Instant Pot Red Potatoes (Perfect Texture)

Name: Instant Pot Red Potatoes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds red potatoes (about 12 medium potatoes or 16 small potatoes), scrubbed and halved; 1 cup reduced-sodium vegetable broth; 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning or dried parsley; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon sea salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons butter, ghee, or vegan butter

by Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition | Sep 28, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

You’re going to love how fast it is to cook Instant Pot Red Potatoes that have the perfect texture. This easy recipe is a healthy side dish that has so much flavor and is ready in just over 20 minutes.

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Why You Need This Recipe

Red potatoes are considered a nutritious food since they have potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, fiber, and B vitamins. Potatoes are most definitely part of a clean eating food list. They’re budget-friendly too!
Most people boil red potatoes on the stovetop to cook them. But, this method for cooking them in a pressure cooker is so much easier.
Serve the cooked Instant Pot potatoes right out of the pot for a perfect side dish. Or, mash them up and serve them as mashed potatoes. You can also transform cooked red potatoes into a potato salad. The possibilities are endless!

Key Ingredients

Red potatoes are generally available all year round in North America. These waxy potatoes are sometimes called new potatoes.

Italian seasoning is a pre-made blend of dried herbs including rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can substitute any of the other dried herbs that it includes.

Garlic powder is a simple way of adding a little bit of garlic flavor without having to mince fresh garlic. The powder can usually be easier for people to digest who have trouble digesting the fresh cloves.

Vegetable broth adds even more flavor to these red potatoes in the Instant Pot. I like to use a reduced-sodium version but you can use regular. Or, if you don’t have it on hand, just use water instead!

Butter or vegan butter for dairy allergies adds even more creaminess to this potato side dish. If you want a lower-fat option, just leave it out. For Whole30 diets, use ghee instead of butter.

photo with labeled ingredients to make this recipe

Recipe Steps

I promise that you are going to love how much easier it is to cook potatoes in the Instant Pot versus cooking them in the oven.

Here are the steps to making these perfectly cooked red potatoes in the pressure cooker. Note: you can also use this method to make Yukon gold potatoes. Or, check out my recipe for how to boil potatoes in the Instant Pot.

Step One

The first step is to wash the potatoes and give them a pat dry with a clean towel. Cut them in half (or into quarters for larger potatoes).

You’ll be able to cook about 4 medium sized red potatoes in a 3-quart Instant Pot or 8-12 medium red potatoes at a time in a 6-quart Instant Pot.

See my guide for how to use an Instant Pot if you haven’t used it before.

Step Two

Next, add the halved potatoes, broth (or water), Italian seasoning, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper to the electric pressure cooker.

halved red potatoes inside instant pot pressure cooker

Lock on the lid and set the timer to 7 minutes on high pressure.

As always, please do see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Three

Once the cooking time is up, use the quick release to release the remaining pressure. Remove the lid, stir, and use a serving spoon to transfer the cooked potatoes to a bowl.

cooked red potatoes with seasonings inside instant pot

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

If you double this recipe, you don’t need to increase the liquid.
If you are on a low-fat diet, feel free to leave out the butter.
The total cook time includes the prep time, cook time, and 10 minutes for the pot to come up to pressure.
If you are using small red potatoes, you can reduce the cook time to just 6 minutes at high pressure and use a quick release. Or, see my related recipe for Instant Pot Baby Potatoes.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat before serving.
If you want to cook the red potatoes to make potato salad, then you can leave out the seasonings and the butter. You can use water instead of broth and simply drain the potatoes before using them for potato salad.

picture of a fork with a piece of cooked red potato on it

FAQs

Are red potatoes healthier than gold potatoes?

Maybe, because the red skin likely has more antioxidants than plain skin. But, otherwise they essentially have the same nutritional value.

What do red potatoes taste like?

They have a creamy texture and are usually less crumbly than a cooked Russet potato.

How do I store any leftover cooked potatoes?

Store any cooked potatoes in a glass dish with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. If you have extras on hand, you can also freeze them (see my guide for how to freeze potatoes).

Can I cook Russet potatoes this way?

Yes, but they may need more cooking time. See my full recipe for Instant Pot Baked Potatoes.

Do I need a steamer basket or a trivet to make this recipe?

No, you don’t need either. Just put all the ingredients straight into the pot.

Other Easy Instant Pot Vegetable Recipes You Might Like

Or, see all of my healthy Instant Pot recipes. You may also like my round-up of the best healthy Instant Pot Side Dishes!

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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