Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes (Quick & Easy)

This Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes recipe uses baby red potatoes, savory bacon, and parmesan cheese for a tangy, cheesy side that’s a fun twist on traditional mashed potatoes. Make easy loaded red potatoes using baby reds for quick smashed potatoes any night of the week. These Instant Pot red potatoes will be a hit at the dinner table.

a platter of instant pot potatoes ready to serve

The trusty, versatile potato has long been a mealtime favorite. And thanks to the Instant Pot, it’s now easier than ever to make a variety of potato dishes in a flash with barely any effort.

These little potatoes are steamed in the pressure cooker and then topped with more cheese and fresh chives to create the perfect loaded red potatoes side dish!

What’s Covered in this Post:

Why Use an Instant Pot to Make Smashed Potatoes?
New to Instant Pot Cooking?
Ingredients for Instant Pot Red Potatoes
Kitchen Tools Needed
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How to Make Instant Pot Smashed Baby Red Potatoes
Frequently Asked Questions
Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes Recipe
Get more Instant Pot Recipes

Why Use an Instant Pot to Make Smashed Potatoes?

Boiling potatoes on the stovetop means hefting a pot of boiling water in the kitchen. And it’s the last thing you want to do during the warm days of summer.

Learn more about pressure cooking and the Instant Pot in my Instant Pot Basics post.

Pressure cooking, on the other hand, requires only a fraction of the water. It steams the potatoes to cook them to perfection effortlessly.

If you are unfamiliar, a pressure cooker is a sealed pot with a valve that controls the steam pressure inside. As the pot heats, the liquid inside forms steam, raising the pot’s pressure. This high-pressure steam has two major effects:

Quickly raises the boiling point of the water in the pot. Typically water-based foods cooked on the stove, like soups and steamed veggies, can only get as hot as boiling water (which is 212°F). However, because the Instant Pot uses the steam’s pressure, the boiling point gets as high as 250°F. Food cooks much faster with this higher heat.
Forces liquid into the food. Not only does pressure cooking with steam increase the temperature, but it also helps to tenderize foods more thoroughly and quickly.

Essentially, foods cooked in a pressure cooker are infused with flavor and taste better. And that’s exactly what happens in this Instant Pot steamed potatoes recipe! Each bite bursts with savoriness from the chicken broth.

Not only are the insides of red potatoes cooked in the Instant Pot delicious, but the extra-high heat of the pressure cooker also causes the exterior of the potato to caramelize.

The result is a terrifically tender, slightly crispy smashed potato. Loaded with tangy parmesan cheese, salty bacon, and fresh chives, it’s a hearty, gluten-free side dish that is guaranteed to make everyone at the table happy!

New to Instant Pot Cooking?

Read this first! How to use the Instant Pot 101 is for those new to pressure cooking. Tips & Hacks for the Instant Pot is terrific for new and seasoned Instant Pot users alike.

If you love to cook mashed potatoes, you may check our other recipes that can be cooked in an Instant Pot like no-drain mashed potatoes, Instant Pot mashed red potatoes, and garlic mashed potatoes.

Little Potato Company's dynamic duo ready to serve

Ingredients for Instant Pot Red Potatoes

Here is everything you need to make the easiest, cheesiest loaded red potatoes right in the Instant Pot:

Bacon
Garlic
Small red potatoes
Chicken broth
Parmesan cheese
Green onions

sautéing bacon pieces in the Instant Pot ready to pressure cook

Kitchen Tools Needed

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Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1

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Wire Masher

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How to Make Instant Pot Smashed Baby Red Potatoes

This satisfying side dish only requires a few steps and is ready in less than 30 minutes. Instant Pot parmesan potatoes are perfect for making on a busy weeknight or enjoying as part of a big family Sunday dinner.

Here is the easy prep for making cheesy, savory smashed baby red potatoes in the Instant Pot:

First, use the saute function to cook chopped bacon in the Instant Pot. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, add the potatoes, and close and seal the lid. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
Once done, do a quick release to vent the steam. Open the lid, slightly smash the potatoes, and stir in some of the parmesan cheese.
Then, transfer the smashed red potatoes to a serving dish. Top with the remaining cheese and chopped fresh green onions.

The Full Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes Recipe is below

A pot showing Instant pot steamed red potatoes ready to pressure cook

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make vegetarian Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes?

Substitute the bacon for 1 tablespoon of butter, and swap chicken broth with vegetable broth to make savory meat-free smashed red potatoes.

Can I use potatoes other than red potatoes?

Yes! I prefer baby red potatoes to make Instant Pot steamed smashed potatoes because I love their earthy flavor. But feel free to use chopped yellow Yukon gold potatoes or even Russet potatoes if you like.

What main dishes do steamed Smashed Potatoes go well with?

You can enjoy these delicious instant pot parmesan potatoes with nearly any meal! Try them as a side dish with Baked Chicken Tenderloins, Perfect Pan Seared Chicken Breasts, Buttermilk Brined Pork Chops, or Braised Beef.

What if I don’t have a pressure cooker?

Make this smashed potatoes dish on the stovetop by boiling the potatoes in water. Cook the bacon using whatever method you prefer most (fry in a skillet, cook in a microwave) while the potatoes boil. Drain the potatoes when done and lightly smash with a masher.

Then, add some of the parmesan and chopped bacon, and stir. Cover the pot with a lid to allow the cheese to melt slightly. Place on serving dish, add more cheese and green onions before enjoying.

Instant Pot loaded red potatoes on a platter ready to serve

Instant Pot Smashed Potatoes Recipe