Are you looking for a delicious and easy side dish? Try our recipe for Instant Pot steamed potatoes! This recipe is easy, even for a newbie Instant Potter, and perfect for any occasion.

Why you’ll love this recipe
If you’re after an easy and delicious side dish for your next meal, you need to try this recipe for steaming potatoes in an Instant Pot!
Steamed potatoes are so much nicer than boiled potatoes. They retain their texture and flavor so much better then when they are cooked submerged in water. Plus steaming them in the instant pot is very simple and only takes a few minutes.
I love this recipe because it is a healthy way to cook potatoes. No need to add any oil. Also, you can customize the recipe to include your favorite herbs or spices, to make it match any dish.
Steaming vegetables in a pressure cooker is such a great way to cook them. Especially if you’re cooking a holiday feast and have run out of space on the stove!
But I also love how hands-off it is compared to other cooking methods. You don’t need to stand over a pot to make sure it is boiling at the right rate. Just press a few buttons, then get on with something else!
You might also like to try my recipes for Instant Pot steamed carrots or Instant Pot steamed broccoli.
Scroll down for the printable card for this Instant Pot steamed potatoes recipe, or read on for all the details.
What do you need?
Equipment
Instant Pot
This recipe uses an Instant Pot, but you can use any brand of electric pressure cooker or multicooker with a pressure cook function.
Steamer basket (optional)
The easiest way to steam potatoes in an Instant Pot is to use a steamer basket. You can use any type of steamer basket. I have a silicone one and a stainless-steel one, both of which work fine in my Instant Pot.
This is optional, but if you want to steam potatoes rather than boil them you will need to find a way to hold them up out of the water during cooking. There are lots of options if you don’t have a steamer basket, see below for some ideas.
Key ingredients
Full ingredient list and quantities are given in the recipe card below.
Potatoes
For this recipe I usually use baby potatoes, as I find they hold their shape a little better. However, you can also use regular sized potatoes. Choose a low-starch or waxy variety of potato (might be labelled for boiling or for salads).
Most red, white or yellow varieties will work well (try Yukon Gold, Honey Gold). Russet potatoes are not so good as they are a high-starch potato and more likely to fall apart during cooking (they are perfect for Instant Pot mashed potatoes).
Water
Steaming requires water, and pressure cookers require water to get up to pressure. You will need to use at least one cup of water.
However, all pressure cookers will have a minimum amount of water that they require to operate, so check your manual if you are unsure what this is for your pressure cooker, and adjust the amount if needed.
Herbs (optional)
I love to add fresh herbs when steaming potatoes. The delicate flavor of the herbs infuses into the potatoes during steaming, that leaves you with potatoes that taste just a little bit more fancy than those cooked plain. The recipe below uses parsley, but you could also try mint, thyme, tarragon, rosemary, or dill.
Using fresh herbs is optional and the recipe will still be tasty even if you cook the potatoes plain.
>> Related post: How To Steam in an Instant Pot
How to steam potatoes in an instant pot
First, wash the potatoes, peel if preferred, and cut into 1-2 inch pieces. If using baby potatoes you can steam them whole, just cut any that are larger than 2 inches in half or into quarters.
Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot, then add the potatoes and pour over 1 cup of water.
Close the lid and make sure the steam valve is set to ‘Sealing’.
Set the potatoes to cook on High Pressure 5 minutes. When the timer goes off, release the steam valve and open the lid. The potatoes should be fork-tender and ready to eat.
Instant Pot steamed potatoes without steamer basket
If you are wondering how to steam potatoes in Instant Pot without steamer basket, there are a few options you can try.
You just need to find a way to elevate the potatoes out of the water so that they cook in the steam rather than in the boiling water.
You can try using the metal steamer rack or trivet that comes with all Instant Pots. But you will need to check that the potatoes do not all through between the bars.
Alternatively, you can place a small plate or bowl onto the trivet and steam the potatoes on that, or roll up balls or logs of aluminum foil and place them in the bottom of the Instant Pot to hold the potatoes out of the water.
Serving ideas
Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the potatoes while they are still hot. It will melt and add a lovely cheesy saltiness that complements the soft creamy potato flavor perfectly.
Serve topped with melted butter – garlic or herb butter is a great option.
Storing and reheating leftovers
Store any leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge, and use within 3 days.
If we have leftovers I often serve them cold as a potato salad (keep it simple just add mayo and chopped chives).
But they are also easy to reheat. Microwave them for ~1 minute on high (in a microwave-safe container of course).
You can also reheat them in the instant pot: use a steamer basket, add a cup of water and pressure cook on high for 1 minute. However, you will probably find that they are a little on the soft side once they have been pressure cooked twice so I would only recommend doing this if you have used a very firm/waxy variety of potato.

Instant Pot Steamed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1½ lb baby potatoes [Note 1]
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 sprigs of fresh parsley + more to serve
Directions
- Wash and scrub the potatoes, and cut that are larger than 2 inches in half [Note 1].
- Place the steamer basket or trivet in the Instant Pot, and add the potatoes and sprigs of parsley. Sprinkle with the salt, then pour the water in.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and lock it into place. Flip the pressure valve to “Sealing.” Select the “Manual” setting on high and adjust the cook time to 5 minutes.
- When the cook time is complete, manually release the pressure. Once the pin drops and there's no more steam coming out, carefully remove the lid and set it aside.
- Turn the unit off and drain the potatoes completely.
- To serve, transfer the potatoes to a serving bowl and top with butter, or some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can also use regular potatoes, cut them into 1-2 inch-sized chunks.
Nutrition
Recommended equipment
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.