Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

These foolproof Instant Pot Baked Potatoes turn out perfectly light and fluffy every time! This is the quickest and easiest hands-off method for making a classic side dish.

There’s something about a perfectly fluffy baked potato that just makes dinner seem so darn good.

Topped with butter, maybe some bacon and sour cream and chives? Oh, man! That’s my kind of side dish!

The downside is heating up the oven.

And the bake time.

And poking the potato to see if it’s done yet…over and over.

Good news friends! With Instant Pot baked potatoes, that fluffy baked potato takes as little as 12 minutes to cook, and it turns out just right every time!

If you’ve never made Instant Pot baked potatoes before, you’re in for a treat! They’re a classic, delicious side dish.

Quick and easy
Light and fluffy
Doesn’t heat up the house
Perfectly cooked
No checking for doneness
Can be made while you’re out of the house, or doing something else

Seriously, making baked potatoes in the Instant Pot is a busy mom’s dream come true!

Five potatoes on a trivet in the Instant Pot.

INGREDIENTS FOR PERFECT BAKED POTATO IN INSTANT POT

And if the fact that you can make Instant Pot baked potatoes HANDS OFF isn’t enough to sell you, get this – you only need one actual ingredient: POTATOES!

Well, you could make a single baked potato in the instant pot, but why not make extra? It doesn’t take any extra cooking time and you’re not standing there managing the oven anyway. Take advantage of the convenience of cooking with the Instant Pot!

HOW TO MAKE BAKED POTATOES IN INSTANT POT

Here’s how to make a baked potato Instant Pot style:

Step 1: Add water and a metal trivet to the Instant Pot. Make sure you’re using room temperature or cold water from the tap. Do NOT use hot or boiling water.

Step 2: Scrub your potatoes and poke a few holes in them with either a knife or a fork. Place your potatoes on the trivet.

Note: Poking holes when baking potatoes is important, whether you cook them in the Instant Pot or the oven. Steam builds up inside the potato and if there’s nowhere for the steam to go, it will forcibly leave the potato…meaning your potato will explode!

Five baked potatoes on a trivet in the Instant Pot.

Step 3: Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the pressure valve to “sealing.” Cook on high pressure for 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of your potato (see the notes below for specific cooking times).

Step 4: When the timer goes off, use natural pressure release. Serve with your choice of toppings.

Store any leftover Instant Pot baked potatoes in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Psst! Want to kick these potatoes up a notch? Try a pinch of finishing salt before serving! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!)

Baked potato topped with butter and chives.

BAKED POTATO INSTANT POT COOKING TIMES

Baked potato Instant Pot cooking times depend on how big your potatoes are.

Because potatoes come in all sorts of sizes, I’ve given you two ways to measure the size – the diameter of the potato (how big it is around the center) and weight. If you have a kitchen scale, this is a great time to use it! (If you don’t have a kitchen scale, this is the one I have. I cannot recommend it enough, and I use it ALL THE TIME!)

Small Potatoes (2” or less in diameter, or 4-5 ounces): 10 minutes cook time
Medium Potatoes (2-3” in diameter, or 6-7 ounces): 12 minutes cook time
Large Potato (3-4” in diameter, or 8-10 ounces): 16 minutes cook time
Extra Large Potato (4-4.5” in diameter, or 11-13 ounces): 20 minutes cook time

INSTANT POT BAKED POTATO RECIPE TIPS

For best results, cook 4-8 similarly sized potatoes at a time. Using less or more potatoes will alter the cooking time (strange, I know!). If you don’t need that many potatoes, use the leftovers for Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe or Leftover Pork and Potato Soup.

Do you HAVE to use water? Yes! That’s what allows the Instant Pot to come to pressure and the water will steam the potatoes.

Use a trivet or steaming basket for best results. If you don’t, your potatoes will sit in the water and develop a mushy texture as they cook.

If you have extra-large potatoes but want them to cook faster, cut them in half before using them for Instant Pot baked potatoes.

Use this guide for making baked sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot! The cooking times vary slightly from regular potatoes.

Baked potato topped with butter and chives on a white plate with a fork.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH INSTANT POT BAKED POTATOES RECIPE

Instant Pot baked potatoes make a great side dish for all sorts of meals.

Pair baked potatoes with steak with Montreal Seasoning, Blackened Salmon, or shredded chicken with Homemade Hot Sauce, plus some easy Pan-Roasted Broccoli (or your favorite veggie), and you have a delicious meal!

Or make a loaded baked potato bar with all sorts of toppings and let everyone choose their favorites:

BAKED POTATO IN INSTANT POT FAQS

How do I get my Instant Pot baked potatoes crispy?

Instant Pot baked potatoes are perfectly fluffy on the inside, which is my favorite part, but the peel doesn’t cook up crispy like it does in the oven. If that’s something you’re looking for, brush a bit of olive oil on your Instant Pot potatoes after they’re done cooking and pop them under the broiler for a minute or two to make crispy skins.

Do you need to wrap Instant Pot baked potatoes in foil?

Nope! Just place the potatoes directly on the trivet after poking a few holes in them.

Is it faster to bake a potato in the oven or air fryer?

I haven’t tried baking potatoes in the air fryer, but making Instant Pot baked potatoes is much quicker than baking potatoes in the oven!

MORE INSTANT POT RECIPES

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