Creamy Cheddar Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes with Rosemary: Your Go-To Thanksgiving Side & Leftover Pumpkin Recipe
Elevate your autumn dining with a bowl of pure comfort! Our Cheddar Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes, infused with fragrant rosemary, are an absolute delight. Whether you’re looking for an easy, festive Thanksgiving side dish or a creative way to use up that leftover canned pumpkin puree, this recipe offers a delightful twist on a classic. It’s a perfect blend of creamy texture, savory cheddar, subtle pumpkin sweetness, and aromatic herbaceous notes, promising a truly unforgettable experience.

As the holiday season approaches, have you started mapping out your Thanksgiving menu? For many, the annual feast is a cherished tradition, often revolving around beloved family recipes passed down through generations. Some families find comfort in sticking to the exact same dishes year after year, perhaps rotating only one or two elements, like the choice of main protein between stuffed Cornish hen or a traditional turkey. Others might explore delightful meatless alternatives, such as a hearty Stuffed Butternut Squash.
Through conversations with friends and family about their Thanksgiving rituals, a common theme emerges: most people prefer not to deviate too drastically from the tried-and-true classics. However, there’s a strong enthusiasm for variations that enhance or introduce new dimensions to these familiar favorites. This spirit of culinary exploration, without abandoning tradition, often leads to truly inspired dishes.
Take mashed potatoes, for instance. This quintessential side dish graces virtually every Thanksgiving table across countless households. While a simple, perfectly prepared bowl of creamy mashed potatoes — rich with butter and cream — is undoubtedly comforting on its own, it also serves as an exceptional blank canvas for incorporating new flavors and ingredients. This versatility becomes particularly handy when you’re looking to efficiently use up ingredients from your pantry or fridge.
The delightful inspiration for these Cheddar Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes originated from a familiar scenario: having leftover pumpkin puree lingering in the fridge after whipping up an eggless pumpkin pie. It seems to be a universal truth that no matter how meticulously you plan, opening a small can of pumpkin puree almost always leaves you with a little extra. While baking another pumpkin dessert is always tempting, sometimes the craving for savory, wholesome “real food” takes precedence. This is where creative solutions like pumpkin mac and cheese or, indeed, these incredible pumpkin mashed potatoes come into play.
Given that a small pumpkin pie might already be on the dessert menu, why not embrace the warm, earthy flavors of pumpkin in a savory side dish too? This Cheddar Pumpkin Mashed Potato recipe is perfectly portioned to make 4 servings, an ideal quantity for an intimate Thanksgiving dinner for two, with delicious leftovers to savor later. But don’t feel compelled to reserve this dish solely for the holidays; these Cheddar Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes are a wonderfully comforting side dish that can brighten any meal, any day of the week, especially during the crisp autumn months.



