Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
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Oh-so-creamy buttermilk Ranch mashed potatoes! It does not get any easier or quicker than this. One pot, 10 min. MIND BLOWN.
Mashed potatoes. One of the most quintessential Thanksgiving side dishes.
Some people like them whipped with peas and onions, some people like them with lumps, and some people like them in the form of tots. But then again, this is just based on Phoebe, Ross and Joey.
No, but really, we all have a different preference on how we want our mashed potatoes, and it’s very hard to please everyone. Except these mashed potatoes will truly please EVERYONE.
For starters, it’s made in the IP, pressure cooked in just 10 min. 10 WHOLE MINUTES. That is it. (No cold water needed here – the cold water that takes 20 long minutes to come to a rolling boil!)
Once your potatoes are perfectly softened, you can add all your fix-ins: milk, sour cream, Ranch Seasoning and all the butter your heart desires.
The end result: perfectly creamy, fluffy and rich. Serve with additional melted butter on top (because why not) and chopped chives.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- ¾ cup water
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 1-ounce package Ranch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- Add water and 1 teaspoon salt to a 6-qt Instant Pot®. Place metal trivet into the pot. Gently add potatoes on top of the trivet.
- Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 10 minutes. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Remove potatoes and trivet from the Instant Pot® and drain excess liquid before returning the potatoes to the pot. Stir in buttermilk, milk, sour cream, Ranch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix and butter.
- Using a potato masher, mash potatoes until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add more milk as needed until desired consistency is reached. Stir in chives; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately.
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Easiest potatoes EVER! Going to make this every time!
Made this for Friendsgiving and now making it for Thanksgiving because it was such a hit!
Can I use golden or red potatoes instead of russet? If so, do I need to change the cooking time at all?
Could you use yellow potatoes instead of russet potatoes?
Absolutely!
Yellow actually tastes much better!
If I need to double the recipe do I literally double the whole recipe?? Also do I need to chance the cooking time???
Thanks
No instant pot say use at least 1 cup of water to achieve pressure. I usually use 1 1/2 cups and do not change the cooking time. Works fine.
This was hands down the best mashed potatoes I have ever eaten. I enjoyed them very much and I only added 4 TBS of butter instead of 6. Thank you so much for your time and devotion to sharing such wonderful recipes.
Thank you so much, Dale!
Will be making these this weekend! For Thanksgiving is it okay to make them a day ahead? Any recommendations if they’re going to be reheated?
Donna, mashed potatoes can be made almost completely ahead. Reheat right before serving, adding butter at the last minute. 🙂
I tried this recipe tonight in my instant pot and my potatoes came out gluey instead of fluffy. Do you know what causes that?
Gluey potatoes typically means overworked potatoes.
When potatoes are mashed, starch is released. The more you work the potatoes, the more starch gets released. When too much starch gets released, the potatoes become gummy, gluey, and unappetizing. 🙁
We have an IP but it did not come with a trivet. Or if it did, the trivet was thrown out by mistake. We definitely want to make your mashed potato recipe but can we do it without the trivet?
The metal trivet is required to prevent the potatoes from burning. We recommend using one for the best results possible.
You can use a steamer basket if you can’t locate a trivet
two questions:
1)I’m eager to try this on my family first before debuting for the Tgiving crowd. How would you adjust downward for four people? (Not sure about the InstantPot factor , for example, re water to potato ratio )
2)I need to cut back some of the dairy for one person; which ingredients above would you reduce or cut entirely and yet still retain that inimitable creamy, delicious mashed potato essence?
I usually use the leftover liquid, I reserve it, and use it instead of milk.
This looks really good and I just bought and Instant Pot. I want to try this, but am nervous about putting a metal trivet in the Instant Pot. Is this absolutely necessary? What if I don’t have one?
Don’t be nervous, Vicky! It’ll be so great! 🙂
The metal trivet is required to prevent the potatoes from burning. We recommend using one for the best results possible.
I used my trivet but my potatoes fell off trivet and my instant pot said burning food. I think I might have cut my Potatoes to small. Any ideas would help. I put 3/4 cup of water in it but it was bone dry when I opened the lid.
But how long does it take to come up to pressure?
It should take about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure.
Hi there. I appreciate the instant pot popularity but I have no desire to own another appliance so I wonder if you would add a slow cooker option to your instant pot recipes. I would love to try these potatoes but I am not sure how long to cook and how to tweak the liquid (if at all). Thank you so much!
Hi Elizabeth! We have a few recipes for mashed potatoes that do not require an Instant Pot. 🙂
https://damndelicious.net/2017/11/17/slow-cooker-cauliflower-mashed-potatoes/
https://damndelicious.net/2015/11/12/garlic-ranch-mashed-potatoes/
https://damndelicious.net/2014/11/14/slow-cooker-garlic-mashed-potatoes/
We hope you get to give these a try! Have a great holiday season! 🙂
This will be perfect for Thanksgiving w/out tying up burners! Thanks for the recipe!