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Home » Side Dishes

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Published: Aug 23, 2018 · Modified: Nov 12, 2020 by staysnatched · This post may contain affiliate links · 32 Comments

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Quick and Easy Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes with cream cheese and sour cream is a recipe that will show you how long to pressure cook mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot. Serve this side dish for a holiday crowd using five pounds of russet or red potatoes or dinner for two using two pounds of potatoes. Drain the pot for fluffy potatoes, no-drain for creamy potatoes.

instant pot mashed potatoes in 3 bowls

 This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.

Calories: 250       Fat: 7G      Net Carbs: 40G      Protein:  6G

Summer is winding down and for the first time ever I am looking forward to fall. Summer is my favorite time of year. I love warm temperatures, BBQs, and hanging out by the pool.

This summer has been incredibly busy for me. I have taken 3 (well deserved) vacations and I have also had a lot of projects on my plate. I am looking forward to ushering in fall and sliding into the home plate for 2018. I can't believe we only have a few months left of this year.

sliced potatoes in an instant pot with water

The end of the year means the holiday season is on the rise. The holiday season brings in the best food of the year. These Instant Pot garlic mashed potatoes come along with it. These potatoes are perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and also make a great side-dish year round.

instant pot mashed potatoes in a white bowl

I love to eat my mashed potatoes with gravy, but good potatoes also don't need it. I need to come up with a delicious gravy recipe that can be prepared in the Instant Pot. Hmmmm....stay tuned for that one!

Table of Contents

  • Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe Tips
  • Quick and Easy Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Want to save this recipe for later?
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
      • Optional Topping Ideas
    • Instructions 
    • Notes
  • Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe Tips
    • Nutrition
    • Nutrition Data

Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe Tips

  • How long do you pressure cook mashed potatoes? If you are cooking 2 pounds of potatoes, cook on High > Manual Pressure Cooking for 10 minutes. 5 pounds of potatoes will need 12 minutes.
instant pot mashed potatoes in a white bowl
  • Which potatoes do you use for Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes? Russet potatoes work great to create light, fluffy, and succulent potatoes. I, however, also love mashed red potatoes. A lot of people don't like the consistency of mashed red potatoes. If you are cooking for a crowd, I definitely recommend russet or even Yukon gold. Test it out to see which you like the best.

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

  • How much water is necessary? Enough to cover the potatoes completely. This will help the pot come to pressure. For 2 pounds of potatoes, I needed 2 cups of water.
instant pot mashed potatoes in 3 bowls
  • Do you have to peel the potatoes before cooking them in the Instant Pot? This depends. If you want traditional mashed potatoes, then yes. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 4 large chunks. Skin-on mashed potatoes are a thing! They still taste good. Do what works for you.
instant pot mashed potatoes in 3 bowls
  • Do you need to use a steam basket or trivet for mashed potatoes? No, I use my trivet or steam basket when making Instant Pot Baked Potatoes or Instant Pot Potato Salad. The steam basket is necessary for the potato salad because I also boil the eggs with the potatoes. The trivet is necessary for baked potatoes to prevent the potato skin from burning inside the pot. You will not need one for this recipe.
instant pot mashed potatoes in 2 bowls
  • Do you have to drain the water from the Instant Pot after pressure cooking? It depends, I recommend yes drain the water. Draining the water completely will help create fluffy potatoes for this recipe. This recipe calls for cream cheese, ¼ cup heavy cream, and ¼ cup of sour cream.
  • If you pair these ingredients with the water that is already in the Instant Pot, the potatoes will turn out soupy. If you like creamy potatoes as opposed to fluffy, I still recommend you drain the water first, add the ingredients noted, and then assess if you need more liquid. You can always add water/liquid back to the potatoes. Once you add in your ingredients, it is a lot more difficult to drain the water. You will essentially be draining the ingredients you added right along with it.
a spoonful of instant pot mashed potatoes with bowls
  • Russet potatoes are naturally bland. SEASON your potatoes with salt and pepper, in addition to the spices listed. Start light and taste repeatedly until you have reached your desired taste.
instant pot mashed potatoes in 3 bowls

More Instant Pot Recipes:
Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Sweet Potato Soup
Instant Pot Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Instant Pot Low-Carb Pumpkin Spice Bread
Instant Pot Lasagna

Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto with Vegetables and Parmesan
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs Using the Instant Pot
Instant Pot Chicken and Spanish Rice (Arroz Con Pollo)
Instant Pot Cheesecake

Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
Instant Pot Steak Tacos
Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowl with Quinoa
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Pair these potatoes with your favorite meatloaf or with these Instant Pot Garlic Tuscan Chicken Thighs!

 
instant pot mashed potatoes in 3 bowls

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brandi Crawford
Quick and Easy Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes with cream cheese and sour cream is a recipe that will show you how long to pressure cook mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot. Serve this side dish for a holiday crowd using five pounds of russet or red potatoes or dinner for two using two pounds of potatoes.
4.94 from 15 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Rate this recipeLeave a review!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Instant Pot come to pressure 10 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course dinner, lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 250 kcal

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds russet potatoes peeled and sliced into large chunks
  • 2-3 garlic cloves minced You can also use 1 tablespoon of minced garlic in a jar
  • water, enough to completely cover the potatoes I used 2 cups
  • 2 oz cream cheese I used reduced-fat
  • ¼ cup sour cream I used reduced-fat
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon butter Use more if you prefer
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary fresh or jarred
  • salt and pepper to taste

Optional Topping Ideas

  • fresh parsley
  • paprika
  • green onions
  • chives

Instructions
 

  • Peel and slice the potatoes. To make it easy, I sliced each potato twice, to make 4 big chunks.
  • Place the potatoes in the Instant Pot with the garlic and water.
  • Cook on Manual High Pressure for 10 minutes.
  • When the Instant Pot beeps that it is complete, quick release the steam.
  • Open the lid and drain the excess water from the pot. See note in Recipe Notes.
  • Mash the potatoes with a potato masher. Add the remaining ingredients. Continue to mash and combine the ingredients. The potatoes will become fluffy. If the potatoes are too thick add a little water or milk until they reach your desired texture.
  • Cool before serving.

Notes

Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe Tips

  • How long do you pressure cook mashed potatoes? If you are cooking 2 pounds of potatoes, cook on High > Manual Pressure Cooking for 10 minutes. 5 pounds of potatoes will need 12 minutes.
  • Which potatoes do you use for Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes? Russet potatoes work great to create light, fluffy, and succulent potatoes. I, however, also love mashed red potatoes. A lot of people don't like the consistency of mashed red potatoes. If you are cooking for a crowd, I definitely recommend russet or even Yukon gold. Test it out to see which you like the best.
  • How much water is necessary? Enough to cover the potatoes completely. For 2 pounds of potatoes, I needed 2 cups of water.
  • Do you have to peel the potatoes before cooking them in the Instant Pot? This depends. If you want traditional mashed potatoes, then yes. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 4 large chunks. Skin-on mashed potatoes are a thing! They still taste good. Do what works for you.
  • Do you have to drain the water from the Instant Pot after pressure cooking? It depends, I recommend yes drain the water. Draining the water completely will help create fluffy potatoes for this recipe. This recipe calls for cream cheese, ¼ cup heavy cream, and ¼ cup of sour cream. If you pair these ingredients with the water that is already in the Instant Pot, the potatoes will turn out soupy. If you like creamy potatoes as opposed to fluffy, I still recommend you drain the water first, add the ingredients noted, and then assess if you need more liquid. You can always add water/liquid back to the potatoes. Once you add in your ingredients, it is a lot more difficult to drain the water. You will essentially be draining the ingredients you added right along with it.
  • Russet potatoes are naturally bland. SEASON your potatoes with salt and pepper, in addition to the spices listed. Start light and taste repeatedly until you have reached your desired taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal
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Nutrition Data

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Comments

  1. Wilhelmina Wessel says

    August 24, 2018 at 9:00 pm

    5 stars
    Always a great side dish option!

    Reply
  2. Helen says

    August 24, 2018 at 11:23 pm

    5 stars
    I have a feeling these are going to become a new favourite around here!
    Thank you for this awesome quick and easy recipe!

    Reply
  3. Anaya says

    December 09, 2018 at 10:45 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for the recipe can not wait to try it.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      December 09, 2018 at 10:46 am

      I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  4. Jennifer says

    May 04, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy! I just finished cooking/eating these mashed potatoes. They were so good & fluffy. Thank you for this recipe. I probably won’t be making mashed potatoes on the stovetop again...?

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      May 05, 2020 at 9:25 am

      haha! You and me both!

      Reply
  5. Wayne Henry says

    May 26, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    4 stars
    Great dish. I made it tonight, and it came out very well. I used it as a side dish along with pork neck bones and fried kale with bacon. I know it is a lot of pork, but it tasted delicious. However, I do have a question. I watched the video and noticed that after you took the cover off of the instant pot, you poured a liquid into the pot and stirred. The liquid was not labeled in the video, and I did not see it in the ingredients. I was going to put heavy cream in the dish but decided against doing so because it was not in the ingredients list.

    Please advise.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      May 28, 2020 at 3:09 pm

      Hi there. The ingredients listed in the recipe card are what you should use.

      Reply
  6. Ana says

    November 11, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    Looking at making this recipe for Thanksgiving and when I read the post it says, "This recipe calls for cream cheese, 1/4 cup heavy cream, and 1/4 cup of sour cream."
    In the recipe ingredients list, it doesn't mention heavy cream. Should this be added or omitted?

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      November 12, 2020 at 12:03 pm

      The 1/4 cup is added. Thanks for checking!

      Reply
  7. Lulu says

    November 26, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    5 stars
    Omg, I made you instant pot mashed potatoes, never making them any other way, so easy and creamy! Thank you, you have the most amazing recipes!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      November 27, 2020 at 12:16 pm

      Yes! I love an easy potatoes recipe.

      Reply
  8. Jillianjiggs55_tiu says

    November 27, 2020 at 1:14 pm

    I loved everything about these mashed potatoes. I loved how easy and quick they were (just like the title). They were so creamy and not running. I made sure to follow Brandi’s tips. I will definitely be making these again and not just on Thanksgiving.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      November 27, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      Yay! I'm so glad they were a success.

      Reply
  9. Kelly says

    November 27, 2020 at 1:37 pm

    5 stars
    After making these, I can’t believe I’ve been struggling to make mashed potatoes on the stove all these years! The potatoes were ridiculously easy to mash, tasted great, and didn’t take up space on the stove. Best part is I could make them a couple hours before dinner, cover the instant pot, and they were warm and perfect when we were ready to eat.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      November 27, 2020 at 2:45 pm

      Wonderful! I will never go back to stovetop either.

      Reply
  10. Katye Brzozowski says

    November 28, 2020 at 9:43 am

    5 stars
    To start, for thanksgiving we ALWAYS go with Steam and Mash potatoes for simplicity sake. This year, they were no where to be found and I thought of StaySnatched first. Thank goodness this recipe was here. It was a literal idiot proof recipe. Even the reheated leftovers taste as amazing as they did Thursday. Thank you!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      November 28, 2020 at 7:23 pm

      You're welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  11. Linda says

    December 06, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing, flavorful and creamy

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      December 07, 2020 at 11:13 am

      Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply
  12. Erin says

    December 17, 2020 at 9:48 am

    5 stars
    I had a recipe for Instant Pot mashed potatoes. I tried it twice with no success. Last night, I was running behind cooking dinner and thought to check your website. I'm so glad I did! I was able to have the potatoes finished much quicker than cooking on the stovetop. Thank you for a solid method for cooking potatoes in the Instant Pot. Now I realize the original recipe I used didn't have enough water.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      December 17, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Yes! The water is key to the recipe.

      Reply
  13. Kate Kwedar says

    November 21, 2021 at 3:08 pm

    5 stars
    Made these for Friendsgiving and they were a hit! I have made enough of Brandi’s recipes to know that I don’t have to try them out before making them for a group! As long as you follow her well thought directions, you’re good! Thank you, Brandi!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      November 26, 2021 at 5:07 pm

      You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  14. Jill says

    November 26, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    5 stars
    I knew from the moment my friends group decided to do a Friendsgiving that I wanted to make/bring these mashed potatoes. I wanted the REAL deal of potatoes. These are the best!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      November 30, 2021 at 11:12 am

      Yay! I'm glad they were a hit.

      Reply
  15. Sarah S says

    January 06, 2022 at 4:17 pm

    5 stars
    I love that I can cook the rest of dinner while the instant pot does it's work. These potatoes were flavorful and delicious. Will definitely make again.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      January 09, 2022 at 5:19 pm

      Glad to hear you will make them again.

      Reply
  16. Alisan says

    April 17, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    5 stars
    These turned out so fluffy and full of flavor! Very easy to make as well.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      April 25, 2022 at 9:00 pm

      I'm glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  17. Monica Randhawa says

    June 27, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    5 stars
    It's super hot out, so rather than heat up my house even more, I was looking for an easier way to make mashed potatoes. This was perfect! They came out super creamy, and it's much quicker than boiling water, etc. I won't make my mashed potatoes any other way.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      July 02, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
4.94 from 15 votes

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Welcome!

Brandi currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri and is a self-taught cook and fitness enthusiast. She is the author of The Super Easy Air Fryer Cookbook and has been featured on Good Morning America and in Women's Health Magazine, Shape, Parade, Essence, Country Living, Southern Living, BuzzFeed, Delish, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Spaces Magazine, Greatist, and more.

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