Creamy French Onion Mashed Potatoes (Make-Ahead Friendly!)
Oct 30, 2026
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French onion mashed potatoes whipped with butter and cream, then swirled with ribbons of golden onions. It’s the perfect make-ahead side with fresh, creamy texture even after storing and reheating. Great for entertaining at holiday and family dinners all year long.
Mashed potatoes are one of our family’s favorite sides for holidays and Sunday dinners. The creamy, soft texture is comforting, and it soaks up the rich juices from hearty meats and gravy.
But this year, we leveled up our mashed potato game with French onion mashed potatoes.
This post is sponsored by Wada Farms.
You’ll mash, then whip the potatoes with lots of butter and cream, then fold in the Gruyère cheese for an extra fluffy, smooth texture. Finish it off with swirls of rich, savory golden onions layered in — no extra juices or sauces needed!
If your kids love potatoes as much as ours, they’ll be asking for this French onion mashed potatoes recipe on repeat. And if you’re looking for more ways to serve potatoes, be sure to check out some of our favorite potato recipes at the end.
Related: French Onion Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
We always try to use ingredients that are affordable, accessible, and most importantly… our kids actually want to eat. You’ll find most of your ingredients for this mashed potato recipe in the produce and dairy sections at your local grocery store. Be sure to bring your kids with you so they can help you find each ingredient!
Wada Farms Potatoes
Okay, maybe potatoes were kind of a given for this French onion mashed potato recipe. But the type of potatoes helps you get the creamiest consistency. Look for Wada Farms russet potatoes that are medium to large in size (great for feeding a crowd), slightly flat and oval in shape, and brown in color.
Russet potatoes are high in starch with very low moisture. That means that as they boil, the starches break down into that fluffy, cloudlike texture we’re after. Plus, they’re easier to mash, and they soak up the cream, butter, and cheese like a sponge.
Related: How to Store Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
Yellow Onions
Now, let’s talk about the onions. There are three types of onions: red, yellow, and white. Be sure to grab 4 large yellow onions. Although spicy and pungent when raw, when yellow onions cook low and slow, they develop a rich, savory-sweet flavor just like French onion soup. Yellow onions are also available all year, so you can always enjoy your French onion mashed potatoes.
Dairy
The key to creamy mashed potatoes is dairy. You’ll need butter, heavy whipping cream, and Gruyère cheese when mashing your potatoes to get that oh-so-comforting, silky smooth texture just like Grandma used to make. Plus, it’s the secret to just-made creaminess after storing and reheating. Don’t skip these!
How to Make the Creamiest French Onion Mashed Potatoes
So, we’ve got the necessary ingredients for creamy mashed potatoes. Now, it’s all about how we prepare them. Follow these steps below for a silky smooth mashed potato texture with French onion soup-inspired swirls of golden onions.
Step 1: Prep the onions and potatoes.
Cut the onions: Use a large knife to cut the onion in half. Remove the dry outer layers and lay each half, flat side down, on the cutting board. Cut from end to end to make thin onion slices and set aside in a bowl.
Related: How To Cut Onions
Cut the potatoes: Wash the potatoes under cold running water to remove dirt from the skin. Use a peeler to remove the skin on all of the potatoes. Then, use the large knife to cut the potatoes into halves or quarters. We like to use quarters so the potatoes cook quicker, but if you prefer less chopping, halves work as well.
Related: How to Select, Store, and Serve Potatoes
Step 2: Cook the onions until golden.
Heat the olive oil and butter over medium-low heat in a large skillet. When the butter is melted, add the sliced onions and cook for about 10 minutes (longer for potato halves), stirring often. Then add the fresh thyme, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce, and increase the heat to medium. Cook the onions until all of the liquid is absorbed, for an additional 5-10 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
Step 3: Boil, mash, and mix the potatoes.
Boil: Bring the salted water and potatoes to a boil in a 6-8 quart pot over high heat. Then, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes, until fork-tender. While the potatoes boil, heat the butter and cream in a small saucepan until warm.
Mash: When the potatoes are done boiling, drain them over a strainer, and put the potatoes back in the pot. Use a potato masher to smash the potatoes as best as you can. Mash half of the warm butter and cream mixture with 1 teaspoon of salt into the potatoes.
Now, use a hand mixer on low speed to whip the potatoes for a minute or two, just until combined. Be careful not to overmix to avoid a gummy and sticky texture.
Step 4: Fold in the dairy and golden onions.
Use a spatula to fold in the rest of the butter and cream mixture, the Gruyère cheese, and half of the golden onions. Add each ingredient separately so the butter and cream mix and the cheese melts. Taste and add salt if needed. Evenly spread the remaining golden onions on top, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve!
Why We Love Wada Farms
As a family-owned produce brand, Wada Farms is motivated by their kids and grandkids to grow high-quality, fresh, and safe-to-eat produce for you and your family. Their rigorous food safety procedures are just one of the reasons they’ve been successfully growing potatoes and onions for over 80 years.
From triple washing and testing for pesticides to tracing your potatoes back to the farm where they were grown, we trust Wada Farms when it comes to feeding our family. Look for their potatoes and onions in the produce aisle for your French onion mashed potatoes at your next family dinner.
More Potato Recipes for Entertaining
- Cheesy Potatoes – 6 ingredients, ready in 20 minutes
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole – cheesy, creamy, and topped with bacon
- Funeral Potatoes – topped with crushed corn flakes
- Mashed Potatoes – if you want something classic and familiar
- Sweet Potato Casserole – who said we can only eat it at Thanksgiving?
French Onion Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- hand mixer
Ingredients
Golden Onions
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 3 yellow onions, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup beef broth
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Mashed Potatoes
- 5 pounds Wada Farms russet potatoes, washed and peeled
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 8 ounces Gruyère cheese, freshly grated
- 1-2 teaspoons salt
- 1-2 teaspoons pepper
- Garnish with chopped parsley
Instructions
Golden Onions
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the thyme, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce, increase the heat to medium, and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 5-10 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
Mashed Potatoes
- Cut the potatoes in halves or quarters and add to an 8-quart pot of salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until fork-tender, about 20 minutes.
- While the potatoes are boiling, heat the butter and cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until warmed through.
- Drain the potatoes and put them back in the pot. Use a potato masher to break down the potatoes. Mash in half of the butter and cream mixture with 1 teaspoon of salt. Then, use a hand mixer on low speed for 1-2 minutes.
- Fold in the rest of the heavy cream and butter mixture. Slowly fold in the Gruyère cheese. Fold in half of the golden onions. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Top with the remaining golden onions and chopped parsley and serve!
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
