Healthy Mashed Potatoes with Greek Yogurt and Garlic {No Milk}

Classic mashed potatoes get a makeover with these healthier mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt! Made with plain Greek yogurt, roasted garlic, cream cheese and no milk, these fluffy potatoes are perfectly creamy and so flavorful! They make an easy and delicious side dish that can be served for a weeknight meal, Thanksgiving dinner, or any special occasion! {Gluten-free & vegetarian}

Greek yogurt mashed potatoes in a bowl with a spoon in it.

Greek Yogurt Mashed Potato Recipe – So Fluffy & Creamy!

Mashed potatoes are a must-have side dish, especially during the holiday season, but the most are usually doused with butter and heavy cream.

Fortunately, these healthy mashed potatoes are made with Greek yogurt and cream cheese, which give them a tangy, creamy, fluffy texture without a ton of extra saturated fat and calories. The roasted garlic takes them over the top, especially when topped with this Homemade Turkey Gravy Recipe Without Drippings!

For more healthy sides, be sure to try my Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Green Beans with Cranberries and Almonds.

Mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt and no milk in a large bowl topped with butter pats.

Why We Love These Greek Yogurt Mashed Potatoes

Formulated by a Registered Dietitian to be lower in saturated fat and better for your heart
Super simple recipe
Requires just a few basic ingredients
Ready in just over 30 minutes
Easy to make ahead of time
Tastes just like traditional mashed potatoes
Great for the holidays!
Luxuriously fluffy, creamy texture
Contains added protein from the yogurt

Ingredient Notes

The ingredients required for the Greek yogurt mashed potatoes recipe.

Potatoes: I recommend using Yukon Gold potatoes for this recipe. They are naturally more creamy than Russet potatoes and have a bit of a buttery flavor.
Nonfat Greek yogurt: I typically use 0% plain Greek yogurt since it incorporates a nice creamy consistency and dose of protein. You can also sub in regular yogurt or Greek yogurt with a higher fat percentage, if desired.
Garlic: Roasted garlic adds an amazing flavor to the mash. You can roast it at the same time as the potatoes are cooking so there’s no added effort or time required!
Cream cheese: A bit of cream cheese adds some extra creaminess to these mashed potatoes. Use a lower fat cream cheese for fewer calories and less saturated fat.
Unsalted butter: You need a little butter to get that classic mashed potato taste, but much less is used than your traditional mashed potatoes to keep this recipe on the healthier side.
Parsley: I like to add in parsley for freshness and to incorporate extra flavor and color. Use other fresh herbs, like chives, dill or rosemary, if you prefer.

Instructions

A garlic head in a custard cup with oil on a counter.

A large pot with raw, cut potatoes and water.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place garlic head in a 6 oz custard cup or small baking dish and drizzle with oil. Bake, uncovered, until garlic is soft and fragrant, about 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the diced potatoes into a large saucepan. Add cold water to the pan until the potatoes are covered by at least an inch of water. Add some salt to the water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain potatoes.
Add Greek yogurt, cream cheese, butter, salt and pepper to cooked potatoes. Squeeze roasted garlic from cloves into potato mixture.
Mash potatoes using a potato masher until smooth and creamy, and thoroughly combined. You can also whip the potatoes briefly with a hand beater for a creamier consistency. Garnish with a sprinkle of parsley and additional black pepper if desired.

Scroll to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!

How Many Potatoes To Make Per Person?

A typical serving of mashed potatoes is about 1 cup per person or the equivalent of about 1/2 pound of potatoes. You can use the following guidelines to determine how many potatoes you’ll need to use when serving your mashed potatoes.

A lot of people like to pile on the potatoes so it’s always better to have extra just in case!

1 person = 0.5 pounds of potatoes = 1 medium sized potato
4 people = 2 pounds of potatoes = 4 medium sized potatoes
6 people = 3 pounds of potatoes = 6 medium sized potatoes
10 people = 5 pounds of potatoes = 10 medium sized potatoes

A large spoonful of mashed potatoes with yogurt over a large bowl sitting on a counter.

Tips for the Best Mashed Potatoes

Roasting garlic: To roast the garlic, keep the peel on and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. The garlic is done when it’s tender and fragrant. You can also do this step ahead of time to save on preparation time.

Rinse the potatoes before cooking: Rinsing the potatoes before boiling helps remove excess starch, thus making them more creamy and less gluey.

Make them uniform: Cut the potatoes in cubes that are uniform in size so that they finish cooking at the same time. The potatoes are ready to be mashed when they can be easily pierced with a fork.

Potato skin: You can peel the skin off or leave the skin on the potatoes if you prefer. If you choose to leave it on, the peel adds some additional dietary fiber!

If the potatoes seem too dry: Add a bit more Greek yogurt. You can also add some broth, milk or buttermilk to achieve desired consistency.

Do not over mash or whip the potatoes as this can lead to a glue-like consistency. If you choose to whip the potatoes with a handheld electric mixer, be sure to do it for only a few seconds on low speed to prevent over mixing.

Use broth: Feel free to cook the potatoes in vegetable or chicken broth for even more flavor.

Recipe FAQs

What type of potatoes are best for mashed potatoes?

The best potatoes for mashing are starchy and floury potatoes. I like to use Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, however white potatoes will also work well. When it comes to mashing, it’s generally best to avoid waxy potato varieties like fingerling and red potatoes if possible.

How long to boil potatoes for mashed potatoes?

Potatoes typically need to be simmered for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until they’re tender enough that you can easily poke through the potatoes with a fork.

Are mashed potatoes healthy?

Most mashed potatoes contain an abundance of butter, cream or sour cream, which doesn’t always make them the healthiest option. This mashed potato recipe has been lightened up by replacing the sour cream with Greek yogurt and using less overall butter for a more heart healthy option.

Additionally, potatoes are rich in vitamin C, B6 and potassium and the roasted garlic adds a dose of antioxidants for a nutrient-rich side dish.

How to Store

To refrigerate: This recipe makes a great make ahead dish! To store, allow the mashed potatoes to cool to room temperature and then place in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep well for up to four days.

To freeze: Pack the cooked and cooled mashed potatoes in a freezer safe bag or container and freeze for up to one month. Allow them to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes

You can reheat these mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt in a casserole dish at 300 degrees F for an hour covered with foil.

You can also warm them up over medium low heat on the stovetop. If your potatoes are stiff, you can stir in a couple of tablespoons of milk to loosen them up. Stir them frequently so that they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.

A birds-eye view of a large bowl of garlic and Greek yogurt mashed potatoes.

What to Eat With Mashed Potatoes

Due to the simplicity of this side dish, these healthy mashed potatoes pair perfectly with so many different main dishes. They’re right at home alongside any holiday dinner, Sunday roast, or special meal.

Try them out with the following recipes:

What to Do With Leftover Mashed Potatoes

There are lots of ways to put leftover mashed potatoes to good use!

Try using them for:

Potato pancakes
Shepherd’s pie
Pile them into a sandwich with other Thanksgiving leftovers
Make loaded mashed potatoes with cheese, bacon and green onions
Make a mashed potato bake
Make potato soup (or toss some into this Creamy Cauliflower Soup)

Recipe Variations

To make lower carb: Replace half the potatoes with mashed cooked cauliflower.
To lower fat content: Skip the butter and use 0% Greek yogurt and light cream cheese.
To make dairy-free: Use dairy-free Greek yogurt, vegan butter and leave out the cream cheese.
Switch up the herbs: Try fresh dill, chives or rosemary instead of fresh parsley.
For the creamiest mashed potatoes: Add extra milk or a little more non-fat Greek yogurt.

A large bowl of garlic mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt on a table.

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A spoon digging into a bowl of Greek yogurt mashed potatoes.

Course Side Dish