Artificial Food Coloring Free Buttery Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes sound simple, but the version you get from a box or a restaurant side dish often hides a surprising number of additives — including synthetic dyes used for color enhancement or visual appeal. This recipe keeps things completely clean, built entirely from whole Yukon Gold potatoes, real butter, whole milk, and a little salt. Yukon Golds are the secret weapon here: their naturally golden, waxy flesh delivers a rich, velvety texture and a subtle buttery flavor before you've even added a single pat of butter. The technique matters too — drying the drained potatoes over low heat before mashing draws out excess moisture, so the finished mash is fluffy and smooth rather than gluey or dense. Warming the butter and milk together before folding them in keeps everything silky and prevents the mash from turning stiff. A scatter of fresh chives on top adds a gentle onion note and a pop of natural green color — no artificial anything required. This is the kind of comforting, crowd-pleasing side dish that proves you never need a shortcut to get it right.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 lbs yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 ½-inch chunks
- 1 tsp salt, plus more for the cooking water
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the potato chunks in a large pot and cover with cold water by at least 1 inch. Add a generous pinch of salt and bring to a boil over high heat.
- 2
Reduce the heat to a steady simmer and cook until the potatoes are completely tender and a fork slides through the center of a chunk with no resistance, about 15–18 minutes. Drain thoroughly and return the potatoes to the pot.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!