these creamy, healthy mashed potatoes! I’m very picky about all potato preparations, and I love these!
I made them last night as a side dish to my gluten-free turkey meatloaf, and everyone had seconds—true story!
They’re Easy
It’s just as easy to make low-calorie mashed potatoes as it is to make full-fat ones—maybe even easier. They require just four ingredients and an electric mixer, potato masher, or potato ricer. I prefer the mixer, either a hand mixer or stand mixer.
They’re Healthy
I love butter more than anyone I know, but I don’t miss it in this healthy mashed potato recipe. I rather save my butter splurge for a yummy bread.
Ingredients For Low-Fat Mashed Potatoes
Basically, making healthier mashed potatoes is all about making smart swaps.
Potatoes
I think Yukon gold potatoes and russet potatoes (sometimes called Idaho potatoes) make the best mashed potatoes. Really, though, any variety can be used.
This includes even small varieties like red potatoes or fingerling potatoes, but these are both really better suited for smashed potatoes so that you don’t have to peel them.
When prepping the potatoes, place them in cold water as soon as you peel them so they don’t turn brown. I peel them all, placing them in a bowl of water. I then rinse, cut them all, and return them to the bowl of water. Afterward, I give them a good rinse in a colander.
I can’t believe it’s not butter
I find I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter to be the best butter substitute for not only flavor but for overall calories and grams of fat per serving for most of my healthy recipes. If you prefer Smart Balance or another brand, just substitute the same measurement.
Low-Fat Sour Cream
Instead of replacing the heavy cream in regular mashed potatoes with reduced-fat milk, I prefer low-fat sour cream. Fat-free milk and even whole milk can make the consistency a little watery. The light sour cream, however, makes creamy mashed potatoes.
LOW-FAT MASHED POTATOES RECIPE
Servings: 4–6
Ingredients
5 medium potatoes, each peeled and cut into 6 chunks
⅓ cup I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
⅓ cup low-fat sour cream
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
1. Fill a large pot or sauce pan with 3 quarts of water.
2. Bring the water to a boil on high heat, and then add the potatoes.
3. Boil potatoes for 15–20 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to remove one of the larger chunks. If a fork easily passes through it, the potatoes are done.
4. Drain potatoes in a colander and transfer to a mixing bowl.
5. While potatoes are hot, use an electric mixer to incorporate butter spread, sour cream, and salt. Beat until potatoes are desired texture. For creamy potatoes, beat longer.
6. Transfer to a serving bowl, and serve immediately.
Variations
I like to make a big batch of this delicious side dish and serve it in different ways throughout the week.
There are countless ingredients you can add to make different variations of this popular side dish.
Low-Fat Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Adding garlic powder, roasted garlic, or minced raw garlic will all produce yummy, healthy, garlic mashed potatoes.
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
You may not think of serving mashed potatoes with Asian food, but when you add wasabi paste, it makes for an amazing combination!
Low-Fat Mashed Sweet Potaoes
You can use this same recipe and substitute sweet potatoes for regular potatoes.
Healthy Mashed Cauliflower
For a low-carb option, replace potatoes altogether with cauliflower florets.
Storing & Serving Healthy Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are one of the best side dishes to make ahead. Just store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They reheat so well in the microwave!
The personal chef in me likes to serve mashed potatoes plain and let my guests add their own black pepper. But if you know everyone likes pepper, you can crack some fresh on top.
Likewise, try adding fresh herbs on top for a splash of color and some added flavor. Fresh dill is always a favorite with potatoes at our house.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH LOW-FAT MASHED POTATOES
Any entrée that pairs well with traditional mashed potatoes will go well with low-fat mashed potatoes.
Although they weren’t invented in America, mashed potatoes make the perfect side dish to most classic American dishes like meatloaf, grilled steak, and fried chicken. For a change of pace, try Hawaiian Tilapia as a flavor-packed protein.
Don’t limit yourself to American entrées; try some dishes from French cuisine like Chicken Cordon Bleu and Chicken or Fish Francaise.
I really hope you love the low-fat mashed potatoes—no matter what you serve them with. Once you’ve made them, please let me know in the comments how things went.
