Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The creamy carbs also get bonus points for being easy to make. If you can boil water, you can whip up a batch of mashed potatoes.

Instant mashed potatoes are a handy side dish shortcut to keep in your pantry. The packets last a while, so you can pull them out whenever you're having a hectic day and need to throw dinner together.