These Squash Mashed Potatoes are made from butternut squash and regular white potatoes to create a creamy, rich side dish perfect for Thanksgiving! With paleo, vegan and Whole30 options.

Up until a few weeks ago, with my Gluten-free Mac and Cheese, I only had one savory Thanksgiving side dish on the blog. Even my cornbread recipe is sweet. I am all about Thanksgiving desserts!

But these squash mashed potatoes are way better than they sound.

They are sweet but not overly so. And less sweet than mashed sweet potatoes.

If you want to put something different on the Thanksgiving table this year, then these squash mashed potatoes are a great option!

Ingredients for mashed potato squash

Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes
Butternut squash
Garlic cloves
Butter or coconut oil
Whipping cream OR plant-based milk + canned full-fat coconut milk for vegan

How to make mashed butternut squash

Prepare, peel and cut potatoes and butternut squash.

Using a steaming basket in a large pot, add one inch of water and bring to a boil.

Add potatoes and butternut squash chunks into the basket and cover with a lid. Steam until tender.

Once fully cooked, remove the basket and drain the water.

Add butter to the pot and cook garlic until it starts to brown.

Add potatoes and butternut back into the pot and mash a bit.

Add remaining butter and stir until melted.

Add half of the cream and mix with a hand mixer on low, then to high until smooth and creamy.

Add the rest of the cream and continue to mix.

Taste and add more salt if needed.

Garnish with a dab of butter and fresh sage.

Best when served immediately.

Can I use different types of squash?

Yellow summer squash, no. Zucchini, no.

But pumpkin? That should work just fine, though I haven’t tried it myself.

You’ll want to use one meant for cooking and baking, and not a jack-o-lantern. Why? Although the jack-o-lantern pumpkin is edible, it is not ideal.

The flesh of the jack-o-lantern pumpkin is tough, fibrous, watery and quite bland. It just isn’t suited well for cooking. Besides, there are other pumpkins to choose from that taste great with a much better texture.

Pumpkins used for cooking should be sweet and flavorful with a smooth texture. They are usually labeled as sugar or pie pumpkins. Sugar pumpkins are small and round and work well with this mashed potato dish.

Long Island Cheese pumpkins are oblong and are also good to eat. Caspers are deliciously sweet, but Cherokee Bush, Cinderella and Fairy Tales would also be great.

Can I just use all butternut squash and no potatoes?

No, you’d need to find a recipe for mashed butternut squash. You’d need a whole lot less liquid and make other adjustments.

What type of potatoes are best?

Yukon Gold potatoes are the best for mashed potatoes because they aren’t mealy. They’ve got a naturally creamy and slightly buttery taste which blends well with butternut squash.

Russets would be my second choice. However, avoid using waxy potatoes, such as new potatoes or fingerlings, as they tend to become gummy and sticky.

Want to skip white or yellow potatoes? Try these amazing-looking smashed purple sweet potatoes!

Best way to mash the potatoes

Have you ever over-mashed potatoes? You’ll know because they get gluey and gummy. And mashed potatoes should be fluffy and creamy. So it’s essential not to over-mash them.

In this recipe, I like to use the beaters of a hand mixer to break up the big chunks of cooked potatoes. Then I turn on the hand mixer and beat just until the mixture is lump-free.

Important note! If you add the last bit of liquid and the potatoes look runny – just continue mashing and they will become fluffy and silky.

Can I use milk instead of cream?

I didn’t find them to be as satisfying, but you can try. You can always add more butter if you decide that they’re not rich enough.

Do I have to use the garlic?

No, but I definitely think these potatoes are tastier with it. You can also use granulated garlic or garlic powder and add to taste.

If you omit the garlic and are making the paleo/vegan version and want to use coconut oil, note that unrefined coconut oil will add coconut taste to your potatoes. So it’s better to use refined coconut oil if you want to skip the garlic.

And if you’re a garlic lover, these Garlic Rolls are always delicious!

Can I reduce the amount of fat?

You can add less fat, taste, and add more if desired. I’m not a fan of reduced-fat recipes, but if you are, you might enjoy these potatoes with less fat.

How do I make these paleo/vegan/Whole30-friendly?

In place of the whipping cream, I use 3/4 cup cashew milk and 3/4 cup canned coconut milk. You get the richness and creaminess from the coconut milk, and the cashew milk hides the coconut taste.

For the fat, I used refined coconut oil. If you use unrefined coconut oil, there may be a slight coconut taste, but I think the garlic does a good job of covering it up.

If you’re vegan but not following a paleo or Whole30 diet, you can use vegan butter as a substitute for the butter.

Other holiday side dishes

If you’re like me, I spend most of my time in the kitchen baking. I have no time to plan menus. So here are some quick side dishes that are easy to make and taste great.

If you’re dairy-free and love mashed potatoes, try these Dairy-free Mashed Potatoes. They’re still super creamy and don’t use any unusual ingredients. Paleo, vegan and Whole30-friendly.
This amazingly colorful Rainbow Carrots Recipe is super tasty and easy to make. Plus, they’re easy to find if you do some last-minute shopping. Paleo and vegan options.
Looking for other butternut squash recipes? Try this Baked Butternut Squash with Garlic or this Air Fryer Butternut Squash, which is cinnamon-spiced and paleo, vegan, and Whole30.
Sauteed apples are a must, and you can feel great serving these Healthier Sauteed Apples. They’re gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo and vegan.

Learn How to Make Cranberry Sauce, it’s so easy and so much better than store-bought. It’s made with a little orange juice and zest and can easily be made vegan and paleo.
I haven’t tried it, but this Easy Sweet Potato Casserole looks amazing!
Last but not least, the Crustless Pumpkin Pie! A pie can’t get any easier, and it’s rich and full of pumpkin flavor. It’s naturally gluten-free but can be made keto and paleo.

That’s it! Thank you all for following along and may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! I’m starting mine with this Apple Cider Mimosa Recipe. ;)

I would love to see your recreations! If you make this or any recipe on the site, I’d love to get some feedback. Just leave a comment below or snap a pic and tag #texanerin so I can be sure to find it. Thanks. :)