Food

I made Dolly Parton's holiday mashed potatoes for a delicious and quick Thanksgiving side dish

Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton has some great recipes for your Thanksgiving dinner. Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Read in app

If you need a quick and easy side dish for Thanksgiving, don't panic — Dolly Parton is here.

The music and fashion icon also happens to be a pro in the kitchen. In September, she released a cookbook full of recipes she loves making with her sister, Rachel Parton George.

When I spotted their recipe for holiday potatoes in "Good Lookin' Cookin': A Year of Meals," I knew I had to try it.

Dolly Parton and her sister give their mashed potatoes a special twist for the holidays.

Dolly Parton and her sister Rachel Parton George
Dolly Parton and her sister Rachel Parton George in 2009. Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

"When the holiday season arrives, why not dress up your mashed potatoes! That's what we do," the sisters write in their cookbook. "All it takes is some cream cheese, sour cream, a little garlic, and your mixer!"

To make the Parton sisters' holiday potatoes at home, you'll need:

  • 5 pounds russet potatoes
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, room temperature
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley for garnish
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt

First, I prepped the potatoes.

Peeled and quarted potatoes for Dolly Parton's holiday potatoes
My peeled and quartered potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I washed, peeled, and quartered the potatoes, per Parton's instructions.

Then, I placed the potatoes in a colander and rinsed them under cold water.

Rinsing peeled potatoes for Dolly Parton's holiday potatoes
Rinsing the potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Parton says to wash the potatoes "until the water runs clear." I'm not totally sure why this step was necessary, as the potatoes had already been washed and peeled. The water was immediately clear.

So, unless your potatoes are really dirty, I think you can skip this step!

I threw my potatoes into a large pot and filled it with cold water.

Boiling potatoes for Dolly Parton's holiday potatoes
Boiling the potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Parton says to cover the potatoes by two inches, then add one teaspoon of salt.

I brought the pot to a boil and then lowered the heat to medium. I allowed my potatoes to cook for 20 minutes until they were fork-tender.

I drained the potatoes and placed them in a large bowl so I could add all the seasoning.

Seasoning the potatoes for Dolly Parton's holiday potatoes
Seasoning the potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I threw in the butter, cream cheese, sour cream, ½ cup of milk, and ½ teaspoon of salt.

Then, I whipped the potatoes with an electric hand mixer.

Mixing the potatoes for Dolly Parton's holiday potatoes
It took a few minutes to whip the potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I blended the potatoes on medium speed as I mixed everything together.

Then, I added the remaining half cup of milk and mixed the potatoes on high speed until they became fluffy, which took a few minutes.

Parton recommends saving two tablespoons of butter to drizzle on the potatoes, along with parsley and pepper. It was time for dinner!

Dolly Parton's holiday potatoes
Parton's holiday potatoes are super creamy and delicious. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I served these holiday potatoes alongside Dolly's recipes for mac and cheese and cornbread stuffing, and it was my favorite dish of the three.

The holiday potatoes are deliciously rich and luscious with the addition of cream cheese and sour cream, while the chopped parsley adds a nice pop of color. They also had a lovely smooth and whipped texture, which paired well with the other Thanksgiving-inspired dishes on the table.

If you're looking for a last-minute addition to your Thanksgiving menu, the Parton sisters' holiday potatoes will definitely impress the whole family.

Read next

IMG_1749.JPG
Anneta Konstantinides
Anneta Konstantinides is a lifestyle correspondent at Business Insider, with a focus on food and travel. She loves taking readers inside Michelin-starred kitchens and exploring the world of fine-dining, and she's always trying to find the best Ina Garten and Gordon Ramsay recipes. Her second home is LAX, where she's often catching a flight and reviewing airlines.Anneta has also been reporting on the pageant industry for the last six years and has interviewed every Miss USA and Miss Universe winner since 2019. She was a finalist at the LA Press Club Awards for her investigation into the  2022 Miss USA scandal and was featured in The New York Times Presents episode "How to Fix a Pageant" on Hulu in September 2023. After graduating from UCLA with a B.A in English Literature and a minor in film & television, Anneta worked as a journalist in London, Sydney, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. You can reach Anneta at akonstantinides@jkmperu.com.