These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are easy to make and have great flavor — the perfect side dish to any meal! Whether you’re cooking a holiday feast or want a simple and delicious dish for family dinner, this recipe is the one for you. 

 

 

I’ve always loved making Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, and now I’ve got another favorite potato cooking method. One of the best things about mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot is that you can set them up and not worry about them while you prepare other parts of the meal! No worrying about a pot bubbling over or running out of water while boiling. 

While these mashed potatoes are full of flavor, they’re not garlic-y or overly seasoned, which makes them the perfect complement to any main dish! We especially love these mashed potatoes served under our Swedish Meatball recipe. 

 

 

What Ingredients are in Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

First, you’ll need to gather ingredients, which thankfully are very basic and things you likely have in your fridge or pantry! 

• Potatoes – I typically use russet potatoes for this recipe, but just about any variety will do! These are instant pot mashed potatoes skin on — they’re cooked so perfectly that the skins aren’t tough at all! I also love red potatoes with the skins on though you can do skinless too! 
• Chicken broth – chicken broth adds great flavor without over seasoning. You can use diluted Better Than Bouillon or regular bouillon as well! 
• Butter – butter adds a lot of richness and brings out the great flavor of the potatoes. It’s the perfect addition! 
• Milk – milk adds just a touch of moisture and richness to keep your mashed potatoes from becoming too dry. 
• Chives – chives add a subtle onion flavor and a striking visual contrast to this mashed potato recipe.

 

 

How to make mashed potatoes in instant pot?

1. Pour chicken broth into Instant Pot
2. Add cubed potatoes
3. Cook potatoes
4. Release pressure
5. Mash with butter
6. Stir in milk
7. Top with chives
8. Serve! 

 

 

How long to cook mashed potatoes in instant pot?

You’ll want to cook the mashed potatoes at high pressure for 10 minutes with a 10 minute natural pressure release. After 10 minutes natural release, quick release the rest of the pressure. 

One of the things that first stumped me when I began cooking with the Instant Pot is that sometimes it can take a while for the pot to get up to pressure. I’ve found that for this recipe, it typically takes about 10-15 minutes to reach pressure and begin the cook-time. 

So from start to finish, you can plan on about 30-40 minutes for this recipe. But only a couple of those minutes are spent doing any active work! 

 

 

Can I keep mashed potatoes warm in instant pot?

Yes! Part of what makes these the best Instant Pot mashed potatoes is that they’re cooked in the Instant Pot! I love the Keep Warm function on my Instant Pot. You can use this function with the lid on (not sealed), to keep the potatoes warm until you’re ready to serve them. 

 

 

Should you soak potatoes before making instant pot mashed potatoes?

It’s not necessary to soak the potatoes before cooking them in the Instant Pot. In fact, over soaking potatoes before boiling and mashing them can make them gluey. 

If you want to cut the potatoes ahead of time, I would recommend storing them covered in the broth you’ll use to cook them in the fridge for up to a day. If you cook them in the same liquid you used for storing them, you won’t lose all the starch and enzymes that keep the potatoes from getting gluey. 

 

 

Can you reheat mashed potatoes in an instant pot?

Absolutely! I recommend reheating them using the pot-in-pot method. Use a heat-safe bowl that fits inside the Instant Pot. 

Fill the Instant Pot stainless steel bowl with 1 cup of water and then place the pot-in-pot bowl with mashed potatoes inside. Cover and cook using the Steam function for 10 minutes with a natural pressure release. 

Reheating in the Instant Pot is a great option because it doesn’t dry out the potatoes! 

 

 

Can you freeze instant pot mashed potatoes?

You can, but keep in mind that frozen potatoes often change in texture. I recommend freezing them on a parchment lined baking sheet in single serving scoops (about 1 cup) and then transferring them to a freezer bag or airtight container. 

Because there is a bit of added fat from the butter and the milk in this recipe, they are more likely to hold up when freezing and thawing. When you reheat them, you may find them to be watery. You can add a little bit of baked potato to reduce the wateriness. 

If your thawed potatoes are too dry, try adding extra cream or butter a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached. 

 

 

What to do with leftover mashed potatoes?

I LOVE repurposing leftover mashed potatoes and have several great suggestions for you! Check out the following:

• Mashed Potato Bread Recipe
• Mashed Potato Cinnamon Rolls
• Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes
• Peppermint Patty

 

 

Are instant pot mashed potatoes healthy?

While there are a lot of nutrients in potatoes, these have quite a bit of extra fat from the milk and butter. Moderation is key! Potatoes are a great and inexpensive way to stretch a meal, while providing nutrition as well. 

 

 

Can dogs eat instant pot mashed potatoes?

Mashed potatoes are safe for dogs to eat and contain a lot of great nutrients. Avoid adding seasonings if you plan to share your instant pot potatoes mashed with your furry friend. 

Can cats eat instant pot mashed potatoes?

It’s fine to share your mashed potatoes with your kitty as an occasional treat, but it should not be a regular thing. 

 

 

More Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love…

• Instant Pot Corned Beef
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
• Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
• Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
• Beef Paprikash
• Instant Pot French Dip
• Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
• Spaghetti Squash Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Spaghetti
• Instant Pot Italian Chicken Pasta

 

Whether you’re looking for a simple side to feed an army or want to save stovetop space while preparing a family holiday feast, these are the perfect mashed potatoes for any occasion! Using the Instant Pot for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners frees up other appliances for other dishes. Enjoy! 

 

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