These crockpot mashed potatoes are unbelievably creamy and buttery, made with Russet potatoes cooked right in the slow cooker with chicken broth, then mashed with warm cream, butter and cream cheese. They’re ready in about 5 hours and give you rich, fluffy mashed potatoes without taking up valuable stovetop space.

That alone makes them a lifesaver for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Get the potatoes going early, let the crockpot do its thing, then mash everything right in the slow cooker and keep them warm until dinner is ready.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Russet Potatoes: Their high starch content makes wonderfully light, fluffy mashed potatoes.
• Kosher Salt: Seasons the potatoes from the beginning and brings out their flavor.
• Butter: Added while cooking and again while mashing for rich, buttery flavor.
• Chicken Broth: The potatoes cook right in the broth instead of water, adding savory flavor from the very beginning.
• Cream: Warm it before adding so the potatoes stay hot and absorb it easily. Half-and-half or milk also works.
• Cream Cheese: Our secret for extra-rich, creamy potatoes that hold their texture beautifully.
• Salt and Pepper: Add to taste at the end so you can get the seasoning just right.

Best Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes

Russet potatoes are our favorite for crockpot mashed potatoes. They’re high in starch and naturally fluffy, so they break down easily and absorb all that butter and cream beautifully.

Yukon Gold potatoes also work and will give you a slightly denser, naturally buttery and creamy mashed potato. You can even use a combination of Russets and Yukon Golds if you want the best of both worlds.

How to Make Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

The best part? There’s no big pot of water to boil or babysit on the stove. The potatoes cook right in

If you’ve ever wondered how restaurants get their roast chicken so juicy and full of flavor, the secret is simple — it’s all in the brine! This brined Roasted Chicken and Potatoes is one of those meals that makes you slow down and savor every bite.

The kids voted this was the best chicken and potatoes I’ve ever made and it was one pan and so dang easy.

The overnight brine infuses the meat with moisture and a subtle, herby flavor, while the garlic butter under the skin keeps every bite tender and golden. Add in roasted Yukon Gold potatoes that crisp up in the chicken drippings, and you’ve got a family dinner that is pure comfort food — with hardly any effort.

Why Brining Makes the Juiciest Chicken

The short answer is science! First, the salt in the brine breaks down the tight protein strands in chicken (or any poultry) which makes the structure more open to holding liquid molecules so it can retain more moisture.

When the chicken is submerged in the brine, the chicken soaks up the brine making it more juicy and more flavorful. The additional flavor in the brine like the lemon, fresh herbs and garlic all soak into the chicken so it’s flavored from the inside out!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Brine

• Water: The base that helps distribute the salt and flavors evenly.
• Kosher Salt: Draws moisture in and out of the chicken, resulting in juicy, seasoned meat.
• Honey: Adds a subtle sweetness and helps with browning during roasting.
• Peppercorns: Infuse mild spice and depth into the brine.
• Lemons: Brighten the flavor and help tenderize the meat.
• Bay Leaves: Add an earthy, aromatic note.
• Parsley & Thyme: Fresh herbs that lend light, savory flavor.
• Garlic: Deepens the flavor and complements the herbs beautifully.

For the Chicken

• Whole Chicken: The star of the recipe — roasting the entire bird keeps it juicy, flavorful, and beautifully golden while naturally basting the potatoes as it roasts.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances flavor, draws out moisture for crisp skin, and seasons both the chicken and potatoes evenly.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps the skin turn golden and crispy while keeping the meat tender and moist.
• Garlic: Brings depth and savory aroma to the butter mixture and infuses flavor into the chicken and potatoes.
• Fresh Thyme: Adds bright, earthy notes that complement the chicken’s richness and balance the buttery flavor.
• Lemon: Infuses the meat with a fresh citrus aroma, helps tenderize the chicken, and