The u003cstrongu003emain difference between mashed and smashed potatoesu003c/strongu003e is that mashed potatoes are smooth, fluffy, and creamy with little to no chunks and typically have products like butter, sour cream and more whipped into them to provide flavor, while smashed potatoes are chunky, semi-intact, include the skins, and just use a thin layer of seasoning. Mashed potatoes you need to eat with a spoon or fork, while smashed potatoes are more like finger food/a bite-sized snack.