Instant Pot Mashed Red Potatoes are buttery, garlicky and so easy to make! No peeling, no dicing and they come out perfectly every time!
Instant Pot Mashed Red Potatoes
These mashed potatoes are loaded with flavor and so easy in the Instant Pot! I have a recipe for Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes that I love! I wondered if I could use the same technique, basically steaming the potatoes whole, with skin on red potatoes. It worked perfectly! Once the potatoes are cooked through, they are so tender they mash up in a snap. The Instant Pot also makes killer Instant Pot Potato Salad, it’s one of my favorites!
How to Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Red Potatoes
- Start by scrubbing 5 pounds of red potatoes well and piercing the skin a few times on each potato with a fork.
- Then place potatoes on a rack in a 6QT Instant Pot and add 1 1/2 cups of water. Cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes, then let Instant Pot Natural Pressure Release.
- While potatoes are cooking, melt butter in a small pan on the stove with two whole garlic cloves to infuse butter with garlic flavor. Let sit until potatoes are ready. Garlic will continue to flavor the butter as it sits.
- Use cooking tongs to carefully remove hot potatoes. Remove steaming rack and discard any leftover cooking water.
- Mash red potatoes with garlic butter, discarding whole garlic pieces. Then add warm half and half followed by sour cream, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and green onions.
Recipes that pair perfectly with Instant Pot Mashed Red Potatoes:
Garlic Butter Skillet Flank Steak
Parmesan Crusted Salmon Fillet

Buttery garlic mashed red poatoes cooked and mashed right in the Instant Pot.
- 5 pounds red potatoes
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 8 tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 1/2 cups half and half warmed
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup green onion diced
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Start by scrubbing 5 pounds of red potatoes well and piercing the skin a few times on each potato with a fork. Then place potatoes on a steamer rack in a 6QT Instant Pot and add 1 1/2 cups of water to the potatoes.
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Cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes, then let Instant Pot Natural Pressure Release. While potatoes are cooking, melt butter in a small pan on the stove with two whole garlic cloves to infuse butter with garlic flavor. Let sit until potatoes are ready to mash. Garlic will continue to flavor the butter as it sits.
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Use cooking tongs to carefully remove hot potatoes. Remove steaming rack and discard any leftover cooking water. Return poatoes to Instant Pot and mash with garlic butter, discarding whole garlic pieces. Then stir in warm half and half followed by sour cream, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and green onions.
A metal potato masher will cause some scarring in the stainless steel Instant Pot liner. Use a nylon masher or transfer potatoes to a separate bowl for mashing to avoid scratches.
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Such a hearty and flavorful side dishl! This has easily become a family favorite dish in our home!
Mashed potatoes are a must!! These look so good & easy!!
This is going to be a lifesaver especially during the holidays when stove top space is limited. Thanks for giving me another option.
So easy and delicious! Love that red skin mixed in. Yum!
These are my ultimate comfort food! Thank you for delicious recipe, I make these all the time!
Love these! Such a great addition to any meal, and always devoured by the whole family!
Mashed potatoes are our favorite to make but we don’t normally use red potatoes! This was so good and came out so creamy!
These potatoes are easy to make and completely delicious! I love that red potatoes are used. Such a great recipe.
No peeling or dicing! This one is a winner for me cause potato prepping is the worst. Love!
This is sooooooo easy and I can get it started while I finish the main course for dinner!
To halve this recipe, would you also halve the amount of water that you put in the pot with the potatoes?
Hi there! I plan on making for Thanksgiving – can you taste the sour cream? I am not a huge fan but if I can’t taste it then I will be ok! lol
I don’t think you can! I hope you like them!
This was the easiest way I have ever made smashed potatoes. No cutting board, no dicing, and no mess of boiled over starchy water on my stove! I use a hand mixer to whip them up and it was effortless … perfect softness. I’m doing Keto but smashed potatoes are my hubby’s favorite … I’m planning to make these in large batches and freeze portions.
Instant Pot mashed potatoes are the best! It’s the only way I make them!
So easy to make!! They were buttery and smooth and SO good. Can’t wait to make them again!
I could eat these with every meal! Love mashed potatoes & I love using red potatoes & of course the instant pot! Yummy & so easy!
This recipe is delicious! It’s bookmarked on my phone and we make it all the time. It’s SO easy and delicious. It’s requested at all my family events now and everyone always compliments them like crazy!