Here's what to serve with mashed potatoes so you can make a tasty and well-rounded meal out of everyone's favorite side dish! Just pick a delicious entrée from my list of favorites for family dinners! It includes a variety of main dishes that will go perfectly with a side of mashed potatoes!
Best Main Courses To Serve With Mashed Potatoes
Everyone enjoys mashed potatoes! They are served on regular weeknights and holiday gatherings alike because they are simple to prepare and so versatile.
There are numerous methods and variations for making mashed potatoes. You can go with something simple, like classic mashed potatoes, or you can load it up with toppings and seasonings, whichever you prefer!
Jump to:
- Best Main Courses To Serve With Mashed Potatoes
- 1. Meatloaf With Oatmeal
- 2. Balsamic Pork Chops
- 3. Filet Mignon
- 4. Roasted Chicken
- 5. Fried Chicken
- 6. Meatballs
- 7. Chicken Thighs
- 8. Salisbury Steak
- 9. Crockpot Pork Chops
- 10. Chicken and Gravy
- 11. Beef Bourguignon
- 12. Beef Stroganoff
- 13. Crockpot Cube Steak
- 14. Grilled Lamb Chops
- 15. Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast
- 16. Crescent Dogs
- 17. Guinness Lamb Stew
- 18. Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- 19. Ranch Pork Chops
- 20. Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
- 21. Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs
- 22. Slow Cooker Brisket
- 23. Roast Capon
- 24. Bangers and Mash
- 25. Sous Vide Lamb Chops
- Tips For Choosing The Best Foods To Eat With Mashed Potatoes
- 🥔 😋 🍽️ Mashed Potato Recipes To Try
- 📖 Recipe Card
- What To Serve With Mashed Potatoes: Perfect Pan Seared Ribeye Steak (+More Great Recipes!)
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
With so many different options, deciding what to serve with mashed potatoes can be difficult. Well, you're in luck because we've put together a list of my favorite main courses to serve with mashed potatoes!
For the richest and creamiest results, be sure to use the best potatoes and try adding an egg to your mashed potatoes! You can check out my pages on how to freeze mashed potatoes and how to reheat mashed potatoes to get the most out of your leftovers!
1. Meatloaf With Oatmeal
Meatloaf with oatmeal is a simple and quick recipe to put together. Quick-cooking rolled oats are used as a filler to keep the meatloaf moist and light.
When served with buttery mashed potatoes, meatloaf is a satisfying meal. Plus, it makes for great leftovers!
2. Balsamic Pork Chops
Brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and balsamic vinegar are simmered together to create a delicious tangy glaze for pork chops.
These balsamic pork chops pan-sear perfectly in a matter of minutes, making it a quick and easy dinner that is hearty and satisfying. You could make a delicious pork gravy to go with your mashed potatoes or simply allow the balsamic glaze to shine (and if it gets on the potatoes, no one will complain)!
3. Filet Mignon
Filet mignon may be an expensive cut of steak, but it's worth every penny. This extremely tender steak can be made almost buttery with very little effort.
Steak and mashed potatoes are a delicious match made in heaven. Get a perfect golden-brown sear on the outside, and you’ll have an elegant and savory main course!
4. Roasted Chicken
A simple roasted chicken is one of the best comfort foods. Roasting a chicken is a simple process that requires only a few simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep time.
Serve it up with some rich and creamy mashed potatoes, you've got yourself a wonderful meal!
5. Fried Chicken
There's nothing quite like a juicy, crusty piece of fried chicken to satisfy your comfort food cravings. It may appear difficult to fry your own chicken, but that is not the case!
Make fried chicken even easier by “oven-frying it” or baking it until the crust is golden and crispy! Serve it with some mashed potatoes for an absolutely delectable meal.
6. Meatballs
Aside from being delicious, meatballs can be used in a variety of ways. Meatballs are more than a topping for spaghetti!
Of all the different ways to serve meatballs, they are particularly delicious when served with mashed potatoes. Even frozen meatballs cooked in the crockpot will taste homemade when served with some good-quality mashed potatoes!
7. Chicken Thighs
There are numerous uses for chicken thighs, and they're a great source of protein. Compared to chicken breasts, these tend to be less expensive and more flavorful.
There are so many ways to cook chicken thighs, but my favorite has to be in the Instant Pot. The best part is that tender, juicy chicken thighs are right at home next to a heaping mound of mashed potatoes.
8. Salisbury Steak
Salisbury steak is one of the most classic dinner dishes out there. When you serve this mouthwatering dish, you can be sure there will be no food leftover!
Salisbury steak can be made even easier by cooking it in the crockpot. It cooks in its own delicious mushroom brown gravy that will go perfectly over some mashed potatoes!
9. Crockpot Pork Chops
Smothered in a rich, velvety gravy, these slow cooker pork chops are an easy and delicious weeknight meal. Using your crockpot, you can cook pork chops for a hearty, comforting, and budget-friendly meal that the whole family will enjoy.
In addition to the pork chops, the gravy can be served on the mashed potatoes- making it an easy, throw-together meal!
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10. Chicken and Gravy
It's a classic comfort food dish that features shredded chicken breasts slathered in gravy. It only requires 3 basic ingredients, and you can set it and forget it in the crock pot!
Chicken and gravy pairs well with a variety of dishes, particularly mashed potatoes! At our house, we put the potatoes in a bowl and served the chicken and gravy right on top.
11. Beef Bourguignon
Beef bourguignon is a delightfully comforting dish because of the tender, fall-apart chunks of beef cooked in red wine. There's a reason it's a beloved classic around the world.
This dish can be prepared in a variety of ways, including the oven, stove top, slow cooker (my personal favorite), and instant pot. This stew has no shortage of flavor and is often served on a bed of mashed potatoes.
12. Beef Stroganoff
There are many variations of Beef Stroganoff or Beef Stroganov, but my easy beef stroganoff with ground beef can be made in half the time! The stroganoff sauce acts like a rich, creamy gravy that improves anything it’s served with.
Even though it has its roots in Russia, this dish has spread around the world and grown in popularity. It's a great dish to serve with mashed potatoes if you like mushrooms!
13. Crockpot Cube Steak
Crockpot cube steak with gravy is incredibly tender, and the gravy is bursting with flavor. Add a side of mashed potatoes to round out the meal!
Because cubed steak is a tough cut of meat, it is ideal for slow cooking. Also, this dish is easy to put together, requiring only cubed steak, an onion, and a few staples from your pantry.
14. Grilled Lamb Chops
The marinating and grilling time for these grilled lamb loin chops may be long, but the results are worth it! If you’ve never tried lamb chops, now is your chance!
Lamb chops are a special treat. They are extremely juicy and flavorful, and they pair well with most steakhouse sides, including mashed potatoes!
15. Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast
Pork loin roast topped with some butter and herbs and cooked to tender and succulent perfection. It's incredible that a pork roast can be so flavorful when cooked so quickly!
Roasting a pork loin in the Instant Pot is such a game-changer! Serve it up with a veggie and some mashed potatoes, and you have yourself a perfect dinner.
16. Crescent Dogs
Sure, you could serve regular hot dogs, but these crescent roll-wrapped hot dogs are so much more fun! The hot dogs are stuffed with cheese (and pickles if you like) before being wrapped up in canned crescent rolls and baked to fluffy golden perfection!
17. Guinness Lamb Stew
This rich and hearty Irish lamb stew features a broth made with stout beer and plenty of tender lamb meat and veggies. It's best served over a mound of colcannon, or better yet, mashed potatoes!
18. Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Chicken in any form pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, and these juicy stuffed chicken breasts are no exception! The filling is a combination of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, spinach, and crispy bacon that melts in the oven as it bakes.
19. Ranch Pork Chops
For an easy family dinner, whip up a few of these flavorful ranch-seasoned pork chops and a side of mashed potatoes! They're ready to eat in just 30 minutes and taste amazing with or without gravy!
20. Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
Slow cooker ranch chicken is a creamy mixture of chicken, cheese, and ranch seasoning that can be served right on top of mashed potatoes. You only need 5 ingredients and a crockpot, and the results are delicious!
21. Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are technically dark meat, which means they are fattier and, as a result, even more flavorful! The meat stays juicy and succulent even after baking, which pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes.
22. Slow Cooker Brisket
When I first discovered you could make a perfectly cooked brisket in the crockpot, I couldn't wait to try it out! This recipe doesn't disappoint. The meat is ultra tender and juicy and has all the flavor you could ask for from a brisket.
23. Roast Capon
A capon is a bird that is similar to chicken but with a richer and slightly sweeter flavor. Also, like chicken, it tastes absolutely wonderful with a side of mashed potatoes!
24. Bangers and Mash
If you're craving mashed potatoes, bangers and mash are always a great choice! Juicy pork sausages, brown onion gravy, a pile of mashed potatoes, and some green peas make for a picture-perfect dinner.
25. Sous Vide Lamb Chops
You could pair your mashed potatoes with grilled lamb chops or pan-seared lamb chops, but nothing compares to the tenderness of sous vide lamb chops! If you don't have a sous vide machine, you can make them right in your Instant Pot!
Tips For Choosing The Best Foods To Eat With Mashed Potatoes
When it comes to choosing the best recipe to serve with mashed potatoes, there are a few things to keep in mind. Following these suggestions is a guaranteed way to pull off a delicious dinner!
- Consider the main dish: Lighter main courses do well with a heavier side, such as mashed potatoes. If you want to serve a heavier main course like pasta or casserole, mashed potatoes may not be the best option.
- Think about textures: Typically, mashed potatoes are pretty smooth and creamy. Try adding different varieties of texture to the plate by incorporating some crunch! Crispy bacon or a crunchy breadcrumb coating is a great way to add some contrast.
- Keep it balanced: Mashed potatoes tend to have a mild or neutral flavor, so it's a great idea to add something that has a bit of acidity or tanginess, like veggies with a splash of lemon.
- Complement with sauces or gravies: Cream gravy is a classic choice when it comes to mashed potatoes, as is brown (beef) gravy. Those aren't your only options, though! There's chicken gravy, mushroom gravy, lamb gravy, pork gravy, turkey gravy, and many more sauces and gravies you can try!
I'd love to hear what you decide to make! Tell ma all about the dishes you serve with mashed potatoes by leaving a comment below!
🥔 😋 🍽️ Mashed Potato Recipes To Try
- Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes - Adding cream cheese to mashed potatoes makes for the most velvety smooth potatoes you'll ever try!
- Bacon Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes - Take your cream cheese mashed potatoes one step further and add some crispy bacon to the mix!
- Yellow Mashed Potatoes - A classic Southern recipe for buttery mashed potatoes made with yellow potatoes!
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes - You can make perfect mashed potatoes with ease using your Instant Pot!
- Red Skin Mashed Potatoes - If you enjoy bits of potato skin in your potatoes, these mashed red potatoes will hit the spot!
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes - Roasted garlic adds an entirely new depth of flavor to mashed potatoes!
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📖 Recipe Card
What To Serve With Mashed Potatoes: Perfect Pan Seared Ribeye Steak (+More Great Recipes!)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 8 oz ribeye steak
- ½ tablespoon steak seasoning (see recipe, or use your favorite brand)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 whole garlic cloves (optional, peeled and left whole)
- fresh herbs (optional, rosemary and thyme are my first choice)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Bring a medium to large skillet or frying pan to medium high heat, making sure that it is really HOT before you place your steak(s) in the pan.
- Coat both sides of your 8 oz ribeye steak with 1 tablespoon olive oil, spreading the oil to evenly cover both surfaces and edges. Season the side facing up with my ½ tablespoon steak seasoning, using your finger tips to press the seasoning in to set it firmly on the steak (do not rub it onto the steak as the seasoning can be more heavily concentrated in areas if done this way). Season the fatty sides for extra flavor!
- Place the steak in the pan, seasoned side down and then season the side of the steak that is facing upward. Do not move the steak until you are ready to flip it over to cook the other side. If your steak is about 1" thick, cook the first side for 3-4 minutes, if it is 1 ½" thick let it cook for about 5 minutes (for medium rare).
- Turn the steak and cook for the same amount of time, depending on the steak thickness (3-4 minutes for 1" thick steak, or 5 minutes for a 1 ½" thick steak). The fat should all be rendered from the steak when done, and the internal temperature should be about 135°F (57°C).
- Place the 1 tablespoon butter, 2 whole garlic cloves, and fresh herbs into the pan once you have turned your steak(s), let it melt, then spoon over the cooked side of your steak (butter basting or 'arroser') while you finish cooking.
- Remove the cooked steak from the frying pan or skillet and tent a square of aluminum foil over it, allowing the steak to rest for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- I do recommend cast iron pans for cooking a pan seared steak. The cast iron caramelizes the steaks better, and results in a better flavor. However, that is a personal preference so any medium to large skillet or frying pan will work.
- If you are cooking more than one ribeye steak at a time, it is important not to crowd your frying pan or skillet. If you need to, use multiple pans or cook your steaks in batches.
- Don't skip the resting time! This keeps the juices from running all over your plate.
Kevin White says
Great ideas here, so totally unique recipes and flavor combos to try! The stroganoff and chicken and gravy I tried both over my mashed potatoes, yummy!!! Wow was really happy with it, thank you so much! Kev