Instant Pot Fancy Potatoes—a 5 ingredient recipe for the tastiest whipped potatoes. A better version of mashed potatoes!

Instant Pot Fancy Potatoes
Fancy potatoes take mashed potatoes to a whole new level. The pressure cooked potatoes are whipped with cream cheese, sour cream and garlic salt and then baked with cheese on top. Mmmm mmm! How could that not be good?
When I was cooking dinner my daughter was going crazy waiting for me to finish these potatoes. She was so excited to try them. Once she did try them she didn’t want to stop eating them. She takes after me…she’s a carb lover. We agreed that this was a winning way to make mashed potatoes.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Russet potatoes–you can also use red or yellow potatoes
- Garlic salt–or 1 part garlic powder and 3 parts salt
- Cream cheese–or Neufchatel cheese
- Sour cream–or plain Greek yogurt
- Colby jack cheese–you can also use cheddar or another type of cheese
Steps
- Prepare Instant Pot: Pour 1 ½ cups water into bottom of Instant Pot liner. Add potatoes to a steamer basket. Lower the steamer basket into the Instant Pot liner.
- Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 10 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Get ready to mash: Carefully remove the steamer basket and set aside. Dump out the water in the bottom of the Instant pot liner and dry out the pot. Dump the potatoes into the bottom of the Instant Pot liner.
- Whip potatoes: Add the garlic salt, cream cheese and sour cream in with the potatoes. Use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes until creamy and smooth.
- Cheese it up: Use a spatula to spread the mixture out evenly in the bottom of the Instant Pot liner. Sprinkle with the cheese. Place an air fryer lid on top of Instant Pot and air fry at 300 degrees for 5 minutes. (If you don’t have an air fryer lid then place the normal lid on top and keep the pot on warm for about 10 minutes until cheese has melted.)
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- These potatoes are so popular you may want to double this recipe. Double all the ingredients (except the water underneath the steamer basket) and keep the cooking time the same.
- I finished these off with my air fryer lid. However you could also spread the potatoes in a 9×9 inch square baking dish and bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
- If you’re cooking ahead of time try spreading the potatoes in a baking dish and covering with foil. Refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Bake at 350 degrees with the foil on top until hot and then remove foil and add cheese on top and bake for 10 more minutes.
- I used my silicone steamer basket* to cook the potatoes in.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with cream cheese are Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Instant Pot Amish Casserole.
- This recipe was adapted from All Recipes.

5 More Instant Pot Potato Recipes…
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Instant Pot Duck Dynasty Casserole
The most amazing mashed potato casserole with a crispy topping. You can make this ahead of time for family suppers. It will quickly become a favorite.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
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Instant Pot Fancy Potatoes
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
A 5-ingredient recipe for the tastiest whipped potatoes. A better version of mashed potatoes!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded colby jack cheese
Instructions
- Pour 1 ½ cups water into bottom of Instant Pot liner. Add potatoes to a steamer basket. Lower the steamer basket into the Instant Pot liner.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 10 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Carefully remove the steamer basket and set aside. Dump out the water in the bottom of the Instant pot liner and dry out the pot. Dump the potatoes into the bottom of the Instant Pot liner.
- Add the garlic salt, cream cheese and sour cream in with the potatoes. Use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes until creamy and smooth.
- Use a spatula to spread the mixture out evenly in the bottom of the Instant Pot liner. Sprinkle with the cheese. Place an air fryer lid on top of Instant Pot and air fry at 300 degrees for 5 minutes. (If you don’t have an air fryer lid then place the normal lid on top and keep the pot on warm for about 10 minutes until cheese has melted.)
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Potatoes
- Method: Instant Pot/Air fryer lid


*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Had good flavor. The texture was a bit dense, so will use less cream cheese and sour cream and make up the difference with milk next time I make this. Topped it with cheddar.
★★★★★
Thanks Sharon!