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).

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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.

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.

How to Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes:
This mashed potatoes recipe is so simple. Make it once and you will probably have it memorized.
- Place metal trivet into 6 Qt instant pot and add 1 cup water (or broth) with 1 tsp salt.
- Add peeled and quartered potatoes over the trivet.
- Cover, seal and cook on manual high pressure 10 minutes with a quick pressure release. Potatoes should be easily pierced with a fork.
- Remove the trivet (it comes out easily) and coarsely mash potatoes.
- Add 1 cup warm milk, or add to desired consistency then blend in 6 Tbsp melted butter.
- Whip with an electric hand mixer for the smoothest mashed potatoes.

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.

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 Whole Chicken – with the best chicken gravy
- Corn on the Cob – so sweet and juicy in the instant pot
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice – a family-friendly dinner
- Ribs in the Instant Pot – super tender and juicy
- IP Crab Legs – so quicky, juicy and flavorful
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili – quick & easy meal
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Ingredients
- 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.
loved it natasha u are a really good cook
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
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.
Hi Shirl, you may enjoy our instant pot mashed potatoes which use less.
I thought the same thing. Way too much butter but otherwise they were very good!
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!
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!
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!!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Jennifer!
I’ve never made potatoes like this before. And I’ll never go back to the old fashioned away again!!! There’s were awesome!!!!!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Debbie!
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?
Hi Natasha, these reheat well, but you can keep them warm in a crockpot.
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
I only have an 8qt instant pot. Do you think it will cook up the same as in a 6qt? I sure hope so!
Is it possible to double the recipe? We are cooking for 10 this year.
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.
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?
Hi Stephanie, making sure you are using the exact potatoes the recipe calls for. Other types will make it gummy.
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!
Hi Natasha
Can you add minced garlic during cooking time to add a garlic flavor?
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.
This is my go to recipe for mashed potatoes. Thanks so much for sharing!
You’re welcome, Ericka! It truly sounds like you found a favorite! I’m glad you enjoeyd this recipe!
Made this for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a winner! So easy in the instant pot!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Tried your potato recipe.
Came out great ..
Thank you 🥰
Thank you, Sherry!
You are SO welcome!
Oh my goodness! These were the easiest and the best mashed potatoes ever! Thank you for another excellent recipe!
Love it! Thank you for your awesome comments and feedback, Carol. We appreciate you sharing these with us.
I’d love to make a garlic version of this recipe. Any suggestions as to how to incorporate it?
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.
JACK & I HAVE MADE YOUR MASHED POTATOES THEY ARE AWESOME!!!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
If I did half of the recipe, would I change the cooking time?
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.
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
Looking for a way to free up the stove for thanksgiving! This looks delicious.
Yes! This is the best way to do that! I hope you love this recipe!
This is such a perfect mashed potato recipe! A great addition to our Thanksgiving menu!
Isn’t it the best! I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Toni!
Hi Natasha , love watching your videos and your recipes are spot on . Happy Birthday and Happy 11th Anniversary !!
Many more , Thank You .
Thank you so much Ben!!