Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage | Creamy Irish Colcannon (2024)

PUBLISHED February 7, 2022· MODIFIED October 6, 2023 · by the author listed in the recipe card 2069 words. · About 11 minutes to read this article.· This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases· 8 Comments

This Instant Pot mashed potatoes with cabbage or Irish Colcannon recipe is a deliciously savory side dish made with mashed potatoes and cabbage. It's a wonderful twist on your regular mashed potatoes that you're going to love, and a great Vegetarian Pressure Cooker Recipe.

Why You're Going To Love This Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe (Irish Colcannon)

There are so many different ways to cook potatoes, it's not even funny. But arguably the best way to enjoy them is homemade mashed potatoes.

Instant Pot mashed potatoes are particularly easy for me because I don't have the pot overflowing, leaving starchy water all over the stove.

But what if I told you there is a way to make a mashed potato even better? This Instant Pot Irish Colcannon recipe takes your usual, run-of-the-mill mashed potatoes and takes it to the next level.

It's creamy, it's savory, the cabbage and green onions give it just the right amount of crisp, and it's oh so yummy.

What Is Colcannon?

If you're not familiar with Irish Colcannon, let me just fill you in on what this delicious and savory goodness is. Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish that consists of mashed potatoes and kale or cabbage. So it's basically Irish Mashed Potatoes.

In this particular recipe, I chose to go with cabbage, and the flavors are out of this world! With the addition of nutmeg and green onions, this is a deliciously hearty potato dish that might just become your new favorite mashed potato recipe.

This recipe is a fantastic way to mix things up at the dinner table. It's a great side to bring to just about any holiday dinner, especially for a Thanksgiving side dish, as it takes all the things you love about homemade mashed potatoes and simply elevates it.

Why Make Mashed Potatoes in an Electric Pressure Cooker?

As for the cooking method, I decided to go with the Instant Pot for this Irish Colcannon recipe, making this Instant Pot recipe about as hands-off as it gets. Cooking Instant Pot potatoes has a lot of upsides.

• Fast. It takes a total of 30 minutes to make this recipe. Normally that's how long it takes to boil potatoes on the stovetop.
• One pot. The Instant Pot pressure cooks the potatoes and steams the cabbage at the same time, saving you from having to dirty multiple pans.
• Hands off. I can't be the only one who has had starchy potato water overflow on the stovetop. That's one thing you don't have to worry about with IP mashed potatoes.
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes. This is a fantastic, light, fluffy, creamy Irish Colcannon recipe. No gluey, lumpy, mashed potatoes here!

Is Colcannon Really Better Than Mashed Potatoes?

I honestly don't even know how to convey how much better these were. I know it sounds like an unusual combination, but that steamed cabbage does something to this mashed potatoes recipe that I just adored.

I'm sure the extra butter drizzled on top doesn't hurt either! But I try to eat low carb and I usually give away these types of dishes once I've perfected the recipe.

I hoarded these potatoes. I ate them in small bites throughout the day and shared very jealously.

So I don't know how you will react--although do leave me a comment and let me know--but as far as I am concerned In the Colcannon vs. Mashed Potatoes battle, Colcannon wins for me.

How To Make Pressure Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage (Irish Colcannon)

1. Place the potatoes, water, and 1 teaspoon salt into the Instant Pot. (I used a 6-quart Instant pot but you can use an 8 quart as well.) Place a steamer rack on top of the potatoes.
2. Place cabbage in a 6 x 3 container. Put the container on top of the steamer rack.
3. Close the lid. Press PRESSURE COOK and cook on HIGH for 5 minutes. Allow the pot to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
4. Remove the pan with the cabbage, chop, and set aside.
5. Drain potatoes.Place potatoes, butter, 1.5 teaspoon salt, pepper, cream, and nutmeg into the bowl of a stand mixer and whip the potatoes until creamy (you can also use a hand mixer and whip the potatoes in the Instant Pot itself). You can also use a potato ricer or a potato masher if you'd rather.
6. Stir in cabbage and the green onions.
7. When ready to serve, make a well in the center of each bowl. Fill each well with additional melted butter.

Tips And Tricks For Making Irish Colcannon

• Chunky Cabbage. Leave the cabbage in large chunks, else you risk overcooking it. What works for me is to core it, and then cut into quarters.
• Kale. If you'd prefer to use kale in place of cabbage, simply steam the kale a little by either doing so in the microwave or by adding the kale to the Instant Pot after the potatoes are done. Close the lid on the pot and let it steam for 2-3 minutes in the residual heat.
• Creamy. I suggest you use Yukon gold potatoes or Russet Potatoes, as they are the best potatoes for making the best mashed potatoes.
  • You can use red potatoes for making mashed potatoes, but they have a slightly heavier texture. I like to save my red potatoes for making roasted, smashed potatoes, or these rosemary roasted potatoes instead.
• Cutting into cubes. Notice I ask you to cut the potato into cubes before you start. This is because cook time for potatoes in an electric pressure cooker varies a lot depending on how thick they are. By precutting them to an even size, you can be assured that each piece will cook evenly.
• Not gluey. Ever wondered why your mashed potatoes are gluey? Choosing the best potatoes for mashing is super important. Either you've used the wrong potato, you've gotten too much water into them, or you've overbeaten them.
  • Use the whisk attachment on your stand mixer, a potato ricer, a potato masher, or use a fork and some elbow grease. NOT your food processor.
  • For ultra fluffy mashed potatoes soak the chopped potatoes in water first. You might also want to rinse the potatoes after they're cooked.
• Stovetop Irish Mashed Potatoes.
  • If you'd like to make this on the stovetop, cut the potatoes into cubes, and boil the potatoes in a pot until they are done.
  • Add the cabbage to the pot after the potatoes are finished cooking and cover the pot for 2 minutes to cook the cabbage.
  • Follow the instructions from step 5 and on for perfect mashed potatoes.

Variations and Delicious Add Ins to Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

You can always omit the cabbage in this and use this as one of your basic Instant pot recipes for whipped potatoes. You will then have the option to stir in a few other ingredients.

• Sour cream. Do not reheat a potato with sour cream on it.
• Cream Cheese. Use room temperature cream cheese and whip it into the potatoes to get creamy potatoes.
• Parmesan Cheese. Use less salt if you're adding parmesan cheese to your mash potato.
• Chicken broth rather than cream, or any sort of broth you prefer. You can also use whole milk, or evaporated milk, but I'd advise against skim milk.
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes: add Garlic Powder or my favorite, roasted garlic. In this case, be sure to smash the garlic cloves before mixing them in well into the potatoes.
• Chives. Fresh, snipped chive is great in mashed potato, but if all you have are dried chives, rehydrate them in a little hot water and then sprinkle on your potato dish.
• Using leftover mashed potatoes. I like to use them in this savory potatoes and peas recipe.

Looking For More Great Potato Recipes?

• This Potatoes Au Gratin is a classic recipe but it’s one of my favorites by far.
• Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are an easy side dish you can make in the air fryer.
• Vegan Amchoor Potatoes recipe will rock your world with their combination of tart and spice.
• Instant Pot Aloo Gobi is a wonderful spicy use of potatoes with cauliflower.
• Easy Potatoes Anna made in your airfryer or oven .
• Savory Potato Patties are done in a jiffy.
• Ethiopian potatoes and cabbage are very kid-friendly.
• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes- potatoes done in a flash.

This Irish Colcannon is seriously one of the best potato dishes out there and you're sure to love it. If you do, make sure you share it on Facebook and Pinterest for your friends to try too.

Originally Published November 9, 2019

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