Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are the best creamy, buttery and fluffy mashed potatoes and the easiest to make. If you need an easy method to make mashed potatoes for a crowd, this is your recipe!

You will never make mashed potatoes any other way again after making them in an Instant Pot. You won’t believe how delicious and phenomenal these mashed potatoes taste, especially when paired with Instant Pot Meatloaf (Philly Cheesesteak Style). Friends and family will be asking you how you made such creamy and buttery mashed potatoes.

Why Make Mashed Potatoes In An Instant Pot?

• Saves valuable stove top and oven space for busy holiday dinners.
• Cooks up faster than cooking on the stove so you can easily make them for a weeknight dinner.
• It is a One Pot Dish. Everything can be done in the Instant Pot.

What Makes These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Work?

• Mashed Potatoes From Scratch. You can easily learn how to make mashed potatoes from scratch in an Instant Pot pressure cooker.
• No Preservatives or Artificial Ingredients. There are no boxed ingredients, no instant mashed potatoes, (although there will be instant pot mashed potatoes), no preservatives, or artificial ingredients.
• A tried and true recipe made many times in my 6 Quart Instant Pot Duo60, including for holiday dinners, and taste tested many times by my family.
• Step by step photos are included to make the recipe as easy to follow as possible.
• Simple steps and explanations explained in detail in simple everyday language. You won’t need a PhD in Instant Pot to use your Instant Pot to make these mashed potatoes. It is a recipe that even beginner Instant Pot users can make.

Which Potatoes Are Best For Making Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes?

Starchy potatoes, such as Russett or Yukon Gold, are excellent potatoes to make mashed potatoes. These type of potatoes make the creamiest and fluffiest mashed potatoes. The potatoes to avoid are waxy potatoes, such as red potatoes.

What Do I Need To Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes?

Equipment

Below are tools that you will need to make this recipe. These affiliate links will allow you to see the product on Amazon.com. If you choose to purchase one of the items from Amazon, I will receive a very small commission on the product at no additional cost to you.

• You’ll need an Instant Pot. There are many models. I use a 6 Quart Instant Pot Duo60. However, this recipe can be made in any of the models of Instant pot pressure cookers.
• If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can get one here, or make these Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes instead or this Mashed Potatoes recipe if you prefer to make them on the stovetop.
• Potato Masher or Immersion Blender or Hand Mixer to mash and mix the potatoes.

Ingredients

• Potatoes. Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes that have been peeled and sliced into about 1-inch thick slices. Russet or Yukon gold potatoes have more starch and make the creamiest mashed potatoes. I don’t recommend using red potatoes as they are too waxy for mashed potatoes and you could end up with a nasty potato paste instead of mashed potatoes.
• Water. You will need 1 cup of water. The instant pot requires liquid to pressure cook the potatoes. You could use chicken broth, or vegetable broth if you prefer, but the mashed potatoes are delicious just with water.
• Butter. I recommend using real butter and not margarine. However, if margarine is what you have on hand, then use that, but it may not give the same rich buttery flavor as using the real thing.
• Milk or Heavy Cream.  I prefer using cream for the creamiest mashed potatoes. However, not everyone has the heavy cream on hand. Therefore, use milk, preferably whole milk, for creamy mashed potatoes. Half and Half (half milk / half cream) could be used as well.
• Salt and Pepper. For a basic mashed potatoes recipe, salt and pepper are the only spices required. If you want to doctor it up with more spices, scroll down to read about some of the possible variations of this recipe.

How To Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Before Pressure Cooking

• Peel and slice potatoes.  Use a potato peeler to peel the potatoes and slice the potatoes into thick slices. Try to make the slices as equal in size as possible. This will help the potatoes to cook more evenly, and for all the potatoes to finish cooking at the same time. If you prefer, you can leave the skins on for more rustic mashed potatoes.
• Add Water. Add 1 cup of water to the Inner Liner Pot of the Instant Pot.
• Add Potatoes. Add the peeled and sliced potatoes into the pot with the water.
• Add Seasoning. Add salt and pepper.
• Close and lock the lid. Move the Pressure Release Valve to the SEALED position

How Long To Pressure Cook Potatoes For Mashed Potatoes?

• Pressure cook russet or Yukon gold potatoes for 10 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE. Press the PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL button (depending on model) and press the + or – buttons to adjust the time to display 10 minutes.
• Please note that it will take the Instant Pot several minutes to come up to pressure before it starts pressure cooking. During this time, the display on the front of the Instant Pot will display “On” until it comes to pressure. Then it will display 10 and start counting down the time as it pressure cooks.

After Pressure Cooking

• After the Instant Pot has finished pressure cooking for 10 minutes, it will beep. Do nothing for 5 minutes. This will let the Instant Pot release pressure for 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes of natural pressure release, do a quick release by moving the Pressure Release Valve to the VENTING position. Wait until it has completely finished venting (the pin will drop) and then you can carefully open the lid to the Instant Pot.
• Drain the potatoes.
• Add 4 tablespoons butter and 1/2 cup of heavy cream or milk in with the potatoes in the Instant Pot.
• Mash the potatoes with a potato masher for the creamiest potatoes. You can also use an immersion blender or hand mixer to mash the potatoes. However, with those options, you need to be care to not over-mix the potatoes because that could change the texture of the potatoes from creamy to gummy.

How To Keep Mashed Potatoes Warm Until Ready To Serve?

• The Instant Pot makes it easy to keep the mashed potatoes warm until you are ready to serve. Press cancel and then press the “Keep Warm” button to keep the mashed potatoes warm until you are ready to serve.

How To Avoid Gummy Mashed Potatoes?

The key to really perfect mashed potatoes is to make them creamy. But exactly how do you make the mashed potatoes creamy and avoid gummy potatoes?

• Use the Right Potatoes. First, as mentioned above, use starchy potatoes, such as Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes to make the best and most creamy mashed potatoes.
• Drain The Potatoes thoroughly. If you don’t drain all the water off the potatoes, that could add too much moisture to the potatoes and make them gummy.
• Don’t overcook the potatoes. Follow the instructions in this recipe, and you should be fine. 
• Don’t over-mix the potatoes. The easiest way to avoid gummy potatoes is to use a hand-held potato masher and avoid using a hand-held mixer or immersion blender. If you must use a hand-held mixer or immersion blender, avoid over-mixing.

Variations Of Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

• Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Add 2 Tablespoons minced garlic when adding the butter and cream or milk.
• Parmesan Mashed Potatoes. Add 1/2 cup shredded or grated parmesan to the mashed potatoes for a great flavor boost.
• Mashed Potatoes with Skins on. If you prefer mashed potatoes with the skins, just don’t peel the potatoes and leave the skins on the potatoes.

What To Serve With Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes?

• Beef Tips. Serve these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with my Instant Pot Beef Tips And Gravy for a delicious Beef Tips and Mashed Potatoes dinner.
• Crock Pot Chuck Roast.  
• Air Fryer Ribeye Steak.
• Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops.
• Roast Turkey
• Brown Sugar Meat Loaf

Can I Make Mashed Potatoes In A Crock Pot?

Yes. Follow the instructions in my Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe for perfect mashed potatoes in a slow cooker.

More Potato Recipes

• Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
• Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
• Crockpot Roasted Potatoes
• Leftover Ham And Potato Soup

More Instant Pot Recipes

Be sure to browse my Instant Pot Recipes Archive Page for all the Flavor Mosaic Instant Pot recipes, including Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings and Instant Pot Beef Stew.

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