Turn Mashed Potatoes Into The Ultimate Flavor Bomb With Just One Seasoning Packet

When it comes to mashed potatoes, there are a ton of great hacks to give them an added boost of flavor or an extra-creamy finish (working with the boxed variety? No problem, there are a myriad of ways to give them a homemade taste, too). One genius trick for turning mashed potatoes into something even more flavorful in a pinch is to sprinkle a packet of ranch seasoning. 

The blend's dried buttermilk powder, garlic and onion powders, dried onion flakes, and herbs, including dill, parsley, and chives, complement the velvety potatoes with a salty, savory, and herbaceous kick. A delightful addition in everything from Chex Mix to fried chicken packed with flavor, ranch seasoning feels like a natural fit for mashed potatoes — and one that will no doubt turn this side dish into one of your new favorites.

The incorporation is simple. Boil your potatoes until tender, drain them, and mix in your dairy and liquids (butter, milk, cream, and the like). Then just add the packet of ranch seasoning and mash everything as usual. Add salt and pepper to taste and your ranch mashed potatoes are ready.

While there are always a few key tips for making the ultimate mashed potatoes, working with ranch seasoning also comes with a few additional notes and considerations. Starchy potatoes require plenty of salt, but ranch seasoning already contains a good amount of sodium. So incorporate the ranch first and taste your mash before adding any extra salt to avoid overly salty potatoes. Additionally, you can also whisk the seasoning into the dairy and liquid mixture first, then add that into your mashed potatoes. This will ensure it dissolves evenly and you don't end up with clumps of ranch seasoning in the finished dish.

There are ways to take this flavor bomb even further. Use buttermilk as the liquid in your mashed spuds as it's the backbone of ranch dressing itself, or fold in a block of cream cheese for even more tang and richness. You can also roast an entire head of garlic to golden, gooey perfection, and then squeeze all of the innard goodness into your fluffy mashed potatoes for a flavorful one-ingredient upgrade. This, or chopped garlic, would double down on the garlic powder in the ranch seasoning. Jalapeños and ranch make for a dynamic duo too, so finely dice one or two — or three, depending on your spice tolerance — and fold them in for mashed potatoes with some heat.