6 creative ways to use your KitchenAid stand mixer

I'm going to admit something: I love baking, but I’m not much of a sweet tooth. As a result, my mixer typically makes an appearance during the holiday season or when I’m baking for friends, birthdays, or dinner parties. Unfortunately, this means my KitchenAid spends most of the year tucked away – and I felt like I wasn't putting one of the best stand mixers you can buy to good use.

But not anymore. This winter, I resolved to get more creative in the kitchen. It turns out there’s a whole world of savory recipes and drinks that your KitchenAid can whip up effortlessly – who knew it wasn’t just for cake batter?

I’ve already put a few of these recipes to the test, and let me tell you: they’re not only simple and delicious, but also a lot of fun to make. From silky-smooth mashed potatoes to homemade meatballs, here are six fun ways to use your KitchenAid mixer. Time to let that mixer shine all year round.

1. Mashed potatoes

Say goodbye to lumps and hello to fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes. You can use the paddle attachment on your KitchenAid mixer to achieve perfectly whipped potatoes in minutes. Simply peel and cube your potatoes, boil until soft, and add to the mixing bowl.

KitchenAid have got some easy instructions from here: 'Add cooked potatoes and butter to the stand mixer bowl and turn the mixer to speed 2. Add warm half and half, 1/4 cup at a time until the potatoes are creamy, increasing speed 1-2 settings with each addition.'

2. Shredded chicken

This hack is going viral on TikTok. I can't believe I never thought of it myself! After cooking your chicken (it should be boneless and skinless), place it in the mixing bowl and use the flat beater attachment. Turn the mixer on low, and in less than a minute, you'll have finely shredded chicken, ready for tacos, salads, or soups.

3. Whipped butter

I've seen platters of fluffy, whipped butter at some very glamorous events recently – I didn't know how easy it was to create. All you need is a block of butter, buttermilk, and a KitchenAid mixer.

Start by adding the butter to the mixing bowl with the whisk attachment and beat on medium-high speed for around 10 minutes. Once the butter turns bright white and fluffy, you can switch the speed to low and add a splash of buttermilk and sea salt. Give it a blast on medium-high for a couple more minutes. Finally, add any flavoring you fancy. Think: rosemary, garlic, citrus zest, lavender, or honey.

4. Veggie noodles

You'll need the KitchenAid spiralizer attachment for this one – and it's worth it to create healthy, fun dishes like this. Simply attach the spiralizer, pop in your vegetable, and watch as it creates perfect noodles. I've been using zucchini as a low-carb pasta or noodle alternative. You can also use this tool to spiralize carrots or cucumbers for salads – and even apples for dessert.

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One of the joys of owning a KitchenAid mixer is that you can add a plethora of attachments – and feel like you have a brand new gadget. From pasta rollers to grinders, and of course, this spiralizer which is on sale for half the price right now.

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4. Homemade meatballs

Meatballs are one of my favorite things to cook on a cozy Sunday night at home. I love pork meatballs, but they're often not available at the supermarket. With my KitchenAid, I can make my own by mincing pork with the food grinder attachment. I find it makes much higher quality meatballs than store-bought. I've actually been batch-making and freezing them for nights when I don't feel like cooking at all.

6. Cocktails

Yes – you read that right. You might not see a KitchenAid at the bar, but you can use a mixer to create sophisticated, bartender-worthy cocktails. For my holiday party, I used the whisk attachment to whip up frothy egg whites for my favorite cocktail: the Pisco Sour. You can also whip up cream for topping Irish coffee or White Russian cocktail.

H&G's favorite KitchenAid mixers

If you previously thought your KitchenAid mixer was just for cake batters and cookies, think again. There's a whole world of recipes it can help you out with. I hope you enjoy experimenting.