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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Mashed Potato Toppings & Bar (+ Mashtini)

    Mashed Potato Toppings & Bar (+ Mashtini)

    August 27, 2022 By Chandice | 9 Comments | Updated August 28, 2022

    this post may contain affiliate links

    JUMP TO RECIPE
    mashed potatoes bar pin

    A mashed potato bar and a mashtini is the perfect hearty meal for a large crowd. It’s easy to make and everyone loves creamy mashed potatoes combined with their favorite toppings.

    If you have picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions in the family a mashed potato bar is a great option. Your guests can pick and choose what toppings they want without any extra hassle.

    mashed potatoes in a martini glass with toppings

    I love making my gluten-free mashed potatoes for this recipe because they’re perfectly creamy and perfectly seasoned. Mashed potatoes are a classic during Thanksgiving and Christmas but also work for graduation parties, birthdays, and potlucks.

    To combat this hearty dish, I like to serve a gluten-free sweet potato casserole or a gluten-free apple cake for dessert. A simple yet delicious treat at the end of a meal is always the perfect way to go!

    There’s no better way to wash down the ultimate comfort food than with a mocktail. My crockpot apple cider or my non-alcoholic vodka and dirty martini compliment mashed potatoes so well.

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    mashed potatoes in a martini glass with toppings

    How far in advance can I make mashed potatoes?

    You can make mashed potatoes up to 2 days in advance and reheat when you’re ready to serve. This is one of my favorite things about a mashed potato bar because you don’t need to do all the preparation in one day.

    What goes good on top of mashed potatoes?

    You can honestly put anything and everything on top of mashed potatoes but here are a few of my favorite potato toppings along with some family favorites.

    Homemade chili

    Hot homemade chili topped on mashed potatoes will give you all the warm fuzzy feelings of comfort food.

    Crumbled bacon

    Make your own crispy bacon or use bacon bits on your mashed potatoes. Turkey bacon or another bacon alternative will also work.

    Chopped chives

    You need the light onion flavor that chopped chives have. Green onions will also work in the place of chives.

    Shredded cheese

    I like using sharp cheddar cheese because it has the most flavor but you can use your favorite shredded cheese.

    mashed potato bar with toppings

    Olives

    I’m personally more of a green olives fan but you can use black olives depending on your preference.

    Gluten-free crispy onions

    I love the caramelized onions on this gluten-free green bean casserole. You can even top your mashed potatoes with a piece of casserole.

    Sour cream

    Sour cream is a staple on a mashed potato bar. It cleanses the palate while allowing other flavors to come together.

    Corn

    In my opinion, the slightly crunchy texture of sweet corn is a need on mashed potatoes!

    Peas

    Frozen peas are an easy topping that adds to the aesthetic of a potato bar. Plus, it’s always a great idea to eat more vegetables.

    Miscellaneous toppings

    Brown sugar, red onions, potato chips, bbq sauce, plain greek yogurt, unsalted butter, as well as Italian seasoning are non as common toppings but still make great additions to mashed potatoes.

    How to prepare a mashed potato bar

    There is no right or wrong way to serve a mashed potato bar but here are some guidelines I like to follow…

    mashed potato bar with martini glasses

    Step 1: Assemble toppings in appropriate dishes and set out on counter in a buffet line.

    Step 2: Add serving spoons and forks to topping dishes.

    Step 3: Serve your mashed potatoes in a martini glasses.

    mashed potatoes in a martini glass with olives

    Step 4: Allow guests to help themselves down the bar.

    Pro tip: Keep salt, black pepper, cream cheese, and garlic powder at the beginning of the bar so guests can add extra.

    Expert tips and FAQs

    How do you keep mashed potatoes warm for a party?

    You can’t keep mashed potatoes over a flame because they’re get too dry and burn but you can set the pan over a boiler with the lid on. This will keep the mashed potatoes warm but prevent them from burning.

    What is the best way to reheat mashed potatoes?

    My favorite way to reheat mashed potatoes is in the oven at 350 degrees with extra milk and butter. This makes them extra creamy so they taste fresh. The microwave will also work.

    What protein goes well with mashed potatoes?

    Gluten-free turkey or a dutch oven whole chicken are my top choices to pair with this recipe. They’re easy to make, always delicious, and feed a lot of people. You can also opt for steak or ham.

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    Mashed Potato Toppings and Bar (+ Mashtini)

    mashed potatoes in a martini glass with toppings
    5 from 2 votes
    A mashed potato bar is the perfect hearty meal for a large crowd. It's easy to make and everyone loves creamy mashed potatoes combined with their favorite toppings.
    If you have picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions in the family a mashed potato bar is a great option. Your guests can pick and choose what toppings they want without any extra hassle.
    PRINT RECIPE SAVE RECIPESaved!
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 15 mins
    Course: Appetizer

    Ingredients

    • Homemade chili
    • Crumbled bacon
    • Chopped chives
    • Shredded cheese
    • Olives
    • Gluten-free crispy onions
    • Sour cream
    • Corn
    • Peas

    Instructions

    • Assemble toppings in appropriate dishes and set out on counter in a buffet line.
    • Add serving spoons and forks to topping dishes.
    • Serve mashed potatoes in a martini glasses.
    • Allow guests to help themselves down the bar.

    Notes

    Pro tip: Keep salt, black pepper, cream cheese, and garlic powder at the beginning of the bar so guests can add extra.
    How do you keep mashed potatoes warm for a party?You can’t keep mashed potatoes over a flame because they’re get too dry and burn but you can set the pan over a boiler with the lid on. This will keep the mashed potatoes warm but prevent them from burning.
    What is the best way to reheat mashed potatoes?My favorite way to reheat mashed potatoes is in the oven at 350 degrees with extra milk and butter. This makes them extra creamy so they taste fresh. The microwave will also work.

    This post was originally published July 28, 2016 and has been updated in August 2022 with new photos and better tips and tricks. Here is the original photo…

    The girls at my last girls night LOVED this yummy and pretty dinner! Mashed potato bars are so easy and elevate any dinner experience. Get all the ideas for your very own mashed potato bar like jazzing it up with specialty glasses. glutenfreefrenzy.com

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    Filed Under: Side Dishes Tagged With: food bar, potato

    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi, I'm Chandice!

    Parties, gatherings, gorgeous food and ESPECIALLY holidays with my people are what make my heart pitter patter. Having a place to share our favorite traditions, recipes and celebrations is very important to me. I live each day with unapologetic, authentic happiness and hope to help others do the same. More About Chandice

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    Comments

    1. Sloan says

      September 02, 2022 at 6:42 pm

      5 stars
      How cute is this idea??? We used this recipe for a party we had just recently and everyone loved it! It’s such a creative idea and its so tasty! Who doesn’t like potatos?!

      Reply
    2. Michelle Palin says

      August 08, 2016 at 6:53 pm

      I love this idea! We’ve done baked potato bars a few times for our small group get togethers, but I love the idea of doing mashed potatoes even better! YUM!

      Reply
      • Chandice says

        August 08, 2016 at 9:58 pm

        Thanks Michelle! Yeah, I also like baked potato bars but this one felt a bit less clunky.

        Reply
    3. K.C. @ G-Free Foodie says

      August 03, 2016 at 1:55 am

      how fun!

      Reply
      • Chandice says

        August 03, 2016 at 4:54 am

        Thanks KC, you are invited to girls night anytime doll!

        Reply
    4. Raia says

      August 02, 2016 at 9:12 pm

      What a delicious idea! I love it!

      Reply
      • Chandice says

        August 03, 2016 at 4:55 am

        Aw, thanks Raia! It was so fun to make and definitely tasty…

        Reply
        • Janie Cooper says

          September 18, 2017 at 1:56 pm

          What size martini glasses did you use?

        • Chandice says

          September 19, 2017 at 2:35 am

          I just used a traditional size martini glasses. 🙂

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    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi there, I’m Chandice!

    I love sharing ways to live more vivaciously! Celebrate life with us through unforgettable gluten-free recipes, easy mocktails and everyday entertaining ideas…

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