The easiest, most delicious dairy-free mashed potatoes! Russet potatoes blended with creamy vegan butter, garlic, & dairy-free milk. The BEST side dish for any occasion!

Whole30 mashed potatoes with vegan butter and chives in a white bowl

What Makes This Recipe Work

Ooey, gooey, creamy mashed potatoes chock full of butter, milk, and garlic are what Holiday dreams are made of. But you don’t have to sacrifice your diet (or how you feel after) to get all that creamy goodness!

Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite side dishes of all time. These creamy dairy-free mashed potatoes have all of the texture and flavor of traditional mashed potatoes without any of the butter or heavy cream! Instead, I use almond milk (or coconut), vegan butter (or ghee if you prefer), salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and top them with chives for a punch of flavor.

In fact, with this mashed potatoes without milk recipe, I bet you can’t even tell the difference! With a few easy (& healthy) swaps, these dairy-free mashed potatoes will delight your guests and go easy on their digestion!

Recipe Highlights

  • Simple ingredients
  • 20-minute recipe
  • Multiple cooking methods
  • A healthier spin on the classic dish without sacrificing any flavor!
  • Creamy, classic, and traditional mashed potatoes, without milk!
Mashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot with almond milk and vegan butter

Ingredient Notes

ingredients for dairy free mashed potatoes

Potatoes: You can use Russet, Yukon Gold, or white potatoes for this recipe.

Butter Alternative: If you are allergic to dairy or if you prefer to stay 100% vegan, you can use coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, or vegan butter like Miyokos or Kite Hill to make these mashed potatoes without milk, instead of using ghee. Ghee is clarified butter, where the dairy proteins and casein have been removed. My favorite ghee is 4th and Heart. Unfortunately, traces may remain, so if you are allergic to milk, definitely avoid ghee.

Milk Alternative: Mashed potatoes without milk are actually super easy! Simply use your favorite plant-based dairy-free milk alternative. My favorite coconut milk is Native Forest (I use full-fat). You can also use unsweetened almond milk if coconut milk isn’t your thing! You really can’t taste the coconut in this recipe though – just FYI. Make sure you mix up the coconut milk prior to measuring, as it separates in the can.

Recipe Step by Step

4 photos to show how to make dairy free mashed potatoes on the stove top

Stove Top

  1. Fill a large pot with water and add peeled potatoes. Bring potato pieces to a boil and cook until fork tender, about 12-14 minutes. Drain and return potatoes to the pot.
  2. Add remaining ingredients (minus the chives) to the pot and use an immersion blender to blend until creamy. Alternatively, you can use a potato masher – they will just be a little chunkier! Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with chives if desired. Enjoy!

Instant Pot

  1. Add Potato chunks to the Instant Pot. Add water to cover potatoes completely (about 4-5 cups).
  2. Lock the lid and turn the vent to “sealing”. Cook on manual high pressure for 8 minutes.
  3. Manually release the steam. Drain the potatoes then add them back into the pot.
  4. Add in the remaining ingredients and mash well using a potato masher. Make them even creamier by blending with an immersion blender after!
paleo gravy being poured on mashed potatoes with roasted turkey in the background

Mary’s Tips & Tricks

Consistency: If your mashed potatoes without milk are too thick, slowly add more dairy-free milk of choice until they reach the desired consistency!

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze mashed potatoes?

Yes. While I haven’t tested this myself, you can store leftovers in an airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or on the stove over medium heat for 5-7 minutes.

Are these mashed potatoes gluten free?

Yes! Using the ingredients I have listed here, these dairy-free mashed potatoes are gluten-free. Be sure to check all labels if you swap an ingredient.

Are these mashed potatoes without milk also Whole30?

Yes! The ingredients in the vegan butter listed above (as well as ghee) are Whole30-friendly. I bet your guests will have no idea these Whole30 mashed potatoes have no dairy!

How to make dairyfree mashed potatoes with chicken broth?

If you prefer to make your mashed potatoes without milk altogether, feel free to use chicken broth instead. They will still have a creamy texture from the vegan butter, with added flavor from the broth. Remember, if you are vegan, substitute vegetable broth instead.

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Creamy Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes

The easiest, most delicious dairy-free mashed potatoes! Russet potatoes blended with creamy vegan butter, garlic, & dairy-free milk. The BEST side dish for any occasion!
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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs russet or white potatoes, 4 large potatoes or 6 small, peeled and cut into fourths
  • ¼ cup ghee, sub vegan butter for 100% dairy free
  • cup dairy free milk of choice, coconut and unsweetened almond milk work great.
  • 1.5 tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • chives, for garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

Stove Top

  • Fill a large pot with water and add peeled potatoes. Bring potato pieces to a boil and cook until fork tender, about 12-14 minutes. Drain and return potatoes to the pot.
  • Add remaining ingredients (minus the chives) to the pot and use an immersion blender to blend until creamy. Alternatively, you can use a potato masher – they will just be a little chunkier! Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with chives if desired. Enjoy!

Instant Pot

  • Add Potato chunks to the Instant Pot. Add water to cover potatoes completely (about 4-5 cups).
  • Lock the lid and turn the vent to "sealing". Cook on manual high pressure for 8 minutes.
  • Manually release the steam. Drain the potatoes then add them back into the pot.
  • Add in the remaining ingredients and mash well using a potato masher. Make them even creamier by blending with an immersion blender after!

Notes

Consistency: If your dairy-free mashed potatoes are too thick, slowly add more dairy free milk of choice until they reach the desired consistency!
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 19mg, Sodium: 607mg, Potassium: 639mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 2IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 38mg, Iron: 1mg

This post was originally published on September 16, 2019, and updated with new photos and copy on August 31, 2022.