Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes is the quickest and easiest way to make perfect mashed potatoes.

Serve these mashed potatoes with Juicy Roast Chicken and a side of Roasted Carrots for the perfect dinner (don’t forget the Gravy).

Creamy smooth mashed potatoes in a red casserole dish over a red checkered towel

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If you love classic Stove-top Mashed Potatoes, but want to save yourself some time and effort, this Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe will become your go-to.

Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

We’re definitely making mashed potatoes way more often with the instant pot. Here’s why we love this method so much:

  • Quick Cooking – Potatoes in the instant pot takes only 10 minutes on high pressure.
  • Better Flavor – The potatoes are essentially steam-cooked on high pressure so the nutrients and flavor aren’t lost to the cooking water.
  • No Draining Required – The potatoes absorb the liquid in the pot so you can skip the draining step.
  • One-Pot – You can cook and mash all inside the bowl of the instant pot so there are fewer dishes to clean.
  • Perfectly Cooked – Pressure cooking ensures the potatoes are fully cooked through, perfectly tender, and not lumpy.
Creamy mashed potatoes inside the bowl of an insta pot topped with butter

The Best Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes:

Russet potatoes are the preferred variety for making mashed potatoes because of their lighter color and creamy texture. You can also use waxier potatoes like Yukon potatoes or gold potatoes, but they will be more yellow in color and have a slightly different consistency and flavor. We have tested both and often use whichever we have on hand.

Cooks Tip: You can use either water or low sodium chicken broth for the potato cooking liquid. Water will keep the potatoes lighter in color while broth adds more flavor.

Ingredients for mashed potatoes with russet potatoes, chicken broth, milk, butter and salt

How to Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes:

This mashed potatoes recipe is so simple. Make it once and you will probably have it memorized.

  1. Place metal trivet into 6 Qt instant pot and add 1 cup water (or broth) with 1 tsp salt.
  2. Add peeled and quartered potatoes over the trivet.
  3. Cover, seal and cook on manual high pressure 10 minutes with a quick pressure release. Potatoes should be easily pierced with a fork.
  4. Remove the trivet (it comes out easily) and coarsely mash potatoes.
  5. Add 1 cup warm milk, or add to desired consistency then blend in 6 Tbsp melted butter.
  6. Whip with an electric hand mixer for the smoothest mashed potatoes.
step by step photos how to make mashed potatoes in the instant pot

Tips for the Best Instant Pot Potatoes:

  • Use a trivet so your potatoes are perfectly steam-cooked without any brown edges.
  • Cut the potatoes so they are uniform in size and large enough to sit on the rack without slipping through.
  • Salt to Taste after mashing and add more at the end if needed.

Have Leftover Mashed Potatoes? Use leftover potatoes to make our famous cheesy Mashed Potato Pancakes. They are family friendly, use simple ingredients and are quick and easy to make.

Creamy mashed potatoes in a casserole dish surrounded by russet potatoes and butter

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes is just another reason to love your instant pot. It’s a time saver and produces consistently great results every time.

More Instant Pot Recipes:

These reader favorites instant pot recipes will make you want to hug your pressure cooker (just not while it’s running please). See all of our Instant Pot recipes here.

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe

5 from 105 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes in a casserole dish drizzled with butter
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes is the quickest and easiest way to make perfectly cooked and silky smooth mashed potatoes.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
To Reach Pressure: 8 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 people as a side dish
  • 5 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and quartered (about 7 medium/large potatoes)
  • 1 cup water , or low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tsp of sea salt, or added to taste
  • 3/4 cup warm milk, or added to desired consistency
  • 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened or melted
  • 1 Tbsp parsley or chives , (optional to garnish)

Instructions

  • Insert trivet into instant pot bowl. Add 1 cup water or chicken broth and add 1 tsp salt.
  • Peel the potatoes and cut them into quarters (large enough that they won’t fall under the trivet (about 1-inch thickness). Place potatoes over the trivet, adding the largest pieces first (so they don’t fall through).
  • Cover with lid, set the valve to ‘sealing’ position then cook on manual high pressure for 10 min with a quick release.  Once pressure has released, remove the lid then remove the trivet using tongs or an oven mitt. Don’t drain the water.
  • Mash with a potato masher then add the warm milk to your desired consistency. Finally, mix in the softened butter just until blended. For a smoother consistency, blend the potatoes with an electric hand mixer until no lumps remain. Season to taste with more salt if desired.

Nutrition Per Serving

337kcal Calories52g Carbs7g Protein12g Fat8g Saturated Fat32mg Cholesterol319mg Sodium1213mg Potassium4g Fiber3g Sugar420IU Vitamin A17mg Vitamin C67mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
337
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
12
g
18
%
Saturated Fat
 
8
g
50
%
Cholesterol
 
32
mg
11
%
Sodium
 
319
mg
14
%
Potassium
 
1213
mg
35
%
Carbohydrates
 
52
g
17
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
7
g
14
%
Vitamin A
 
420
IU
8
%
Vitamin C
 
17
mg
21
%
Calcium
 
67
mg
7
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: instant pot mashed potatoes
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 337
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
5 from 105 votes (69 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • lexxie
    March 5, 2021

    loved it natasha u are a really good cook

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 5, 2021

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Carolyn Tait
    February 8, 2021

    I am so enjoying your videos and recipes. I have an instant pot and a air fryer which I want to get into using more so your site is perfect. I have done a few of the recipes already and they passed with flying colours.. Thank you .. you make me smile

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 8, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Shirl
    February 1, 2021

    Love the recipe, except I put the 8 tablespoons of butter it called for and it was so yucky! Wayyy too much butter. Can’t even taste the potatoes anymore. Will cut down to 4 tablespoons or less, next time.

    Reply

  • Barb
    January 24, 2021

    Thank you for sharing, I received an Instant Pot for my birthday in December and am loving trying it out. Made this recipe tonight and we all loved it! Was so easy to make, and the cleanup was easy too!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 25, 2021

      Hello Barb, you are very welcome. Great to hear that you are already enjoying your Instant pot, I hope that you will love the recipes that you will try!

      Reply

  • Jennifer Faith
    January 19, 2021

    Just tried this recipe and it was so easy and so good! Clean up was a snap and I can’t believe how fast it came together. The potatoes were creamy and not at all gummy. It’s a winner!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 20, 2021

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Jennifer!

      Reply

  • Debbie vinge
    January 6, 2021

    I’ve never made potatoes like this before. And I’ll never go back to the old fashioned away again!!! There’s were awesome!!!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 6, 2021

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Debbie!

      Reply

  • Natasha M
    December 23, 2020

    Did you try to make it like a few hours ahead and it will keep it warm in the pot before serving? Will it dry up if I try it?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 24, 2020

      Hi Natasha, these reheat well, but you can keep them warm in a crockpot.

      Reply

      • Nancy
        November 26, 2021

        You can use the crock pot setting on the IP ;-). I also halved recipe to have more potatoes to go with leftovers and it was fine. I used 1 cup water to cook. Next time, I will drain off half the water so I can add milk instead to thin the mashed potatoes

        Reply

        • Missmae
          April 25, 2023

          I only have an 8qt instant pot. Do you think it will cook up the same as in a 6qt? I sure hope so!

          Reply

  • Mara
    December 23, 2020

    Is it possible to double the recipe? We are cooking for 10 this year.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 23, 2020

      Hi Mara, I haven’t tried doubling in a larger pot (mainly because I don’t have a larger pot), but that should work fine to double the recipe. Make sure to add the milk to your desired consistency. You probably would need a little less milk if doubling. Let me know how it goes.

      Reply

  • Stephanie Gross
    December 21, 2020

    I’m making mashed potatoes in my instant pot for Christmas dinner for the first time, so I’m reviewing recipes and instructions. Your recipe looks to be just what I’m looking for, but I have one question: I’ve found that sometimes my mashed potatoes turn out gummy and I’ve read that using an electric mixer can cause this. How do you prevent this gumminess when you use your electric mixer to make them creamier?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 21, 2020

      Hi Stephanie, making sure you are using the exact potatoes the recipe calls for. Other types will make it gummy.

      Reply

      • Katie
        January 1, 2021

        Actually, starches in any type of potato will break down and become gluey if they’re overmixed, which is easy to do with a mixer. See here: https://www.thespruceeats.com/science-of-avoiding-gummy-mashed-potatoes-1808050

        A hand masher or potato ricer gives you better control, but you can use a mixer as long as you keep a close eye and don’t mix a moment longer than necessary.

        I first used this recipe for Thanksgiving this year and it’s awesome! I love that there’s no draining and it can be kept warm in the Instant Pot without taking up space on the stove. Thank you!

        Reply

  • Tina Benson
    December 20, 2020

    Hi Natasha

    Can you add minced garlic during cooking time to add a garlic flavor?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 20, 2020

      I haven’t tried that yet but I think it would depend on your personal preference. If you try it, please share with us how you liked it.

      Reply

  • Ericka
    December 8, 2020

    This is my go to recipe for mashed potatoes. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 8, 2020

      You’re welcome, Ericka! It truly sounds like you found a favorite! I’m glad you enjoeyd this recipe!

      Reply

  • Sylvia
    November 28, 2020

    Made this for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a winner! So easy in the instant pot!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 28, 2020

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Sherry
    November 27, 2020

    Tried your potato recipe.
    Came out great ..
    Thank you 🥰

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 27, 2020

      Thank you, Sherry!

      Reply

      • Sherry
        November 28, 2020

        You are SO welcome!

        Reply

  • Carol
    November 26, 2020

    Oh my goodness! These were the easiest and the best mashed potatoes ever! Thank you for another excellent recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 26, 2020

      Love it! Thank you for your awesome comments and feedback, Carol. We appreciate you sharing these with us.

      Reply

  • Tanya
    November 26, 2020

    I’d love to make a garlic version of this recipe. Any suggestions as to how to incorporate it?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 26, 2020

      Hi Tanya, I love to simmer smashed garlic in the milk for a bit before adding the milk to the potatoes as we did in our Garlic Mashed Potatoes. You could try that for extra flavor.

      Reply

  • PAULA
    November 20, 2020

    JACK & I HAVE MADE YOUR MASHED POTATOES THEY ARE AWESOME!!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 20, 2020

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Jackie
    November 20, 2020

    If I did half of the recipe, would I change the cooking time?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 20, 2020

      Hi Jackie, I haven’t tested this as half the recipe – hopefully, that will be enough water in the instant pot, but I would do the same cooking time.

      Reply

      • Nancy
        November 26, 2021

        You can use the crock pot setting on the IP ;-). I also halved recipe to have more potatoes to go with leftovers and it was fine. I used 1 cup water to cook. Next time, I will drain off half the water so I can add milk instead to thin the mashed potatoes

        Reply

  • Laura Reese
    November 19, 2020

    Looking for a way to free up the stove for thanksgiving! This looks delicious.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 19, 2020

      Yes! This is the best way to do that! I hope you love this recipe!

      Reply

  • Toni Dash
    November 18, 2020

    This is such a perfect mashed potato recipe! A great addition to our Thanksgiving menu!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 18, 2020

      Isn’t it the best! I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Toni!

      Reply

  • Ben Giannantonio
    November 18, 2020

    Hi Natasha , love watching your videos and your recipes are spot on . Happy Birthday and Happy 11th Anniversary !!
    Many more , Thank You .

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 18, 2020

      Thank you so much Ben!!

      Reply

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