Instant Pot Potatoes

Making melt-in-your-mouth potatoes is easy thanks to the Instant Pot! Enjoy these 20-minute Instant Pot Potatoes whenever you need an upgraded potato side dish for dinners, potlucks, and holidays.

The Instant Pot is one of my go-to hands-off tools because it does most of the work, seals in flavor, and tenderizes hearty vegetables like spaghetti squash, broccoli, and potatoes with ease. It’s the best tool to rely on when you want amazing side dishes to pair with your favorite mains.

The Instant Pot is also the best way to transform firm and hearty baby potatoes into melt-in-your-mouth buttery bites! All it takes is 20 minutes and a handful of herbs and seasonings to make these amazing Instant Pot Potatoes. One bite and you’ll be hooked!

The soft and creamy potatoes are seasoned with a handful of herbs, spices, and butter to give them irresistible garlicky, herbaceous, and savory flavors. They’re so good that you’ll want to pair them with all of your favorite meals week after week!

Recipe highlights

• You only need 20 minutes to make this easy side dish. The Instant Pot does most of the work, allowing you to focus on preparing the main course while the potatoes do their thing.
• The pillowy soft potatoes are seasoned with a simple blend of herbs, spices, and butter at the end. Play around with these as much as you like to find your perfect flavor!
• It’s the best vegetarian side dish for weeknight dinners, holidays, potlucks, and more.

Ingredients 

Baby potatoes - These adorable tiny potatoes come in three different colors: yellow, white, and red. They have a thin skin and creamy middle, making them ideal for pressure cooking. Any color will work well here, although red potatoes might be better off being roasted in the oven because they don’t become as soft and creamy as other varieties. 

Vegetable broth - The liquid needed to create the steam that cooks the potatoes. It also prevents the potatoes from sticking to the bottom, which can give you a burn notice. Feel free to use chicken broth, vegetable broth, or homemade bone broth. Water also works but it isn’t as flavorful.

Dry spices - I seasoned the potatoes with dried parsley, garlic powder, oregano, basil, onion powder, pepper, and salt.

Butter - Because butter and potatoes are a match made in heaven. You can use regular butter, ghee, or vegan butter here.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Prep the potatoes. Wash the potatoes and slice the larger ones in half. Place them in the Instant Pot along with the broth and salt.

Step 2: Pressure cook. Lock the lid in place and pressure cook on high pressure for 2 minutes. 

Step 3: Release the steam. Release the steam on “natural release” for 5 minutes before manually releasing the remaining pressure. 

Step 4: Season and serve. Drain most of the liquid from the pot. Add the parsley, garlic powder, oregano, basil, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and butter, then gently stir until the butter is melted. Scoop the herb-dressed potatoes onto your plate and enjoy!

Tips and FAQs

• To avoid a burn notice, remember to add enough liquid to the pot so the steam can build up and cook the potatoes all the way through. 
• Feel free to double or triple this recipe if your Instant Pot is big enough. Cover the potatoes by about 1 inch with broth or water but leave the cooking time as-is.
• If you don’t have baby potatoes, you can make this recipe with 1 to 2-inch cubed red, Yukon Gold, or Russet potatoes without adjusting the cooking time.

How long do you cook baby potatoes in the Instant Pot?

The cook time will vary depending on the size and type of potato you use. I made this recipe with 1 to 2-inch baby potatoes, which only needed to be cooked for 2 minutes on high pressure with 5 minutes of natural release.

Can you cook potatoes in the Instant Pot without the steamer basket?

Yes. Just keep in mind that starchy potatoes, like Russets, are prone to absorbing more water and becoming mushy without the steamer basket. 

Should you season potatoes before or after cooking?

I recommend seasoning the potatoes after cooking. This way, you’re in control of how the seasonings, salt, and butter affect the balance of each bite. 

How else can you add flavor to boiled potatoes?

Any way you like! There are endless ways to season these potatoes:

• Swap the seasonings in the recipe for Italian or Greek seasoning, herbs de Provence, dry ranch seasoning, or Cajun seasoning instead. 
• For a cheesy flavor, toss the hot potatoes with fresh parmesan or shredded cheddar cheese.
• For a pop of herbaceous and bright flavors, season the potatoes with fresh parsley, oregano, and basil instead of dried.
• Toss the cooked potatoes with Dijon mustard or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice if you’re using them to make a bright and tangy potato salad. 

What do you serve with garlic herb potatoes?

These seasoned buttery Instant Pot potatoes are a versatile, delicious side dish you can pair with all kinds of mains, like meatloaf, grilled chicken thighs, baked cod, and so much more. Round out the meal with a kale salad and sauteed asparagus, and voila! You’re left with a perfect dinner.

Storage

Refrigerator: Once the potatoes have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. 

Reheating: Use the microwave to reheat the pre-cooked potatoes or heat them in a saucepan over medium heat with a splash of water or broth. 

More potato side dishes

• Mashed Red Potatoes
• Air Fryer Potato Wedges
• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!