Easy Instant Pot Applesauce is made with just TWO ingredients! Naturally sweet, customizable, and ready in under 30 minutes. Once you try this easy method, you’ll never go back to store-bought! Just toss everything in the pot—no peeling required—for a sweet, cozy snack or side dish.

A small glass bowl filled with applesauce with a spoon taking a scoop out with a second bowl of applesauce, a red apple, and a linen napkin behind it on a rustic background.

Instant Pot Applesauce

Homemade applesauce has never been easier! This Instant Pot Applesauce is sweet, cozy, and made with just a few simple ingredients. No peeling required—just chop, cook, and blend for the easiest applesauce ever. Perfect for snacks, school lunches, baking, or pairing with pork chops!

Instant Pot Applesauce is super fast and easy to make. Plus it's a naturally sweet and healthy treat, no added sugar necessary! You can make it in large batches and freeze for later, and customize it to your own tastes with additional spices and fruits.

Whether you're working through a fall apple haul or just love making homemade staples from scratch, this recipe is a must-try. It’s faster than stovetop, more flavorful than store-bought, and can be customized to your taste—smooth or chunky, sweetened or unsweetened, spiced or plain. Once you make it in the Instant Pot, you’ll never go back.

Prefer a slow-cooked version instead? Try my cozy Slow Cooker Applesauce for a hands-off, simmer-all-day method that fills your home with the best fall aroma.

Apple slices in the instant pot getting ready to be made into applesauce.

What Kind of Apples Should I Use?

My absolute favorite apple for all recipes is honeycrisp. It is the perfect combination of sweet and tart and isn't too mealy. But I will also use whatever apple is on sale!

For a naturally sweet and flavorful applesauce, you can use a mix of sweet and tart apples. Some great options:

Sweet: Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp
Tart: Granny Smith, Jonathan, McIntosh

Using a mix gives your applesauce more depth and natural sweetness—meaning you may not need to add much sugar, if any.

Do Apples Need to be Peeled for Instant Pot Applesauce?

This will be up to your preference. I prefer to peel them. However, I have made them with the peels on, and you can barely tell. My kids didn't notice at all. So leaving the skins on for extra fiber and nutrients might be a good idea. Just be sure to wash first.

A large silicone spoon taking a scoop of instant pot applesauce straight out of the instant pot.

Add-ins for Instant Pot Applesauce

Spiced: Add a pinch of nutmeg, cloves, or allspice along with cinnamon
Vanilla: Stir in a splash of vanilla extract after cooking
Maple: Use maple syrup instead of brown sugar for natural sweetness
Other Fruits: Experiment adding other fruits to the mix such as strawberries, pears, or blueberries.

More Apple Recipes You'll Love

Crockpot Apple Butter - Rich, smooth, and perfectly spiced—this Crockpot Apple Butter is the ultimate fall spread. Just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer to perfection.
Best Old Fashioned Apple Pie - A timeless favorite! This BEST EVER version features a flaky homemade crust and a sweet, cinnamon-spiced apple filling that’s perfect for holidays or cozy weekends.
Snickers Caramel Apple Salad - Part dessert, part salad—this sweet, creamy treat is loaded with tart apples, fluffy whipped topping, and chunks of Snickers candy bars for a crowd-pleasing combo.
Easy Apple Cobbler - Warm, comforting, and bursting with apples and cinnamon, this cobbler is topped with a buttery golden crust and comes together in no time.
Apple Brown Betty - This old-fashioned dessert is made with sliced apples, buttery crumbs, and warm spices. A cozy, nostalgic treat that’s simple but full of flavor.