Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe

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Truly, the fastest mashed potatoes made from scratch are Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes. Nothing cooks them faster with fewer dishes, and still makes them totally delicious.

Instant Pot mashed potatoes in a white bowl with a pat of butter melting and fresh herbs sprinkled over the top.

Making mashed potatoes in an Instant Pot is one of the simplest methods. It’s fast and easy, and you can adjust them to suit your tastes.

Instant Pot Mashed Potato Ingredients

  • Potatoes – (3 large potatoes) I always use Russet potatoes, but you can also use Yukon or red potatoes. They all do well when making mashed potatoes.
  • Butter – (½ cup) Use salted butter. Unsalted will work, but you’ll need to add more salt to the final mashed potatoes.
  • Milk – (½ cup) I used a scant ½ cup, but the amount you add will depend on the size of your potatoes. Adjust as needed for the consistency you prefer in your mashed potatoes. I used whole milk.
  • Salt – Add enough to suit your tastes. Everyone likes a different amount of salt. Just stir it in until you like the flavor.

Optional Additions

Some people like to add more to their mashed potatoes. Here are some suggestions:

  • Sour cream – about 1/2 a cup for this recipe
  • Cream cheese – 1 block for this recipe
  • Herbed butter – replace the butter called for with herbed butter
  • Garlic – about 1 tbsp. to start, then add more as needed
  • Chives – Use about 3 tbsp. finely chopped fresh chives, or 1-2 tbsp. dried chives. Fresh has better flavor in this recipe.
A side view of of Instant Pot mashed potatoes with melted butter on them.

How To Make Mashed Potatoes From Scratch

Typically, most people boil their potatoes until they are cooked through (easily pierced all the way through with a knife).

At this point, you drain the potatoes and mash them with your favorite additions.

It’s a clumsier approach to making them than in an Instant Pot, but it’s worked for as long as mashed potatoes have been a thing. So there ya go.

Why is it clumsier? Filling up a big pot with water to boil your potatoes and all that steam in the kitchen, draining a big pot of water off your potatoes, it’s all just simpler in an Instant Pot.

How Long To Cook Potatoes In An Instant Pot

Cooking potatoes in an Instant Pot will vary based on the potatoes you use, the size they are, and whether you cut them up or not. It can also change up a bit based on what you want to do with your potatoes.

Whole, baked potatoes are often made using a trivet in the Instant Pot, and you usually pierce them first before cooking (for baked potatoes). But if you are mashing the potatoes, you can simply set them down in the water.

Tips For Cooking Potatoes In An Instant Pot

  • Use potatoes that are similar sizes for even cooking when cooking multiple potatoes.
  • Pierce the potatoes before cooking if using a trivet.
  • Don’t pierce them if cooking them in water.
  • 2 lb. cut potatoes – 3-5 minutes
  • 2 lb. whole potatoes – 12-18 minutes

How To Make Mashed Potatoes In An Instant Pot

Peeled potatoes.

Peel the potatoes. They don’t have to be perfect. (or you can leave them on if you like the peel.

Three large potatoes in the Instant Pot with water and salt.

Place the potatoes in the Instant Pot insert with the water and salt.

Placing lid on the Instant Pot.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot.

Closing the vent on the Instant Pot.

Close the vent.

Setting the time on the Instant Pot.

Press the manual butter and adjust the time to 20 minutes at high pressure. When the cooking cycle is done, do a quick release and carefully remove the lid.

Draining the water off the cooked potatoes.

Drain the water off of the potatoes.

Mashing the potatoes.

Mash the potatoes.

Adding milk to the mashed potatoes.

Add the butter and milk and mash it all together.

Adding salt to taste to the mashed potatoes.

Adjust the salt to your liking.

A white bowl full of Instant Pot mashed potatoes topped with melting butter.

Serve with a pat of butter for garnish.

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Instant Pot mashed potatoes in a white bowl with a pat of butter melting and fresh herbs sprinkled over the top.

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Delicious mashed potatoes, the quick and easy way!
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 441kcal

CLICK TO WATCH THIS RECIPE IN ACTION!

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Potato Masher

Ingredients

  • 3 large russet potatoes
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup milk (I used whole milk)
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • Peel the potatoes. They don't have to be perfect. (or you can leave them on if you like the peel.
    Peeled potatoes.
  • Place the potatoes in the Instant Pot insert with the water and salt.
    Three large potatoes in the Instant Pot with water and salt.
  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot.
    Placing lid on the Instant Pot.
  • Close the vent.
    Closing the vent on the Instant Pot.
  • Press the manual butter and adjust time to 20 minutes at high pressure. When the cooking cycle is done, do a quick release and carefully remove the lid.
    Setting the time on the Instant Pot.
  • Drain the water off of the potatoes.
    Draining the water off the cooked potatoes.
  • Mash the potatoes.
    Mashing the potatoes.
  • Add the butter and milk and mash it all together.
    Adding milk to the mashed potatoes.
  • Adjust the salt to your liking.
    Adding salt to taste to the mashed potatoes.
  • Serve with a pat of butter for garnish.
    A horizontal shot of Instant Pot mashed potatoes in a white bowl with melted butter and chopped, fresh herbs.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25the recipe | Calories: 441kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 1194mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 759IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 2mg

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