Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions
These heavenly vegan mashed potatoes will win over everyone at your dinner table, even the biggest dairy lovers! The secret is sweet caramelized onions and nutritional yeast that create the most amazing creamy, rich flavor without any butter or cream.
Recipe Details
Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 45 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes, Serves: 12 people.
Nutrition Profile: Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): 141 Calories, 5g Fat, 23g Carbs, 3g Protein.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Extra-virgin olive oil: You’ll need ¼ cup for caramelizing those beautiful onions. The olive oil adds such a lovely rich flavor that makes these potatoes extra special!
Yellow onions: 2 medium onions sliced thin will give you the most amazing sweet, golden caramelized flavor. Don’t skip this step – it’s what makes these potatoes absolutely incredible!
Yukon Gold potatoes: 3 pounds of medium potatoes, peeled and halved. Yukon Gold are perfect because they’re naturally creamy and buttery tasting!
Vegetable broth: 1½ cups will make your potatoes super smooth and creamy. Use low-sodium if you want to control the salt level yourself.
Nutritional yeast: 2 tablespoons of this magical ingredient adds that rich, almost cheesy depth of flavor. You can find it at most grocery stores now!
Salt and pepper: 1¼ teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, plus extra pepper for garnish. Season to taste – you know what you like!
Fresh chives: 2 tablespoons finely chopped for that perfect fresh, oniony finish on top.
How to Make Vegan Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions
Step 1: Heat your olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add those sliced onions and cook them slowly, stirring often. You want them to get soft and turn a beautiful deep golden color – this takes about 30 minutes, but it’s so worth the wait!
Step 2: While your onions are doing their magic, put the potatoes in a large saucepan. Cover them with cold water by about 2 inches. Bring everything to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-high and let them gently boil until tender, about 15 minutes.
Step 3: Drain those beautiful potatoes really well. Return them to the pot and start mashing with a potato masher, pastry cutter, or even a large fork. Add the vegetable broth, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and your gorgeous caramelized onions.
Step 4: Stir everything together until it’s perfectly combined. Transfer to your prettiest serving dish and sprinkle with fresh chives and a little extra pepper if you like!
Easy and Quick Vegan Mashed Potatoes Version
Need to save some time? You can totally skip the caramelized onions and use 2 tablespoons of onion powder instead! Just add it right in with the nutritional yeast. You’ll still get amazing flavor in half the time. Or try using pre-cut potatoes from the store to save on prep time!
Serving Ideas
These creamy potatoes make the perfect side dish for any holiday meal or weeknight dinner. They’re amazing with roasted vegetables, grilled portobello mushrooms, or your favorite plant-based protein. Serve them alongside some steamed green beans or a fresh garden salad for a complete, satisfying meal!
Storage
Store your leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge for up to 4 days in a covered container. To reheat, just warm them gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of extra vegetable broth. They’ll taste just as good as when you first made them!
Substitutions
No nutritional yeast? Try 2 tablespoons of tahini or cashew cream for richness. You can swap the vegetable broth for unsweetened plant milk like oat or soy milk. Red potatoes work great too if you can’t find Yukon Gold. White onions are perfect if you don’t have yellow ones!
Pro Tips
- Perfect caramelized onions: Don’t rush this step! Low and slow cooking gives you the sweetest, most flavorful onions.
- Fluffy potatoes: Don’t overmix your potatoes or they’ll get gluey. Just mash until smooth and creamy.
- Make ahead trick: You can caramelize the onions a day ahead and store them in the fridge!
- Extra creamy secret: Add the broth gradually while mashing for the perfect consistency.
FAQs
Can I make these mashed potatoes ahead of time?
You bet! Make them up to 2 days ahead and store in the fridge. Just reheat gently with a little extra broth to bring back that creamy texture. They’re perfect for holiday meal prep!
What if I don’t like nutritional yeast?
No worries at all! You can leave it out completely or try a tablespoon of tahini or cashew butter instead. The caramelized onions will still give you tons of amazing flavor.
Can I freeze these mashed potatoes?
Sure! They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge, then reheat gently with a splash of broth. The texture might be slightly different, but they’ll still taste great!
How do I know when the onions are perfectly caramelized?
They should be a beautiful deep golden brown color and taste sweet, not sharp. If they start to get too dark or burn, just lower your heat a bit. Patience is key here!
I’d love to hear how these vegan mashed potatoes turn out for you! Did you try any fun variations or serve them with something special? Drop a comment and let me know – I always love hearing about your kitchen adventures!
