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Top 10 Ideas For What To Serve with Mashed Potatoes (Meats, Mains, Sides)

By: Author Jessica Ashcroft

Posted on  - Last updated:

Wondering what to serve with mashed potatoes? Here are the top 10 meats, mains, and sides, plus several other ideas and recipes you’ll love!

Nothing’s better than a large pot of creamy mashed potatoes for a special occasion like Thanksgiving dinner or even a weeknight family dinner.

It’s a classic comfort food and a popular side dish that both kids and adults love.

But, sometimes it’s hard to decide what to serve with mashed potatoes to complete your meal.

They’re incredibly versatile so there are plenty of great options.

We’re sharing the top 10 sides to create an easy dinner or hearty meal, plus several other ideas, including classic holiday dishes and recipes you’ll love!

Table Of Contents
  1. Mashed Potatoes 101
  2. What To Serve With Mashed Potatoes
  3. What To Do with Leftover Mashed Potatoes
  4. FAQs
  5. More Like This

Mashed Potatoes 101

A large bowl of buttery mashed potatoes with green garnish on top sitting on wood table.

As mentioned above, mashed potatoes are a popular side dish and they’re very versatile.

There are lots of different ways to prepare them.

You can make them on the stovetop in about 20 minutes or use your slow cooker over several hours.

You can make them fluffy, buttery, and creamy or loaded with toppings like bacon, green, onion, and sour cream.

And, there are multiple types of potatoes you can use. Here are the most common varieties:

  • Yukon gold potatoes
  • Russet potatoes
  • Red potatoes

And here are some of the most popular ingredients used to make or top mashed potatoes:

  • Parmesan cheese
  • Black pepper
  • Heavy cream
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Herb butter
  • Fresh herbs

What To Serve With Mashed Potatoes

Below, are 10 of the most popular foods to serve with mashed potatoes. These classic pairings never disappoint.

And they’re the perfect complement to the soft and pillowy potatoes.

Our Top 10

  1. Meatloaf
  2. Beef Roast
  3. Ham
  4. Turkey
  5. Green Beans
  6. Roasted or Steamed Carrots
  7. Dinner Rolls
  8. Green Salad
  9. Broccoli Salad
  10. Corn

Other Popular Meats, Mains, Sides, and Recipes

Here are several more yummy meats, mains, and sides to help you build the perfect dinner for any occasion plus our favorite recipes for the top pairings!

Meats

Italian ground turkey patties with vegtables provencal on large white platter, kitchen towel nearby.
Brown sugar glazed salmon on a rectangular white serving platter with kitchen towel.
Cream of mushroom meatloaf with gravy and sides on a wood plate.
Close up of Crock Pot roast with carrots, potatoes, and gravy on wood plate.
Three pieces of balsamic bruschetta chicken on white platter with basil garnish.
Beef

Beef recipes like roast beef and meatloaf with ground beef are a classic combination with creamy potatoes. And you can’t go wrong with a good steak recipe.

Below are several yummy beef dishes we know you’ll love!

Pork Chops, Pork Roast, Pork Ribs, or Pork Loin

If you’re not in the mood for beef, pork is a great way to go. You can use almost any cut of pork and several preparation methods to create the perfect meat dish to go with mashed potatoes.

Here are some of our favorite ideas:

Salmon

Salmon is a healthy and hearty fish that pairs well with mashed potatoes. It’s flaky, meaty, and a great vessel for flavor.

Try one of these salmon preparations for your next mashed potato dinner:

Baked or Fried Chicken Breast and Thighs

Chicken is one of the most popular proteins, and it’s just as versatile as mashed potatoes. You can enjoy it baked, fried, and roasted.

And you can make it as healthy or decadent as you’d like.

Give one of these yummy chicken dishes a try:

Turkey Breast

Turkey is a classic dish for Thanksgiving. And it’s also one of the most popular meat parings for mashed potatoes.

You can enjoy it baked, roasted, or fried.

And it’s one of the most healthy meats on this list.

Sausage

If you’ve visited or are from the UK, you’ve likely tried sausage and gravy or “bangers and mash”.

It’s a popular pub dish that’s easy to recreate at home.

You can also try other sausage dishes like:

  • Sausage and peppers
  • Kielbasa and cabbage
  • Grilled brats
Ham

Ham is another classic meat to serve with mashed potatoes. It’s a great Christmas dish. But, you can also serve mashed potatoes with diced ham or other preparations like:

  • Ham steak
  • Country ham
  • Ham hocks
Lamb

If you want a more unique or impressive dish to serve with mashed potatoes, try lamb.

You can make:

  • Lamb chops
  • Rack of lamb
  • Roast leg of lamb
  • Lamb roast

Main Course

Creamy chicken pillow cut in half on blue plate with mashed potatoes and gold fork.
Swiss chicken casserole in baking dish with blue and white kitchen towel.
Large white platter of balsamic chicken skillet with green beans and tomatoes.
Chicken and broccoli casserole with mayo in a casserole dish next to bowl of rice.

Here are some of our favorite main course recipes to serve with mashed potatoes. They’re each comforting, flavorful, and easy to make.

Side Dishes

White platter with winter salad with pears, apples, pomegranates, and serving utensils on countertop.
Parmesan drop biscuits arranged on wood cutting board with greenery stem nearby.
Broccoli cauliflower salad with cranberries, sunflower seeds, and bacon in white bowl.
Small white baking dish with brown sugar cinnamon carrots and fresh parsley on top.
White baking dish with raspberry jello salad, marshmallow topping, and fresh raspberries.
Bread

Bread is another comfort food like mashed potatoes. So, naturally, they pair well together.

Here are some simple bread recipes to try:

Roasted, Sauteed, or Steamed Vegetables

Mashed potatoes also pair well with almost any vegetable in any form.

You’ll love these easy and delicious vegetable sides:

Salad

You can’t go wrong with a good salad recipe. Whether you prefer leafy greens, crunchy cabbage, or vegetable salads, they’re all great options to serve with mashed potatoes.

Try one of these yummy salads to complete your next meal:

Other Sides

And here are some other delicious sides this list wouldn’t be complete without.

What To Do with Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Large bowl filled with mashed potatoes next to three whole potatoes on table.

Now that we’ve listed the best foods to serve with mashed potatoes, here’s how to store and use your leftovers.

Shelf Life

How long are leftover mashed potatoes good for?

That depends on how well they’re stored!

The best way to store leftover mashed potatoes is in a shallow airtight container, towards the back of the refrigerator.

Or, for the freezer, use heavy-duty, freezer-safe bags.

Flatten them as much as possible to help them fit better on the shelf.

And ensure the potatoes cool to room temperature before putting them in the freezer. Otherwise, they may heat the foods around them.

Make sure you don’t leave mashed potatoes out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.

And only keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and in the freezer for no longer than 12 months.

Leftover Mashed Potato Recipes

There are several delicious ways to repurpose leftover mashed potatoes.

Here are some of our favorite ideas:

  • Refrigerator mashed potato rolls
  • Shepherd’s pie
  • Potato nuggets
  • Potato fritters
  • Savory mashed potato muffins
  • Mashed potato waffles
  • Potato soup
  • Pierogis
  • Mashed potato gnocchi

RELATED: Creamy Gnocchi with Tomatoes and Spinach

How To Know If Mashed Potatoes Are Bad

Always inspect your potatoes before reheating them!

Even if it hasn’t been the full 3-5 days, your potatoes may go bad. So, if the potatoes have an unpleasant smell or you notice a sour taste, stop eating them and throw them away.

You should also look out for other signs of spoilage like moldy patches, dry patches, or glossy-looking areas.

FAQs

Can you eat mashed potatoes as a meal?


Absolutely!

You can turn mashed potatoes into a meal by adding ingredients like bacon or ham, cheese, and vegetables like broccoli.

What meat goes with mashed potatoes and gravy?


Almost any meat goes well with mashed potatoes and gravy.

This includes:

– Beef
– Pork
– Chicken
– Turkey
– Lamb
– Fish, especially hearty fish like Salmon
– Sausage

Some of the most popular meat preparations for mashed potatoes and gravy are:

– Roast Beef
– Beef Wellington
– Meatloaf
– Turkey Breast
– Glazed Ham
– Steak
– Pork Chops

What vegetarian dishes can I serve with mashed potatoes?

– Roasted, sauteed, or steamed vegetables
– Green salad
– Rolls and bread
– Mushroom Stroganoff
– Chickpea patties
– Lentil burgers
– Rice loaf
– Bean and oat or rice meatballs
– Blackened tofu
– Tofu nuggets or tenders
– Seitan steak

More Like This

Pinterest graphic with text and collage of recipes to serve with mashed potatoes.