My friend Claudia recently gave me her slow cooker recipe for mashed red potatoes which she cooks in her slow cooker. Unfortunately, I am not a good planner, and forget to put the potatoes in the pot in time to get them done (4-6 hours) by dinnertime. I have adapted her recipe to make them quickly in my Instant Pot, and it works so well, these Instant Pot Smashed Red Potatoes have become my go-to side dish. They are not only quick and easy, they are creamy and delicious. They go well with almost any main dish, and are especially good with grilled or broiled meats, poultry, or fish. Leftovers, which are rare, make a perfect fluffy topping for shepherd’s pie, and, with the addition of a bit of flour and an egg, can be dropped into a skillet with a little butter to make delicious potato patties.

The red potatoes don’t need to be peeled, which saves time – simply scrub and quarter them. If you have larger red potatoes, you can cut them in smaller pieces (roughly 2” chunks). All said, these are the fastest potatoes you can make, and they are even suitable to be made on a weeknight. Instant Pots have helped most of us make much quicker meals; if you don’t own one, you are really missing out on a major timesaver. You can use this recipe in your slow cooker if you plan ahead; it works beautifully when you cook the potatoes at least four hours.

8 Servings

2 to 3 pounds small red potatoes, quartered
3/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 to 2/3 cup half and half
salt, to taste

1. Place the potatoes, water, and salt in the Instant Pot.
2. Cover, set the valve to Sealing, and set to pot to Manual for 10 Minutes.
3. When the cycle has finished, release the pressure.
4. Add the butter, and use a hand potato masher to mash the butter into the potatoes.
5. Mash in enough half and half to make the potatoes creamy.
6. Taste for seasoning and add additional salt if necessary.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 246 Calories from Fat 120
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 49% Protein 5% Carb. 46%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 13 g
Saturated Fat 8 g
Cholesterol 37 mg
Sodium 423 mg
Total Carbohydrate 28 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 3 g

Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 29% Calcium 0% Iron 8%