Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: the effortless recipe for perfect mashed potatoes

If you've been looking for an easy recipe for the best-tasting mashed potatoes, your search is over. This Instant Pot mashed potato recipe is the easiest way to make beautifully buttery, creamy mashed potatoes that your whole family will love. It's a faster recipe than regular mashed potatoes thanks to the Instant Pot.

With a fluffy yet smooth texture and savory taste, Instant Pot mashed potatoes is not only an ideal side dish for those busy weeknights, it's a perfect simple side for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas when you'll be whipping up all sorts of other tasty dishes. Take the hassle out of making mashed potatoes once and for all with the help of your Instant Pot!

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Ingredients

One of the best potatoes for mashing is the Russet potato – it's a great all-rounder for everything from making the perfect mash to baked potatoes, French fries, and more. You can also use Yukon Golds, which have a fantastic flavor and will give you ultra-creamy mashed potatoes.

To infuse your mashed potatoes with extra flavor, use chicken broth to cook the potatoes. Vegetable broth or even water will work as well.

You'll also need butter and milk to give the mash its creamy texture plus some fresh chopped herbs for a pop of color and flavor.

How to Make Mashed Potatoes in an Instant Pot 

Instant Pot mashed potatoes are super easy to make – it's probably one of the simplest ways to make mashed potatoes at home. Start by putting the trivet into the Instant Pot. Pour in the chicken broth and salt to taste. If you're using regular chicken broth instead of low sodium, you can leave out the extra salt. Put the potatoes over the trivet. Virtually every mashed potato recipe calls for peeling the potatoes, but you can definitely leave the skin on if you prefer.

Close the lid of the Instant Pot and set it to manual high. Cook the potatoes for 10 minutes, followed by a quick release. Don't drain off the cooking liquid! It'll add loads of flavor to your potatoes. Take off the lid and mash the potatoes with a potato masher. Pour in the milk and continue to mash until the potatoes reach your preferred consistency. Mix in the butter, then season your mashed potatoes with salt and pepper.

Garnish them with some fresh chopped chives to add a pop of color and a bit of texture, then serve them up while they're nice and warm.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Is there any dinner that doesn't go with mashed potatoes? Serve your Instant Pot Mashed potatoes with steak, pot roast, roast beef, chicken, grilled ribs, casserole, or lamb. You can really make your mashed potatoes shine by serving them with a side of homemade gravy.

Tips for the Best Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

If you don't want to use chicken broth, vegetable broth or even water can be used in its place.

Don't have chives, chopped parsley, tarragon, sage, rosemary, or thyme all make excellent alternatives.

Make sure the milk is warm before adding it to the potatoes.

Have leftover mashed potatoes? Use them to make potato cakes, potato pancakes, use them as a topping for a shepherd's or cottage pie, or mix them with cheese and bake them.

For richer, creamier mashed potatoes, swap the milk out for heavy cream, sour cream, or cream cheese. The last two ingredients will give your mashed potatoes a slight tang.

How to Store Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Let the mashed potatoes cool then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3 days.

Instructions

Place trivet into the Instant Pot. Pour in the chicken broth and salt to taste.

Put the potatoes over the trivet. Secure the lid of the Instant Pot. Set it to manual high and cook for 10 minutes, followed by a quick release.

Take off the lid and start to mash the potatoes with a fork.

Mash the potatoes with a masher.

Pour in the milk and continue to mash until the potatoes reach your desired consistency.

Add in the butter.

Mix until just incorporated.

Season, garnish with chives and serve.

Notes

Cut the potatoes so they're about 1-inch thick.