Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of Instant Pot Mashed potatoes drizzled with melted butter and chives, ready to serve.Our creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe is ready in just 30 minutes and pairs well with just about any main dish. Try all of my Instant Pot recipes like Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs, Pork Carnitas, Instant Pot Short Ribs, or Instant Pot yogurt! How to make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: Cook Potatoes: Peel…

A bowl of Instant Pot Mashed potatoes drizzled with melted butter and chives, ready to serve.

Our creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe is ready in just 30 minutes and pairs well with just about any main dish.

Try all of my Instant Pot recipes like Instant Pot Pasta and Meatballs, Pork Carnitas, Instant Pot Short Ribs, or Instant Pot yogurt!

A bowl of Instant Pot Mashed potatoes drizzled with melted butter and chives, ready to serve.

Effortless Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

It really doesn’t get easier than these pressure cooker mashed potatoes where you simply add water and potatoes to an instant pot, push a button and walk away. They’re so quick and easy (and just as delicious as our traditional mashed potatoes recipe). You can even make this a meal by cooking a meatloaf right on top of the potatoes! Check out my instant pot meatloaf recipe or browse all of my favorite Instant Pot recipes.

How to make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes:

Cook Potatoes: Peel potatoes or keep the skins on if you prefer. Cut into quarters and add to instant pot. Pour water and salt on top of potatoes and secure lid. Pressure cook on manual/high pressure for 10 minutes then natural release for 3-5 minutes. Quick release the rest.

Two images showing chopped gold potatoes then after they are placed in the bottom of the instant pot for pressure cooker mashed potatoes.

Mash: Drain any remaining water from the pot. Add milk, sour cream, bouillon paste, butter, salt and pepper. Mash the potatoes until all ingredients are incorporated and fluffy, just don’t over mash them or they get gummy. Taste and add more seasonings if needed.

Two images showing an instant pot mashed potatoes recipe when they are being mashed then after they are in a bowl to serve, topped with chives.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Follow the recipe then keep mashed potatoes in the instant pot on the warm setting for an hour or two before serving. Stir and add a few splashes of milk if needed when it’s time to serve. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

Store leftover mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Rewarm on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk to make them creamy again, and season with additional seasonings, as needed.

Recipe Variations:

  • Stove Top Mashed Potatoes
  • Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes: Swap butter out for dairy-free butter and use chicken broth instead of milk and sour cream.

Serve With:

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A bowl of Instant Pot Mashed potatoes drizzled with melted butter and chives, ready to serve.
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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

This Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe is fail-proof and ready in just 30 minutes! They are fluffy, flavorful, and pair well with just about any main dish!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 191kcal
Cost 7

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Prep Potatoes: Wash potatoes, peel them (optional) and cut into quarters. 
  • Add to instant pot: water, potatoes and salt.
  • Cook: Secure the instant pot lid and close the pressure release valve. Select manual/High pressure and cook at high pressure for 10 minutes. When the timer beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release for 3-5 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
  • Season: Carefully open the lid and drain any extra water. Add the milk, sour cream, butter, bouillon paste, and salt and pepper. Gently Mash everything until combined, but be careful not to over mash the potatoes, which can make them "gummy" instead of fluffy. Taste and add more seasonings, as needed. 
  • Store leftover mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Rewarm on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk to make them creamy again, and season with additional seasonings, as needed.

Video

Notes

Yield: Makes about 6 cups mashed potatoes. Serving size is about ¾ cup (8 servings). 
Instant Pot Size: You can double or triple this recipe for a 6 or 8 quart instant pot. The water amount and cooking time will stay the same. Just be sure you don’t go above the “fill” line”.
Potatoes: Use potatoes with a higher starch content, like russet or Yukon gold. I don’t recommend Red potatoes because they are waxier and can yield gummy tasting mashed potatoes.
Water: you need one inch of water in the bottom of the pressure cooker. Add more than 1 cup if needed. 
Make Ahead Instructions: Follow the recipe then keep mashed potatoes in the instant pot on the warm setting for an hour or two before serving. Stir and add a few splashes of milk if needed when it’s time to serve. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes: replace butter with dairy-free butter substitute, and add chicken broth instead of milk and sour cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 150mg | Potassium: 739mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 193IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

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I originally shared this recipe February 2019. Updated November 2021 and November 2024.