What are Instant Pot Carrots and Potatoes?

We all know what it is like…you have dinner all planned out, or at least have an idea but, “dinner” as it is, is just a main dish: ‘Tonight we will have chicken, roast, grilled cheese,’ whatever it may be. The problem is, you need to round out your meal a little bit and need to find a side dish. This is where these Instant Pot Carrots and Potatoes come in.

This is one of the easiest side dishes that you can make. It pairs well with a wide variety of dishes and is easy to customize. It is one of those dishes that is almost impossible to mess up and takes a minimal amount of hands-on time.

What are the ingredients in Instant Pot Carrots and Potatoes?

Chances are you may already have on hand all the ingredients you need to make these carrots and potatoes. If not, they will be items you can easily find at any grocery store. So, let’s see what you will need.

Olive oil
A yellow onion-you can substitute a white or sweet onion if you prefer.
Baby carrots-if you prefer, you can peel and chop regular carrots.
Yukon gold potatoes
Vegetable or Chicken Broth
1 packet of Dry Italian Dressing mix

And that is it. You can add a bit of parsley as a garnish if you like, but the veggies will be just fine without it if you prefer.

How do I make Instant Pot Carrots and Potatoes?

Much like the ingredient list, the steps for this dish keeps it simple. Here is what you will need to do:

Heat the oil in the Instant Pot using the saute feature.
Add the onion and cook briefly to soften.
Add the remaining ingredients and set the Instant Pot.
That’s it!

What are some easy swaps I can make for Instant Pot Carrots and Potatoes?

For the carrots:
- If you don’t want to use baby carrots (or don’t happen to have any handy), you can easily substitute regular carrots. Simply peel, quarter (or halve if slim) and chunk.
For the Potatoes:
- Red potatoes, cut in bite-sized pieces, could easily substitute for the yukon gold potatoes.
- You could also substitute baby yellow or red potatoes, halving any large potatoes into bite-sized pieces.
For the dry Italian Dressing Mix
- Many different flavors would work well here: Ranch, Spicy Ranch, Garlic Herb, just pick something you like.

What are some great dishes to serve with Instant Pot Carrots and Potatoes?

As I mentioned above, this dish is quite versatile and will really work with any dish you would serve a classic side dish along with: Turkey, Roast, Grilled Chicken, etc. Here are a few more specific ideas that I think would go great with these carrots and potatoes:

These Pretzel Melt Sandwiches are a weeknight-friendly sandwich that I like to consider a fancied-up version of a classic Cordon Bleu. The grilled soft-pretzel buns make them a favorite for kids and the creamy parmesan Dijon sauce will make it a hit with adults as well.
Put your Instant Pot on double-duty with these Cranberry Glazed Meatballs. They are great on slider buns, sandwiches, over rice, or on skewers. Both dishes work amazingly well for make-ahead and are perfect for holiday gatherings or get togethers of any sort.
Missing the coast? Have a beachside-style meal anytime of year by serving these Deviled Crab Cakes along with the Instant Pot Potatoes and Carrots and some fresh rolls or salad.
Make Lunch or Dinner 100% make-ahead friendly by serving Falafel with Creamy Tahini Sauce . Both dishes store well and both work amazingly well for meal prep.
Turkey Lentil Sloppy Joes are another classic dish that is well liked by kids and adults alike. The Carrots and Potatoes would be a great side dish for these sloppy joes.