Easy Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potatoes
Can I be the first to say that loaded baked potatoes are everything? I mean, youve got the scrumptious baked potato itself, but then all of those mouthwatering toppings! No wonder loaded baked potatoes have inspired all kinds of spinoff dishes, from chips to appetizers to Loaded Baked Potato Soup!
And, loaded baked potatoes are so customizable! Everyone can make their own, just the way they like it. That makes these yummy taters one of my favorite meals to serve guests, or just to make for the family! Its the kind of dinner that were all glad to sit down and eat after a long day, but its also great if youre watching football or having a birthday party. Versatile, huh?
Quick And Easy Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes in the Instant Pot are the quickest and fluffiest baked potatoes you will ever make!
Why the Instant Pot? It only takes 37 minutes to cook a whole pot of medium russet potatoes in the Instant Pot. And that includes time for the IP to come up to pressure AND release pressure. WOOOOO-HOOO! That is so much less than the time it takes to cook a baked potato in the oven.
The Instant Pot also allows for a “set it and forget it” mindset. No checking on them and wondering if they’re done or flipping them halfway through. Just a push of a button and you will end up with the fluffiest baked potatoes ever.
What is the texture like? SO SUPER FLUFFY! The potatoes actually steam rather than bake in the Instant Pot, which makes them moist and fluffy every single time.
Have you tried our 20-minute Instant Pot spaghetti squash?
How Many Potatoes Can You Put In An Instant Pot
How many will your Instant Pot fit? How big is your Instant Pot? Mine will hold 4-6 but some are smaller and some were bigger. My advice is to only fit in as many as can fit while still having a little gap between the potatoes. Its okay if they touch but you dont want them to be smooshed in there really tight.
It also depends on how big your potatoes are more will fit if they are smaller, less if they are bigger. How to Build a Baked Potato Bar
So one of my most favorite things to do with baked potatoes is to make a baked potato bar. It doesnt have to be super fancy, and can be as simple as putting all of your favorite toppings out in a bowl to share. Or sometimes I like to use a partitioned veggie tray to put in all the bar ingredients into one single, convenient dish.
Here are some of my favorite items to put on a baked potato bar, in no particular order, just some ideas to get you thinking.
- Sour cream
- Chili
- Barbecue sauce
I hope you love these Instant Pot Baked Potatoes as much as me and my family do!
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Making Pressure Cooker Baked Potatoes
This baked potato recipe will work in any brand of electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or Power Pressure Cooker XL.
The potatoes are certainly tasty after pressure cooking, but they reach fluffy perfection when crisped with the air fryer lid or in the oven.
Tip: After crisping, we like to wrap them in a piece of aluminum foil and gently pound them on the counter on each side. This makes the potatoes extra fluffy.
Then unwrap, slice, and top with your favorite add-ons.
Baked Potatoes In The Instant Pot
Have you ever tried making baked potatoes in the Instant Pot? If not, you are missing out on my favorite perfect-every-time spuds method! Simple and done in less time than using the oven, making baked potatoes has never been easier!
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are a STAPLE dinner side in many homes. But, is it just me, or are baked potatoes in the oven a bit of a gamble? One time you cook them in your oven and they are perfect. The next time, you do them the exact same way and they are still hard and need more time. And then the next time, some are cooked and some are not.
And dont even get me started on the hour or so it takes to bake them in the oven. Arg!
So, I started cooking my baked potatoes in my Instant Pot andwoah! Instant game changer! Perfect every time. So much faster. And no more guessing if they were going to be done! This has become my go-to way of cooking baked potatoes and makes it so much easier enjoying them for dinner, even on the busiest of nights.
How to bake potatoes in the Instant Pot
So, it technically isnt baking them, but rather them cooking them with steam under pressure. The result is close enough to the for me and this method couldnt be easier.
It is as simple as:
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How To Make The Gravy
When your Instant Pot is done, let it release the pressure naturally. It wont take long and you can set the table in the meantime. Remove the chicken thighs and the trivet from the insert. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water and add to the liquid at the bottom of the insert. You can press saute button and let it cook until it thickens. The liquid might just be hot enough so you wont need to do that.
Perfect Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Tips For Success:
- Do I Need To Wrap Potatoes With Foil? Nope! Similar to my perfect oven baked potatoes, these potatoes do not need to be wrapped in foil.
- COLD Water is it necessary? Yes, it actually matters here. We dont need ice cold water, just cold tap water will do the trick. The water has to come to a boil, to create steam, which in turn creates the pressure. If its warm or hot water when you start, itll effect the overall cook time of the potatoes.
- Do I Need to Use a Trivet? Yes, this is important to keep the potatoes out of the water, giving them an ideal texture and consistency when done.
- Natural Release of Pressure Once the pressure cooker is done cooking, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. Then simply flip the pressure valve open and release the remaining pressure.
- Baked Potato Toppings Cut open your potatoes and fill with your favorite toppings like: butter, green onions, sour cream, cheese or chili.
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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes:
Making mashed potatoes in the instant pot starts out just a simple and easy as if you were making mashed potatoes on the stove like my reader favorite Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes.
Youll start out with three pounds of potatoes. This is about 6 medium potatoes total. Go ahead and peel them. I havent tried this recipe leaving the skin on the potatoes because we prefer ours without skin.
Next, simply slice the potatoes into large rounds. For me, this came out to about 4-5 round slices per potato. There is no reason to spend time cutting them into cubes. Youll then cover them completely in water which will be about 4-5 cups depending on what size of instant pot youre using. The picture below shows the potato rounds in my 8 quart instant pot.
After the potatoes are covered in the water you will add ½ teaspoon of salt. This is just enough salt to flavor the potatoes while they cook without being overwhelming.
Then, thats it for now! Go ahead and place the lid on your instant pot. Set the valve to sealed and cook on manual for 8 minutes. Keep in mind that it will take about 8-10 minutes for the pot to come to pressure.
Once the timer goes off you can quick release the pressure from your pot. You will need to drain the potatoes and then return them to the instant pot with the power off.
You can mash these up with a standard potato masher if you wish. Or, you can mash then whip them with a hand-held mixer which is what I love to do!
Enjoy!
Why You Will Love This Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe
- Quick to make: Ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes, making baked potatoes in the Instant Pot is a great option when you are short on time.
- Simple ingredients: You just need some potatoes, water and your Instant Pot, these are a breeze!
- Make ahead: Baked potatoes reheat really easily, so you can make up a few to enjoy for easy lunches and meals throughout the week.
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Tips For Cooking Chicken Thighs In The Instant Pot:
How Do You Cook Them In The Oven
If you dont have an Instant Pot, you can make baked potatoes in the oven, it will just take a little while longer. Preheat the oven to 400F, rub a little oil over the potatoes and then place on a baking sheet. Depending on the size of your potatoes, it will take around one hour for them to fully cook through.
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How Long To Cook Baked Potatoes In Instant Pot
The amount of time is dependent on the size of the potatoes. I recommend using potatoes that are all roughly the same size so they all cook evenly.
For the times below, set your instant pot to high pressure, and when it’s finished cooking, let the instant pot naturally release pressure for at least 10 minutes, as the potatoes will continue to cook.
- Small potatoes: 12 minutes
- Large potatoes: 22 minutes
- Extra large potatoes: 30 minutes
If you’re not sure about the size of your potatoes, I recommend adding extra cook time because it’s better to have potatoes that are a little over cooked than undercooked.
For reference, a 5 pound bag of russet potatoes at the grocery store typically has large sized potatoes.
How To Make Them
First, you’ll want to make sure your potatoes are scrubbed and cleaned well. Russet potato skin can hold a lot of dirt, and if you don’t scrub them well, you will be able to taste it. A 6-quart Instant Pot will hold about 4 medium russet potatoes. Be sure that the potatoes are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
Prick the potatoes all over with a fork about 10-15 times. Place the metal steamer rack in your Instant Pot and fill with water until just below the bottom of the rack. Layer your potatoes in , close the lid, and set the pressure release valve to “sealing.” No foil needed!
How long to cook them will depend on the size.Cook on high pressure for:
- 12 minutes for smaller potatoes. Less than 2″ in diameter.
- 15 minutes for medium potatoes. About 2″ to 3″ in diameter.
- 18 minutes for large potatoes. Above 3″ in diameter.
We use a 6-quart Instant Pot and it takes 12 minutes to come up to pressure. After cooking for 15 minutes, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then manually release the rest of the pressure. Open the lid and your potatoes will be baked to perfection!
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Pressure Cooker Mashed Potatoes: Cooking Them
When my friend makes mashed potatoes, she cooks the potatoes right in the milk. This sounds like such a good idea-until you get the unlucky batch of potatoes and milk that scorches on the bottom.
Since I dont want my milk to burn and ruin the potatoes, I cook the potatoes in water, not milk. In fact, if we want to get all technical, Im pressure steaming them.
Its so easy to do. Pour water into the pressure cooker insert. Then put the steamer rack into the bottom of the pot. Place your peeled, cubed potatoes onto the rack. Its fine if a few of the potatoes fall through the rack into the water. Theres lots of things to worry about in life. This isnt one of them.
Lock the lid in place. Close the steam release valve. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. When the times up, do a quick release. Poke a potato or two with a fork. It should be nice and soft. If its hard in the center, put the lid back on the pressure cooker and cook for an additional two minutes.
What Are Instant Pot Potatoes
This method transforms starchy Russet potatoes into classic, creamy baked potatoes, begging to be split open and served with your favorite toppings.
With their tender, fluffy centers, Instant Pot potatoes are very similar to baked potatoes, but there are two key differences that set them apart: cook time and the outer skin. Since the Instant Pot cooks the potatoes in a closed vessel with steam pressure, cooking happens in a fraction of the time youd need in the oven. This also means, however, that the skin is soft rather than crisp. Trust me the trade-off is well worth it.
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Pressure Cooker Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are inexpensive, delicious, and easy to make. Unfortunately they can take up to 90 minutes to cook in a conventional oven. Enter the pressure cooker: tender, fluffy potatoes are done in under an hour! Baked potatoes with plenty of toppings can be a fantastic and filling meal, or a side dish. Top these with whatever you like and enjoy.
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Potato Size Determines Cook Time
Cooking potatoes in your Instant Pot is not a one-size-fits-all method. Size matters, big time. For starters, youll want to use potatoes that are all roughly the same size. Theres no need to be exact , but cooking potatoes that all look to be the same size means you can be sure that they will cook evenly.
The size of the potatoes will also help determine the best cook time. Similar to other cooking methods, small potatoes require less time , while large potatoes benefit from a longer cook .
Your Instant Pot Potato Cheat Sheet
- Small russet potatoes : 12 minutes at high pressure
- Medium russet potatoes : 15 minutes at high pressure
- Large russet potatoes : 18 minutes at high pressure
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Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
If you need an easy lunch, these Instant Pot Baked Potatoes and fill with leftover chili, pulled BBQ pork or chicken or Mexican quinoa. They are also absolutely delicious topped with cheese sauce or spinach artichoke dip. Tasty! You also need to try my Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe. Total time-saver!
Perfect Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.
A foolproof recipe for easy Instant Pot Baked Potatoes. Learn how to cook perfect baked potatoes in your pressure cooker, plus how to make baked potatoes with crispy skins.
One of my go-to quick and easy weeknight meals is a simple baked potato bar. Our usual toppings include butter or sour cream, shredded cheese, roasted broccoli and sometimes chili. My family loves baked potatoes, especially since everyone can choose their own potato toppings!
Baked potatoes are a filling and nutritious meal that is also budget-friendly. Russet potatoes are a good source of protein, fiber, iron, magnesium and Vitamin C, as well as other vitamins and minerals.
Since Ive owned an Instant Pot pressure cooker, cooking baked potatoes in my Instant Pot is my preferred method. Its faster than cooking them in the oven and the potatoes always turn out fluffy and tender. Just like with my Instant Pot mashed potatoes recipe and Instant Pot sweet potatoes, the Instant Pot works its magic on potatoes once again with these Perfect Instant Pot Baked Potatoes!
Besides being a delicious lunch or dinner on their own, baked potatoes are a good side dish to serve with baked salmon, steak, pork tenderloin or baked chicken thighs. You can cook your baked potatoes ahead of time and reheat them for an even faster meal.
If you are new to using an Instant Pot, you might find my post about how to use an Instant Pot helpful.
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