Mayonnaise is the secret to making these Creamy Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes just as good as their dairy-containing counterparts.
Yup, you DID read that correctly. It IS possible to make CREAMY dairy-free mashed potatoes.
Creamy mashed potatoes without milk, half-and-half, heavy cream or butter…
And without a dairy substitute!
Nooooooooooo, I haven’t lost my mind. It’s true. I promise.
So, how did I do it?
Weeeell, it all started after Greg was diagnosed with IBS. He realized that certain types of dairy products cause gastrointestinal symptoms for him when eaten in large quantities or multiple times a day.
So, I made it my mission to create a truly dairy free mashed potato recipe that was just as delicious as our favorite milk-laden mashed potato dishes of the past.
Then I dared myself to make these mashed potatoes WITHOUT using a dairy substitute, such as a dairy-free milk or dairy-free butter.
Challenge accepted!
The first ingredient I decided to use was chicken broth. I remembered watching commercials around Thanksgiving time that advertised making mashed potatoes with chicken broth. So I headed to the pantry and check! We have broth!
I got to work. I added my usual seasonings and the chicken broth. Then I mashed. Not creamy enough. So I added more broth. Still not creamy enough.
OOOOO KKKKK. Now what?
I opened the fridge and just stared. Hmm. Then I saw it. The jar of mayonnaise shining like it came from the heavens. Or maybe the fridge light just blinded me from staring too long. Well, whatever. Anyway, I took it out and thought, “do I dare put this mayonnaise in mashed potatoes?”
Uh, yeah.
So I did and boy was I pleasantly surprised! Absolute perfection! Creamy dairy-free mashed potatoes have been achieved. Mission complete.
Now for the true test. Dinner…
The husband loved them and the kids never knew the difference! Seconds please 😉
8/24/17 – UPDATE: Please note that we have added a vegan option based on reader feedback.
Learn how to make them
To make these Creamy Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes, start by peeling potatoes.
Then cube the potatoes so they are uniform in size.
Next, boil the potatoes until fork tender.
Then drain and return to pot. Add chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegan option) and mix with a hand mixer.
Stir in mayonnaise (or vegan mayonnaise for vegan option), parsley, white pepper and salt and continue to mix with the hand mixer until all ingredients are evenly combined.
Take a big scoop and enjoy!
Creamy Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 lb. Yukon gold mashed potatoes
- 1 cup gluten-free, low-sodium chicken broth (for vegan option, use low-sodium, gluten-free vegetable broth)
- 1/3-1/2 cup mayonnaise, depending on your liking (for vegan option, use vegan mayonnaise)
- 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
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Peel and cube potatoes so that they are uniform in size.
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Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with one inch of cold water.
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Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to maintain a steady rolling boil. Cook until potatoes are fork tender (approximately 15-20 minutes). Be careful not to overcook or the potatoes will become too starchy.
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Drain potatoes in a colander and return to pot.
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Add broth and mix using a hand mixer.
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Stir in mayonnaise, parsley, white pepper and salt until you've achieved desired consistency and flavor.
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Mix again with the hand mixer until all ingredients are well combined and lumps are removed. Be sure not to overmix or the consistency of the potatoes will become too gluey.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
*Nutrition Facts were calculated using 1/3 cup regular mayonnaise and low-sodium chicken broth. Please note "salt to taste" was not included in the calculation.
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Information shown should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
So, what do you think? Let me know in the comments below. And if you make this recipe, tag @watchlearneat in your photos on Instagram. 🙂
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For more dairy-free mashed potatoes, check out these Cheesy Vegan Mashed Potatoes next:
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This is still dairy, I am dairy free and butter is still dairy. To my body it is.
Hi Jeannie! I appreciate your comment and concern; however, please note that this recipe does NOT contain any butter and is dairy-free using mayonnaise made from eggs, oil and vinegar. I hope you will give it a try!
My Helmans mayonnaise lists Milk as an ingredient, are you using a different kind? Thanks!
Hi Emily! I typically use Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise with the dark blue label. The ingredients as listed on the label are as follows: soybean oil, water, whole eggs and egg yolks, vinegar, salt, sugar, lemon juice, calcium disodium EDTA (used to protect quality), natural flavors. I hope that helps or that you can find another brand! 🙂
Love this! I’d never considered mayonnaise in mashed potatoes before, but I imagine that the flavors are wonderful. Definitely giving this a try – thanks for sharing!
Thank you Callie! I hope you enjoy them!
Love it! I never would have thought to use mayo … but then we use mayo to make other things moist, so why not. My husband loves mashed potatoes…so I will definitely try it this way and see if he can tell the difference … but of course, I would never tell him any way.
Thanks Linda! I hope you and your husband enjoy them!
I love the combination of chicken broth and mayonnaise in these mash potatoes. They do look super creamy. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you Dawn! 🙂
I was curious to see how you made your mashed potatoes dairy free, as my son can’t eat dairy. alas, can’t have eggs either so the mayo won’t work. But I should try chicken broth!
Hi David! The chicken broth does make them somewhat creamy but the mayo takes it to the next level. Perhaps you can try using a vegan mayo. It should have the same consistency. Let me know how they turn out!
Simply brilliant to use mayonaise!!!!! People with egg allergies can also use the egg free mayo options too!
Thank you Sharon!
Mayo – what a great idea! My mom can’t have dairy, so I think these are the perfect thing to surprise her with at Thanksgiving this year..thank you. 🙂
Thanks Heather! I hope she enjoys them! 🙂
Mashed potatoes… the best thing about them? They never go out of food fashion. Always looking for solid recipes and this dairy free version is right up my alley!
Thank you Levan!
Great idea to use mayonnaise for creaminess and a bit of tang. Yum!
Thanks Carol! 🙂
Dear Sherri, I love your secret ingredient. Mission accomplished. These mashed potatoes are gorgeous and I must try your delicious recipe!
Thanks Allie! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
How funny – my husband always makes mashed potatoes with mayonnaise and I thought it was weird, but I never thought of it as the solution to a medically limited diet. It is delicious!
That’s funny Laura! It is delicious! 🙂
I was wondering if you could make these the night before?
Hi Erinn! Yes, you definitely can make them the night before. In fact, I’ve done it a bunch of times and they reheat very nicely. Enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
This is an old post but I hope you still check it! When you reheat, do you use the crock pot or do you reheat in oven? Do you mix the mashed potatoes while reheating?
Hi Emily! I have reheated them in the slow cooker before if I needed them to stay warm for a while. Otherwise, I usually just reheat them in the microwave or on the stove top over low to medium heat. And yes, I do stir them during the reheating process, usually one time halfway through if I’m microwaving, but multiple times if using the stove top method to avoid sticking and burning. Hope that helps! Have a great day!
Could you replace mayonnaise with miracle whip.
Hi Tawnia! Yes, you can use Miracle Whip, but it will have a bit of a sweeter flavor than mayo. Hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by!
Yum! They looks so delicious! Potatoes are my Favorite!
Thanks Ilona! 🙂
I’m lactose intolerant. This recipe excites me! I think this is very interesting to use broth and mayonnaise. I love it!
Thank you Mica! 🙂
That’s completely ingenious, using mayo instead of dairy! I love tangy potato salad made with mayo, so I can only imagine that mashed potatoes made with it would be equally delicious. And great video! I love your apron. 🙂
Thank you Tracy!! Yes, I LOVE potato salad with mayo too! Thanks for checking out the video too! 🙂
I am a total potato lover, and there are NEVER too many ways to enjoy them. This sounds great.
Thank you Gloria! 🙂
You got me there! I never would have guessed mayonnaise! Great job!
Thanks Lisa! 😉
Yum! I just came across that tip the other day to use chicken broth in mashed potatoes, but haven’t had the chance to try it yet. You’ve totally convinced me now! P.S. Have you ever tried (Japanese) Kewpie mayonnaise? It is the BEST with mashed potato! 🙂
Thanks Laura! It comes out so creamy! 🙂 I have never tried Kewpie mayonnaise, but I just Googled it and I can’t wait to give it a try! Thanks for the tip! 🙂
Coming from someone lactose intolerance for dairy-free mashed potatoes mayonnaise is not a good substitute to put in it because for those that may not know mayonnaise is not dairy free it does contain egg which is considered dairy.
Hi Chris. Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your concern. However, please note that eggs do not contain lactose and are not considered to be a dairy product. Here is some information on the subject: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/spotlight-dairy-free, http://www.godairyfree.org/ask-alisa/are-eggs-dairy, http://dairyfreecooking.about.com/od/dairyfreebasics/f/eggsdairy.htm.
If you are lactose intolerant and also cannot tolerate eggs, perhaps you have an egg allergy or egg sensitivity as well. Best wishes!
Hi there! Is your husband on a low fodmap diet, per chance? Most store bought chicken broths have garlic and or onion which tend to not be tolerated by us low fodmappers. I’m curious if you have found a broth that contains no garlic and or onion. From my understanding, if it lists other spices, chances are that’s what it is. Also curious about what brand of mayo your using? Would like to try this recipe, and hoping I don’t need to make my own broth. Thanks!
Hi Emily! Thanks for stopping by and checking out this recipe! My husband was on a low FODMAP diet for his IBS, but reintroduced a number of things back in since. He still does have some issues with certain foods though, especially high-lactose dairy and foods with gluten. He can tolerate small amounts of garlic and onion. I normally use the Swanson all-natural less sodium broth, which lists onion juice concentrate as the last ingredient.
However, your question sparked my curiosity, so I did some research and discovered two products that might work for you. The first one I found is actually a broth concentrate by Savory Choice. It comes in a packet and you have to mix it with water to make the broth. I found it on this awesome low FODMAP blog: http://blog.katescarlata.com/2014/08/26/low-fodmap-broth/.
The second option I found is Tuscany Broth by Progresso. I found it on a low FODMAP Pinterest board. When I checked the ingredients label, it did not list onion or garlic or any “other spices.” Of course, this could be verified by contacting Progresso to be sure. I just showed it to my husband and he is now looking forward to trying it.
As for mayo, I use Hellmann’s. I’m not sure where you live, but depending on your location, it may be Best Foods in your area. I did a Google search and found that it appears that it is considered low FODMAP. We’ve tried other brands, but my husband and I both like the Hellmann’s flavor the best.
I hope you will give these mashed potatoes a try! Let me know how it works out! Best wishes! 🙂
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly, and for going the extra mile and doing some research! That’s so kind of you!! I have been on this diet for a week and I am still figuring things out! That Tuscany broth sounds really tasty. I will definitely give this recipe a try! We have Best Foods mayo in our area. And it’s my favorite as well, just never sure if processed stuff is “safe”. Thanks again!
Thank you Emily! I hear you about processed foods. It’s funny because I try to cook with natural ingredients and stay away from processed foods whenever I can, so I bought an all natural mayo and I hated it! I just really love my mayo and I can’t part with it. LOL. I did see that Hellmann’s has a new organic mayo though, so I’ll probably give that a go.
Good luck with your low FODMAP diet and enjoy the potatoes! 🙂
My doctor recommended me to follow the low FODMAP. I find it difficult to watch what I eat and to cook healthy. My whole life everything I ate is dairy. I’m Italian we put cheese on everything. Lol. Mashed potatoes is one of my favorite foods! This literally just made my day!!! I can’t wait to try it out!
Thanks Michelle! Hope you enjoy them! As someone who is part Italian, I also put cheese on everything so I can definitely relate. As I understand, you can still have low-lactose cheeses such as Parmesan and Romano on the low FODMAP diet if that makes you feel better. 🙂 Have a wonderful day!
I tried it today. They were great!!!!!
That’s awesome, Michelle! So happy to hear it! 🙂
Hi there,
Thank you for posting a recipe for those of us with lactose intolerance and IBS. I’ve had to eliminate so many of the foods that I love and mashed potatoes were one of them. I going to try this recipe. I saw that a few people mentioned the veganese option instead of mayo. I wondered if you had tried it and if the consistency was the same as regular mayo. I don’t have a problem with regular mayo. I just happen to like the taste of veganese better….believe it or not. I guess I’ll be the first to post a review with the veganese.
Thanks.
Thanks Anne! I have not tried it with the vegan mayo, but would love to know how it turns out. I’m looking forward to hearing about it. Enjoy! 🙂
Oh, it was absolutely delicious! The veganese works 🙂 I didn’t have enough potatoes for the recipe so I just eyeballed the amounts proportionately. This is going to become a regular staple in my diet now. Maybe I could try this recipe in a Shepard’s pie? Also, for those of you who are vegan, you could probably substitute the chicken broth for vegetable broth and then use veganese instead of mayo. voila!
That’s great to hear, Anne! I’m so happy it turned out with the vegan mayo and that you enjoyed it so much! Shepard’s pie sounds amazing; let me know if you make it with these. 🙂 Thanks so much for letting me know how it worked out; it makes me so happy! 🙂
Hi, I was wondering if you have tried making this in advance and heating it in the oven? I previously made a recipe with cream cheese or sour cream but that was before dairy issues. Looking to try yours but would love to make it thanksgiving morning and heat up again for dinner.
Hi Donna! Yes, we actually did that last Thanksgiving. After making them, we put them in a casserole dish and just gave them a stir before heating in the oven. We also covered them and stirred again during re-heating so that they would heat evenly. Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
My 8 year old daughter has to be dairy free for 30 days to see if dairy is causing her stomach issues. She was so sad during Thanksgiving that she could not have the mashed potatoes. Now that we are back home, i was able to make your recipe tonight. They were great! My daughter loved them! Thank you!
That’s wonderful, Jennifer! I’m so glad she loved them! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂 I hope she feels better!
I just made these vegan, with soy free vegan mayo, and vegetable broth. They are SO good. The mayo makes it silky, and the hand mixer gives then such a fluffy texture. Never thought to combine the stock with mayo in a recipe, but it worked out deliciously! Thank you for sharing.
Hi Kelli! I have been wondering how they would come out with the vegan mayo and vegetable broth. I am so glad you tried them this way and they turned out well! 🙂 That’s so awesome! So happy you enjoyed them and thanks for stopping by to let us know. Happy Holidays!
Wow! I’ve made these half a dozen times now. They turn out sooooo good! Dare I say they are even better than my mom’s butter and milk laden mashed potatoes? Because they totally are. I’d gladly take these over the traditional recipe any day. Bonus that all my dairy free kids love them, too!
My new favorite potatoes, hands down.
Thanks Amanda! I’m so happy you and your family love these potatoes! 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you for this recipe! I am trying a casein-free diet and didn’t know there was a good substitute. I just made these, and they are delicious! I think these actually are better than traditional dairy mashed potatoes!
Hi Jenny! I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Thank you so much! 🙂 Good luck with your diet!
I love these potatoes! I was already making potatoes with gluten free broth but the mayo made the potatoes so creamy that you don’t miss the diary at all. My sister is a extremely picky eater and loved the potatoes I made following your recipe. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.
Thank you so much Mel! I am so glad you and your family enjoyed them! Hope you have a wonderful day! 🙂
Would it be possible to make these in a crockpot?
Hi Cheyanne! I have never tried making them in a crockpot, but if I were going to, I’d add everything to the crockpot except the mayo and parsley. Then after you mash them, I’d stir in the mayo and parsley. Please let me know if you try it and how it turns out; I’m curious to know! Have a great day! 🙂
I tried the vegan version for Thanksgiving and it was such a hit with even my non-vegan relatives! I just substituted with vegetable broth and a vegan mayo.
So happy to hear that, Eva! Glad everyone enjoyed them! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂