These French Onion Mashed Potatoes combine two classic recipes to bring you the ULTIMATE Holiday side dish that your entire family will be fighting over for, for seconds – and thirds!

French Onion Mashed Potatoes

Looking for the perfect holiday side dish to wow your friends and family? These Vegan French Onion Mashed Potatoes combine the rich, savory flavor of French onion soup with creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes! Top with crispy, herby croutons for an irresistible crunch. This recipe takes two classics and merges them into one unforgettable dish that’s sure to have everyone going back for seconds (and thirds)! Grab a drink and let’s get to cookin’!

Why You’ll Love These French Onion Mashed Potatoes

• Rich and Comforting: The caramelized onions add a deep, savory sweetness that complements the creamy mashed potatoes.
• Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: Combines the savory, cheesy goodness of mashed potatoes with the deep, rich taste of French onion soup.
• A New Take on Comfort Food: A creative twist on two classic dishes that feels both nostalgic and unique.
• Perfect for Entertaining: This dish looks and tastes impressive, making it ideal for holiday gatherings and special occasions.
• Texture Heaven: Creamy potatoes, soft onions, and crunchy croutons create the perfect bite every time.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Parts of the recipe can be prepped ahead of time, so you’re not overwhelmed during meal prep.

How to Make the Best French Onion Mashed Potatoes

I’ll be the first to admit that this isn’t the simplest recipe, per se. There are several elements to this dish (the croutons, the caramelized onions, the cheesy sauce, and the mashed potatoes), so some may find making it a bit overwhelming. That said, you can make many of the elements, such as the croutons and caramelized onions, a couple of days ahead of time — I suggest doing so to lighten your load! Here’s how to make ’em!

1. Prepare the herby croutons:

Preheat your oven to 325°F. Toss the bread cubes with melted butter, parsley, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt, and chili flakes. Spread evenly on a baking tray. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Lower the oven temperature to 275°F and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until golden and crispy.

2. Caramelize the onions:

Melt butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions, thyme, and salt. Stir, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Uncover, pour in wine, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until onions are golden and caramelized (about 20–30 minutes). Add water by the tablespoon as needed to deglaze the pan.

3. Make the cheesy mashed potatoes:

Boil peeled potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes. Drain and rice or mash.

In a saucepan, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant. Stir in non-dairy milk, vegan cheese, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper, cooking until smooth and creamy. Combine cheese sauce with mashed potatoes, then fold in 3/4 of the caramelized onions and half of the croutons.

4. Assemble, serve and enjoy!

Transfer mashed potatoes to a serving dish. Top with remaining caramelized onions and croutons. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips and FAQs

• Prep the Onions in Advance: Caramelize the onions up to 3 days ahead and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat gently before mixing them into the mashed potatoes.
• Make the Croutons Early: Bake the croutons up to a week ahead. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crispy.
• Avoid Overmixing: Overworking the potatoes can make them gummy. Mash or rice them just until smooth.
• Russet Potatoes: Plain and simple – they are the best option for mashed potatoes. They’re nice and starchy so they fall apart easily when they’re cooked, while still being able to absorb all the liquid and butter. Waxy potatoes such as red or fingerling are lower in starch and have tendency to end up gummy and gooey – a big NO-NO in the mashed potato world.
• Cold Water: Always bring your potatoes to a boil in cold water. If you get the water hot before adding the potatoes to the pot, they’ll cook unevenly. Starting them in cold water ensures a more even cook!
• Add liquid little by little: In this case, our liquid is the “cheesy sauce”. Potatoes won’t absorb the liquid as well if you just dump it all in together. Instead, add a little, then stir … add a bit more, stir again. Until your reach your desired consistency.
• Use a ricer: This isn’t 100% necessary, but I highly recommend it. A potato ricer ensure the least amount of starch is released, which again, releases less starch … so less gummy mashers!
• Caramelize Slowly: Don’t rush the onions! Slow cooking is key to achieving the deep, rich flavor that makes this dish so special. There are certain tips & tricks for making really good caramelized onions. The better the caramelized onions, the better the French Onion Mashed Potatoes!
• A little white wine: There’s so much richness in this dish. I mean, mashed potatoes and French onion soup each on their own are RICH AF … so the addition of a little white wine adds a nice crispness to these potatoes.
• Cheese at Room Temperature: Let the vegan mozzarella warm up for better melting in the sauce.

Can I freeze the mashed potatoes?

Yes, you can freeze the mashed potatoes in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat with a splash of non-dairy milk for a creamy consistency.

What other types of onions can I use?

Vidalia onions add sweetness, but you can substitute with yellow or white onions if needed. Just note the flavor may be slightly less sweet.

What can I use instead of a potato ricer?

If you don’t have a ricer, use a potato masher or even the back of a fork. For ultra-smooth potatoes, a handheld mixer on low speed works too.

Bring Comfort and Flavor to Your Table with These French Onion Mashed Potatoes!

These Vegan French Onion Mashed Potatoes are more than just a side dish—they’re a celebration of comfort, flavor, and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones. Whether it’s a holiday feast or a cozy dinner, this recipe is guaranteed to impress!

If you try this dish, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below, snap a photo, or take a video and post it to Instagram or TikTok, and tag me at @eat_figs_not_pigs and #EatFigsNotPigs. Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later and share it with your friends—it’s too good to keep to yourself! Here’s to making your holidays even more delicious—one bite at a time!

French Onion Mashed Potatoes

Ashley

These Vegan French Onion Mashed Potatoes combine two classic recipes to bring you the ULTIMATE Holiday side dish that your entire family will be fighting over for seconds – and thirds!

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Course Holiday-Inspired, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Fusion

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Herby Croutons:

• 8 ounces sourdough French bread, cut into ½”-inch cubes
• 6 tablespoons melted vegan butter
• ¼ cup fresh minced parsley
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon red chili flakes, optional

Caramelized Onions:

• 4 tablespoons vegan butter
• 2 ½ pounds Vidalia onions, thinly sliced (about 4 onions)
• 1 tablespoon fresh minced thyme
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ cup vegan-friendly dry white wine

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes:

• 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• 6 cloves fresh minced garlic
• 1 cup unflavored and unsweetened non-dairy milk, preferably extra creamy
• 8 ounces vegan mozzarella shreds, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

Instructions

 

To Make the Herby Croutons:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Place the bread cubes in a large bowl, along with the melted butter, minced parsley, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt, and chili flakes. Mix to combine and place the bread in an even layer on a prepared baking tray.
• Bake on the middle rack of the preheated for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 275°F, and continue to bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Set aside.

To Make the Caramlized Onions:

• Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
• Once the butter is melted, add the onions and season with the thyme and salt, stirring to combine. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove the lid, pour in the wine and cook, stirring often. Increase the heat to medium high and continue to cook, stirring every so often, until the onions reduce in size and caramelize, 20 to 30 minutes. If you notice the onions starting to burn or stick to the pan, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to deglaze it. Set aside.

For the Cheesy Mashed Potatoes:

• Place the potatoes in a large pot or dutch oven and fill with cold water until they’re covered by about an inch.
• Season the water with a couple heavy pinches of salt and bring the pot to a boil over high heat.
• Boil the potatoes until they’re fork tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drain and rice the potatoes in small batches back into the pot (if you don’t have a ricer, use a potato masher). Set aside.
• While the potatoes are boiling, heat 2 tablespoons of vegan butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Once the butter is melted, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour in the non-dairy milk, and continue to cook until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle in the mozzarella shreds, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper, and stir until well combined. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the cheese has melted throughout, and the sauce is thick, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Pour the cheese sauce over the riced or mashed potatoes and mix thoroughly to combine.
• Next, fold in ¾ of the caramelized onions and half of the breadcrumbs until they’re incorporated. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
• Transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving dish and garnish with the reserved caramelized onions and breadcrumbs, and enjoy!

Video

Keyword best vegan mashed potatoes recipe, caramelized onion mashed potatoes, cheesy vegan mashed potatoes, creamy vegan mashed potatoes, holiday vegan side dish recipes, plant-based holiday recipes, vegan comfort food recipes, vegan french onion mashed potatoes, vegan side dishes for christmas, vegan thanksgiving mashed potatoes

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!