diff --git a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.test.ts b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.test.ts
index 78cee404d3c..f03f244a2b1 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.test.ts
@@ -1868,7 +1868,7 @@ describe('prepareTargets', () => {
     });
 
     describe('when query type Instant is selected', () => {
-      it('then it should just add targets', () => {
+      it('then it should target and modify its format to table', () => {
         const target: PromQuery = {
           refId: 'A',
           expr: 'up',
@@ -1894,7 +1894,7 @@ describe('prepareTargets', () => {
           start,
           step: 1,
         });
-        expect(activeTargets[0]).toEqual(target);
+        expect(activeTargets[0]).toEqual({ ...target, format: 'table' });
       });
     });
   });
diff --git a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.ts b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.ts
index 4b2874de1cb..2d256642035 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.ts
+++ b/public/app/plugins/datasource/prometheus/datasource.ts
@@ -237,6 +237,12 @@ export class PrometheusDatasource extends DataSourceApi<PromQuery, PromOptions>
           this.createQuery(instantTarget, options, start, end),
           this.createQuery(rangeTarget, options, start, end)
         );
+      } else if (target.instant && options.app === CoreApp.Explore) {
+        // If running only instant query in Explore, format as table
+        const instantTarget: any = cloneDeep(target);
+        instantTarget.format = 'table';
+        queries.push(this.createQuery(instantTarget, options, start, end));
+        activeTargets.push(instantTarget);
       } else {
         queries.push(this.createQuery(target, options, start, end));
         activeTargets.push(target);