- Smashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot
- Quick Smashed Potato Recipe
- Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes for Summer Dinners
- How to Make Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes
- Are Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes Good?
- How Long Does It Take to Make Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes?
- More Potato Recipes from Steph You Might Like:
- More Side Dishes from Steph You Might Like:
- Where to Buy an Instant Pot
Smashed potatoes are my family’s new favorite potato side dish. We’ve tried all the classics: mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, homemade fries, etc. Honestly, it’s hard to go wrong with a good potato. But smashed potatoes are our new favorite for a few reasons.
Smashed potatoes are:
- Easy to make
- Elegant (they look like they took extra effort but honestly, they are even easier than roasted potatoes)
- Crispy on the outside
- Soft on the inside
- Real food
- Dairy-free
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Paleo
- Grain-free
- Budget-friendly (hello, potatoes)
- Perfect side dish
- and you can make these ones with the Instant Pot!
Smashed Potatoes in the Instant Pot
In order to make smashed potatoes, you cook the potatoes twice: first in water, then in the oven so they get that crisp we all love.
You can cook the potatoes on the stovetop for the first step, but I prefer cooking them in the Instant Pot because it takes a little more of the mental load off of dinner.
Simply toss the potatoes in the Instant Pot with a little water and set the timer, then go about your day until you’re ready to do the rest of the recipe. Because I work from home, I often start these in the mid-morning so they are ready for the next step closer to dinner. Then I can use the Instant Pot to make my meat or main dish while the smashed potatoes finish baking in the oven.
Quick Smashed Potato Recipe
Baby potatoes only take 5 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot. However, this doesn’t really save you time compared to cooking them on the stovetop because the pressure cooker still takes about 10 minutes to warm up and 10 minutes to release the pressure after cooking.
However, like I said above, cooking potatoes in the Instant Pot frees up my mental space while I’m cooking dinner. The Instant Pot won’t boil over, and I don’t need to check that the potatoes are thoroughly cooked. I just set the Instant Pot up and forget about it until the next step.
Altogether, smashed potatoes only take about 10 minutes of active work. I wash them, toss them with salt, add some water to the Instant Pot, start it, then smash them, drizzle with oil and seasonings, and bake. Simple and delicious.
Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes for Summer Dinners
Instant Pot smashed potatoes are a great side dish all year around, but I like them in the summer with grilled chicken or as a healthier alternative to fries with my burgers. Smashed potatoes still have those crispy outsides and soft insides that we love about fries, but they are easier to make and less processed. Serve with a salad or roasted veggies to round out the meal.
Where to Buy an Instant Pot
This is the 6-quart Instant Pot I started out with. After a few years, we added an 8-quart partly because I knew I would use two at the same time often enough, partly because it was the Prime Day sale, and also because I wanted more space for certain recipes. Both are a pretty basic model and you don’t need more bells and whistles than that!
If you’re deciding on size, most people say it’s better to get a deal on the 6-quart and just have 2 rather than go big, BUT if your family has 5 or more people or you really like to batch cook or do more than a pound of beans, the 8-quart may be the best choice. My full Instant Pot review and buying guide for features, size, and model.
If you’d like to shop directly at Instant Pot’s website instead of Amazon (or just compare prices), check them out here.
You can even get a carrying case to travel with it! See my review of the Instant Pot carrying case we have.
If you’re still on the fence about adding an Instant Pot to your kitchen appliance arsenal here are my Instant Pot pros and cons.
How to Make Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes
To make Instant Pot smashed potatoes, you will need:
- Baby potatoes
- Salt
- Water
- Olive oil (and butter if you like)
- Pepper
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Minced fresh herbs, like parsley or dill (optional)
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
To cook the smashed potatoes, you will need to wash them, then toss them with a little salt. Add one cup of water to the Instant Pot and place the steamer basket over the water. Pour in the potatoes and cook on the manual setting for 5 minutes.
When the potatoes are done and the pressure has released naturally, distribute the potatoes between two baking sheets and smash them with the fork until they are good and flat. Keep in mind that the flatter they are, the crispier they will become when they bake. If you prefer softer potatoes, don’t smash them too flat.
To make extra crispy smashed potatoes, let them air dry for 5 minutes before topping them. After the 5 minutes are up, drizzle the potatoes with oil and melted butter, then generously sprinkle them with all of the seasonings except the fresh herbs.
Bake at 425 F for 20-30 minutes, until the potatoes are golden and crispy at the edges. If you really want to go over the top, sprinkle them with shredded parmesan after they are done baking, then put them under the broiler for a few minutes, until the cheese is melty and toasted.
Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve alongside your main dish and veggies.
Are Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes Good?
You can’t make smashed potatoes using only the Instant Pot. This is because for the final step, the potatoes need to bake in the dry oven heat in order to get crispy and golden like we love. Since the Instant Pot cooks with water, you can’t bake the potatoes in the Instant Pot. However, the first step for smashed potatoes is cooking them in water, so the Instant Pot is perfect for that part.
This recipe is a great example of how the Instant Pot can simplify part of our cooking process. By cooking the potatoes for the first step, I can do other things while waiting for them to cook instead of babysitting the stove. Between the Instant Pot and the oven, making smashed potatoes has never been easier.
How Long Does It Take to Make Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes?
Altogether, smashed potatoes only take about 10 minutes of active work. Cook time is a little longer, but I like to call that brain-space time, because you’re not watching a pot or checking on the potatoes. Just set the timer and forget it. So simple.
The Instant Pot takes about 10 minutes to heat up, 5 minutes to cook the potatoes and 10 minutes for the pressure to release naturally. After that, the potatoes bake in the oven for 5 -30 minutes. So you’re looking at a full hour from start to finish, but you only had to work on the dish for 10 minutes of that hour. You can use the downtime to fix a salad, grill some chicken – even mix a salad dressing!
You’re Just *7 Days* Away From Easier Meals with Your Instant Pot
Whether you have a few fav meals in your Instant Pot or still aren’t using it regularly yet, I can show you the secrets to SAVE time (and money) with my favorite appliance!
May I send you my best hacks to maximize my fav appliance so you can spend more time with your family AND nourish them well?
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More Potato Recipes from Steph You Might Like:
Plus: 5 Ways to use up leftover potatoes!
More Side Dishes from Steph You Might Like:
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Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes Recipe
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Smashed potatoes are one of my favorite summer side dishes!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds of baby potatoes
- 1 c. water
- 1 Tbs avocado oil
- 3 tsp butter, melted (or more oil)
- 1/2 tsp salt (Use the code kitchenstewardship for 15% off of your first purchase)
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 Tbs minced fresh herbs, like parsley or dill (optional)
- 1–2 c. parmesan cheese, shredded (optional)
Instructions
- Pour one cup of water into the Instant Pot and place the steamer basket over the water. Add the potatoes and sprinkle them generously with salt (Use the code kitchenstewardship for 15% off of your first purchase), tossing them to evenly distribute the salt.
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot, seal it, and set it to cook on the manual setting for 5 minutes.
- When the potatoes are done and the pressure has released naturally, spread the potatoes between two baking sheets, about 2-3 inches apart, and smash them with a fork or potato masher until they are good and flat. Keep in mind that the flatter they are, the crispier they will become when they bake. If you prefer softer potatoes, don’t smash them too flat.
- To make extra crispy smashed potatoes, let them air dry for 5 minutes before topping them. After the 5 minutes are up, drizzle the potatoes with oil and butter, then generously sprinkle them with all of the seasonings except the fresh herbs.
- Bake at 425 F for 20-30 minutes, until the potatoes are golden and crispy at the edges. If you really want to go over the top, sprinkle them with shredded parmesan after they are done baking, then put them under the broiler for a few minutes, until the cheese is melty and toasted.
- Sprinkle with the fresh herbs and serve alongside your main dish and veggies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 87
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: summer side dish, potato recipe, potato side dish
What’s your favorite summer side dish?
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