Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

These creamy and smooth Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes can be made in as little as 13 minutes, smashing the record for how quickly you can make this dreamy side dish.

If you’ve forgotten to start the potatoes an hour in advance of dinner, that’s no longer a problem. The Instant Pot makes perfect mashed potatoes in a fraction of the time you’d need on the stove top.

Not only do the potatoes cook quickly, they mash up easily into a creamy and smooth dish in no time. Depending on how much you make, you might not even have to drain the water. It’s truly the simplest way to make mashed potatoes. I guarantee you won’t want to go back to making them any other way.

» Try these potatoes on the side of a Pork Roast, Turkey Breast or Brisket.

Since mashed potatoes go with everything, this will likely become one of your most-used recipes. You can pair them with meatballs and gravy, chicken & gravy, serve then on the side of a pork roast, or mix up a huge batch for Thanksgiving dinner.

The Instant Pot is a great way to make potatoes of all kinds. We love these simple baked potatoes because you don’t have to preheat the oven.

What You Need

The ingredients list is small, as usual. It’s a quick list of things you probably already have on hand.

• Potatoes – You can use any type of potato you like, but I find that non-waxy varieties work best to get that fluffy creamy mash without them being gluey. Reach for the russets, red potatoes, Yukon gold, or white potatoes. Whether you remove the skin or leave it on is also up to you. I always remove the skin from russets but leave it on for red potatoes.
• Water – You can adjust the water depending on how many potatoes you’re making at once. A 6-quart Instant Pot requires at least 1 cup of water, while an 8-quart requires 1 1/2 cups of water. I find that one cup is perfect for 1-3 pounds of potatoes. If you make more than 3 pounds, you’ll need to add additional water.
• Butter – As Julia Child once said, “butter makes everything better”. That’s definitely the case with these mashed potatoes. The butter will help give them a creamier, richer flavor. I use salted butter. If you use unsalted, you might need to increase the amount of salt you add.
• Milk or cream – The milk also helps give creaminess to the potatoes. You can add milk, half and half, or cream. While the cream does make it slightly richer, it also adds extra calories. I find that 2% or whole milk is perfect.
• Salt – You’ll want to add salt to the potatoes as they cook and another dose of salt to the potatoes before you mash them up. Potatoes need salt for flavor, so don’t skip out on this. You can add more to meet your tastes.

Helpful Tips

• Do make sure to cube the potatoes into similar sizes before adding them to the pot, so they all cook evenly. If you’re using baby potatoes, you still have to cut them at least in half, don’t just add the whole potato.
• You will need additional water if you cook more than 3 pounds of potatoes. You can double and make 6 pounds, but you’ll need at least 2 cups of water. Similarly, you need at least 1 1/2 cups of water for an 8-quart Instant Pot.
• Don’t overmix the potatoes or they will become gluey.
• Don’t leave the potatoes in the Instant Pot for a natural pressure release after the time is up. Do an immediate quick release and turn the pot off, so it’s not on warm.
• It’s best to drain the water, then add the additional ingredients and mash the potatoes right away while they’re still warm.

Stovetop Directions

Don’t have an Instant Pot? No problem!

Fill a large pot halfway with water. Add the cubed potatoes and cook at a gentle boil until tender, about 15 minutes.

When the potatoes have finished cooking, drain the water. Mash the potatoes with a masher or hand mixer. Add butter, milk, and salt and stir well to combine.

Additions You Can Make

As you know, mashed potatoes are incredibly versatile and can be used in so many dishes. But they don’t have to be served plain. There are tons of options for dressing up the potatoes to make them something a bit different. For something a bit different try these Instant Pot garlic mashed potatoes.

• If you want to make super decadent potatoes, double or even triple the butter and reduce the milk. If you’ve ever had mashed potatoes at a Joel Robuchon restaurant, you know how amazing they can be drenched in butter.
• Add shredded cheddar cheese and cream cheese to make cheesy potatoes.
• Add some bacon bits and sliced green onions to make a loaded potato dish.

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