Spinach Mashed Potatoes – Creamy, Flavorful, and Comforting
Mashed potatoes are a comfort food classic, but add spinach and suddenly you’ve got a side dish that feels fresh, hearty, and just a little bit elevated. These Spinach Mashed Potatoes are buttery, garlicky, and creamy with just the right amount of tender spinach stirred in. It’s a simple twist on traditional mashed potatoes that doesn’t take much extra effort but makes your table look (and taste!) fabulous.
This dish pairs beautifully with chicken, beef, or pork — really, anything you’re serving as the main entrée. And if you’re like me, you’ll love that it’s also a sneaky way to add more greens to the meal without sacrificing that rich, cozy potato flavor everyone craves.
Ingredients
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2 lbs Potatoes
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¾ cup Milk (1% or your choice)
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½ cup Butter, salted
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2 cloves Garlic, minced
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¼ tsp Marjoram (optional)
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¼ tsp Parsley flakes (optional)
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Salt & pepper, to taste
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2 cups Raw fresh spinach
Instructions
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Cook the Potatoes – Peel, cook, and mash the potatoes. Set aside.
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Prep the Spinach – While the potatoes are cooking, tear or cut spinach into smaller pieces.
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Make the Milk Mixture – In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with garlic and herbs. Cook until the garlic softens and the flavors are fragrant.
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Add Milk & Spinach – Stir in the milk and heat gently (no need to boil). Once warmed, toss in the spinach and stir until just wilted.
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Combine Everything – Stir the milk mixture into the mashed potatoes until smooth. Add a splash more milk if you like a creamier texture.
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Serve & Enjoy – Spoon into a serving bowl and serve warm alongside your favorite entrée.
Additional Tips
💡 Use up leftovers – This recipe works beautifully with leftover mashed potatoes. Instead of letting them go to waste, stir them into the garlicky milk mixture and you’ve got a brand-new side dish in minutes.
🧀 Make it extra special – Want to dress things up? Spread the spinach mashed potatoes into an 8×8 baking pan, mix in a cheese of your choice, then top with more cheese and crispy bacon bits. Bake until bubbly and golden for a side that feels a little “fancy” without extra fuss.
🥔 Skip peeling with a potato ricer – My favorite tool for mashed potatoes is a potato ricer. I bake or microwave the potatoes whole, slice them in half, and press each half through the ricer flesh-side down. The peel stays behind, and you get perfectly smooth potatoes without peeling a single one. Want to see it step by step? Check out my guide: How to Make Mashed Potatoes without Peeling a Single Potato!.
🥬 Spinach storage hack – I often buy fresh spinach instead of lettuce for salads, sandwiches, eggs, and burgers because it lasts longer. And when it’s about to turn, I freeze it! Just pick out any bad leaves, toss the good ones into a resealable bag, and pop it in the freezer. Once frozen, crush the bag with your hands — the leaves break into small pieces you can sprinkle right into recipes like this one, or even into pastas and casseroles.
More Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoy this Spinach Mashed Potatoes recipe, you’ll love these other comforting sides and potato dishes from Joyful Little Things:
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🥔 Crispy Air Fryer Potato Bites with Just 5 Ingredients – golden, crispy potato bites that are quick and easy.
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🥓 Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes – another fun spin on mashed potatoes, cheesy and hearty.
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🧀 Easy Au Gratin Potatoes – tender, layered potatoes baked in a creamy cheese sauce.
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🥕 Quick and Simple Oven Roasted Potatoes and Carrots – a colorful, roasted veggie side.
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🌿 Creamy Spinach Orzo Pasta – another delicious way to enjoy spinach in a comforting dish.
Final Thoughts
These Spinach Mashed Potatoes are cozy, creamy, and full of flavor — the kind of side dish that makes a meal feel special without making you spend all night in the kitchen. With a few easy twists, you can keep them simple, dress them up, or even give leftovers a brand-new life.
Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner or a holiday gathering, this dish is one you’ll want to come back to again and again.
If you loved this recipe, be sure to share it on Pinterest – Joyful Little Things or Facebook – Joyful Little Things, and don’t forget to follow along for more delicious, family-friendly recipes!
Spinach Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- 1 Sauce pan
- 1 Spoon
- 1 Potatoe masher, mixer, or potato ricer
- 1 Serving bowl
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Potatoes
- ¾ cup Milk 1% or your choice
- ½ cup Butter, salted
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- ¼ tsp Marjoram, optional
- ¼ tsp Parsley flakes, optional
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 cups Raw fresh spinach
Instructions
- Peel, cook, and mash the potatoes.
- While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the other ingredients. Tear or cut the spinach into smaller pieces.
- In a saucepan over medium heat add the butter, garlic and herbs. Cook until the butter is melted, and the garlic is softened. This will release the flavors of the garlic and herbs.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add in the milk. Stir. Stir regularly to prevent scorching. Heat until the milk mixture is heated. It does not need to boil. Just be heated up. Once the milk mixture is heated add the spinach. Stir again until the spinach is wilted.
- Remove from heat. Add in the mashed potatoes. Stir until it is all mixed. You may want to add addition al milk if you want thinner mashed potatoes.
- Put into your serving bowl and serve.
