We don't use the word "BEST" that often, but when we do you better bet that it's going to be the best. And these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes really are the BEST. This recipe will give you the most flavorful and creamy mashed potatoes you have ever made. If you don't want to become the "mashed potato person" in your family, then don't make these!
With the Instant Pot, you can skip all the usual hassles of mashed potatoes. No babysitting a pot of boiling water, no draining heavy, steaming liquid, and no extra dishes. The potatoes pressure cook to perfection in just 11 minutes, and then you simply add your butter, sour cream, cream cheese, garlic and milk right into the pot and mash. Easy, fast, and mess-free.
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OMG!!! WOW!!! BEST!!! Made the instant pot mashed potatoes, they are awesome! Told my wife you gotta try this, she gave me a high 5 with smiles! – Dan
Jump to:
- What You’ll Need For Mashed Potatoes In the Instant Pot
- How To Make Mashed Potatoes In Instant Pot
- Listen To The Recipe
- Best Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Variations
- How To Store Leftover Mashed Potatoes
- What To Serve With This Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- More Mashed Potato Recipes!
- Mashed Potatoes In the Instant Pot
- Leave a comment and rate this recipe!
What You’ll Need For Mashed Potatoes In the Instant Pot
Don’t skip a single ingredient for this Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe, they all blend together for a perfect mashed potato:
- Russet Potatoes
- kosher salt
- cream cheese
- butter
- sour cream (could use a plain Greek yogurt)
- milk or half & half
- 1 garlic clove
How To Make Mashed Potatoes In Instant Pot
Step 1
Place the russet potato chunks in the Instant Pot. Pour in ½ cup water and 2 teaspoon kosher salt.
Step 2
Pop the lid on and do an 11 minute cook time. Then finish with a quick release of pressure.
Step 3
BEST PART… NO NEED TO DRAIN THE LIQUID!!! Add the sour cream, cream cheese, and butter to the potatoes. Blend with a hand held mixer.
Mom’s Tip: save a pot and blend them up right in the Instant Pot!
Step 4
Add 2 tablespoon milk and 1 minced garlic clove and mix again.
Taste for extra seasoning (salt, pepper or butter), then revel in how good the mashed potatoes are that you are about to serve!!
Listen To The Recipe
Best Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Variations
Doubling The Recipe
You can absolutely double this recipe, just make sure not to overfill your Instant Pot. There should be a max fill line on the inside of the metal liner.
When doubling you DO NOT NEED TO DOUBLE THE TIME. Simply double the ingredients.
Recipe Card Tip For Doubling: An easy way to do this is by hovering over the “servings” in the recipe card, a slider will appear and you can slide it up and down for your serving amount. The ingredient amounts will change based on how many people you are serving.
How To Store Leftover Mashed Potatoes
Freezing Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Have you ever purchased frozen mashed potatoes at the store? They come in these convenient little pucks that you sauté in a pan with water. Guess what?! You can freeze your homemade mashed potatoes too!
Simply scoop the cooled Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with a small ice cream scoop or large spoon onto a baking sheet. Make sure to pick a pan that will fit in the freezer.
Freeze the pucks and then transfer them to a freezer safe bag or container. They will be good in the freezer for about 3 months.
To Thaw
To “thaw” frozen mashed potatoes for serving, place the frozen pucks in a non stick skillet over low heat, add a couple tablespoons of water or milk.
Pop the lid on and sauté/simmer for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until they are thawed and creamy.
Add extra butter, milk, and/or salt for desired consistency and taste.
Another option is to thaw in the fridge overnight and then place in a baking dish, top with butter and cream, cover with foil, and pop in a 350 degree oven until they are heated through.
What To Serve With This Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
When you are serving a crowd, especially during the Holidays, it is hard to know how many potatoes to cook! Use this to make sure you have the right amount of mashed potatoes every time!
- Plan on making ½ lb of potatoes per person. Therefore this recipe will feed 6 people because it is 3 pounds of potatoes.
Gravy
These mashed potatoes are absolutely flavorful enough to stand on their own!!!!!!! But if you want to add a gravy you can definitely do that. If you don’t have a roast or bird that will provide drippings for gravy, here are two excellent “no dripping” gravy recipes:
- Gravy without Drippings
- Instant Pot Gravy
- Turkey Gravy without Drippings
- Homemade Brown Gravy
- Mushroom Gravy
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes make a perfect side dish! Here are some of our favorite main dishes to serve with mashed potatoes:
They also make a great serving base for some other recipes.
- MOST POPULAR – serve Chicken & Gravy over these mashed potatoes.
- Serve Swedish Meatballs over mashed potatoes.
- Or make these Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs!
- Use these mashed potatoes to cover a Turkey Shepherd’s Pie.
- This Instant Pot Coq Au Vin is AMAZING spooned over mashed potatoes.
More Mashed Potato Recipes!
Mashed Potatoes In the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 3 lbs russet potatoes - washed peeled and cut into 2-3 inch chunks
- ½ cup water
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 oz cream cheese - , softened
- 4 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoon milk or half & half
- 1 garlic clove - , minced
Instructions
- Wash and peel the russet potatoes. Cut each potato into 2-3 inch chunks.
- Place all the potatoes in the pot and then pour ½ cup water over the potatoes, sprinkle 2 teaspoon kosher salt over top.
- Pop the lid on and close the pressure valve. Set the pot to cook on high pressure, manual mode for 11 minutes .
- Do a quick release. No need to drain any liquid!
- Add the sour cream, cream cheese, and butter to the potatoes. Mix the potatoes with a hand held mixer until it is well combined and creamy. (you can do this right in the Instant Pot!)4 oz cream cheese, ½ cup sour cream, 4 tablespoon butter
- Add in the milk and minced garlic clove. Mix again with the hand held mixer.2 tablespoon milk or half & half, 1 garlic clove
- Taste for additional seasoning (salt, pepper, butter)
- These are flavorful enough to serve by themselves as a great side dish!!! Or you can add gravy, there are two no dripping gravy recipes linked below.
Recipe Tips and Notes:
Add extra butter, milk, salt and desired for consistency and taste. Another option is to thaw in the fridge overnight and then place in a baking dish, top with butter and cream, cover with foil, and pop in a 350 degree oven until they are heated through. NO DRIPPING GRAVY RECIPES: GRAVY WITHOUT DRIPPINGS INSTANT POT GRAVY RECIPE
Terri says
Just made them. Just shy of 3 pounds and they turned out amazing! Will never cook them on the stove again love love, love them!
Effie says
Perfect every time
Joel says
Fan-freaking-tastic. So easy, so good. Will be making EVERY TIME we need mashed potatoes.
Lori says
I love how creamy these are!! Making these again for Thanksgiving and probably Christmas too!!
Steph says
Such a quick and easy recipe and so very delicious too!
Terri D says
Made this recipe tonight to go to top a shepherd’s pie recipe. I forgot to get the cream cheese so I didn’t have that, but I added a little more sour cream and butter. This is a fabulous recipe! Cooked 5 lb of potatoes and added a little bit more water than called for and it was perfect! Didn’t have to drain anything and the potatoes were cooked to perfection! Thank you so much for this great recipe!
Jean Rebecca says
What a great recipe❤️ I chopped my garlic finely and sat them on top of potatoes.. they melted into all the other ingredients at the end.. I also added dried chives to the sour cream and let it sit for a while.. it turned out amazing.. thankyou! for a great recipe.
Susie Weinrich says
Dried chives are a GREAT addition!!!! Love that!
Jennifer says
Just made these tonight and holy moly I love them. Definitely making these again!
Lorraine says
First time cooking potatoes in instapot. Followed recipe and mashed potatoes came out perfect. Less work and less equipment. Will use more garlic next time. If I use 5 lbs of potatoes do I increase the time?
Susie Weinrich says
I’m so glad you loved them! Even if you use more potatoes it should still be the same cooking time, just make sure you add a little more liquid.
Lisa Weness says
The most easy and delicious mashed potatoes ever! Every time I have serve them I have had rave reviews
Leanne says
This is exactly what I was looking for, and the taste meets the expectations! My mom made a version of these mashed potatoes several years ago and lost the recipe—this is just as good, and using the instant pot makes transport easy!
Liz Gregg says
Made this last year and everyone loved it so I was assigned to making it again! Love how easy it is!
Therese Burch says
Do you put in the little strainer and then cook them above the water??
Susie Weinrich says
You use such a little amount of water, that doesn’t get strained off, so it isn’t really necessary to use the trivet.
Colleen says
Would like to cook 5# potatoes in an 8 qt IP. Is this possible? Add more water to cook?
Susie Weinrich says
That should work. I would increase the water to 1 cup, but the cook time should stay the same.
Then I would increase the other ingredients to
3-3.5 teaspoon kosher salt
6 oz cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup sour cream
3-4 tablespoon milk or half & half
2-3 garlic clove, minced
Taste for seasoning and add more as needed.
Alice says
This is my new mashed potato recipe! Made with meatloaf and mushroom gravy. Heavenly!!! The best!!!
Susie Weinrich says
So glad you loved it! mushroom gravy sounds awesome.
John says
Had them! Loved them!! I could even make them!!! The trifecta of recipes!!