Mashed Potato Toppings & Bar (+ Mashtini)

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.

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 (or our Boursin mashed potatoes) so well.

How far in advance can I make mashed potatoes?

Like these yummy potato wedges, you can make mashed potatoes up to 2 days in advance and reheat when you're ready to serve. This potato leek soup is another great recipe.

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.

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.

Here's a great potato salad recipe for you if you have extra 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...

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.

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

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...