Speed up dinner with this fast and simple side dish. Making Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes is easy and quick. With just 7 minutes of cook time, this recipe is a fast way to get your favorite cheesy potatoes ready in no time.
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you’ll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
We enjoy our occasional boxed side dishes, particularly au gratin or scalloped potatoes, adding cheesy goodness to any plate.
To stay within our Meal Planning on a Tight Budget, we stock up on these boxes during the fall when they're most affordable. Then, during Reverse Meal Planning, we seamlessly incorporate them into our Monthly Meal Plan.
By cooking boxed au gratin potatoes in the Instant Pot, I not only save money but also time. This method reduces cooking time and oven usage, allowing us to enjoy our favorite dishes in a fraction of the usual time.
Pair them with Baked BBQ Pork Spare Ribs and Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts and Bacon (or Bacon Ranch Brussel Sprouts) for a delicious meal.
Jump to:
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's fast! With just 7 minutes on the clock and no time to depressurize, you can have your cheesy potatoes ready in less than half the time that it would take to make them traditionally.
- This recipe works with boxed scallop potatoes too! Au gratin and scallop potatoes are different but similar enough that you can swap them out in this recipe and have zero issues. I use them interchangeably.
- You can serve as-is or brown the top. Serve the potatoes straight from the pot or add them to a baking dish and broil the tops for a nice browned look. Either way, they'll be delicious. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
🛒 Ingredients
Water- You will need the specified amount of water listed on the back of the box. You do not need to use "hot water," as cool tap water works just fine.
Milk- Usually, we don't advise adding milk to the Instant Pot as it can curdle, but in this recipe, it's completely fine. Dairy products can also be found in layered recipes like my Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti.
Au gratin potatoes- Use two boxes of au gratin potatoes for the best results. While this recipe can be halved, having twice as much means more liquids in the instant pot, which helps it to cook without burning.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Boxed potatoes- You can use boxed au gratin potatoes or boxed scalloped potatoes in this recipe. Any flavor variation will be fine. (Bacon, chive, etc.)
Butter- Swapping butter for margarine is fine.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use store-brand potatoes: Generic au gratin or scalloped potatoes taste the same as name-brand but are often $1-$2 cheaper per box.
Replace butter: Margarine or even a splash of oil works if you're out of butter, making this recipe even cheaper.
Bulk it up: Add inexpensive mix-ins like frozen peas, canned corn, or leftover ham to stretch this into a full meal.
Buy in bulk: Grab multi-packs of boxed potatoes at warehouse stores or during holiday sales, they store well and keep the per-box cost low.
🥄 Instructions for Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes
Step 1: Add the water, milk, and sliced potatoes to the bottom of your instant pot.
Step 2: Add in the cheesy powder. Mix well to combine.
Step 3: Top with pads of sliced butter.
Step 4: Close the lid and seal the vent. Cook on High Pressure for 7 minutes. Do a Quick Pressure Release once done.
Step 5: Let the potatoes rest for a few minutes to thicken before serving OR place into a greased 2 quart baking dish. An 8x8 square pan works fine.
Step 6: Broil on High in the oven for 2 minutes to brown the top.
Allow to cool and thicken before serving.
Serve warm, and enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- You can use room temp water. You do not need to warm up the water before use.
- Pay attention to the box. You will need the amount of water, milk, and butter listed on the back of your boxes. If the amount in the recipe card differs from the box, use the measurements on the box but follow the recipe card assembly steps and cook time.
- One box may burn. If you only cook one box of potatoes, you may get a burn warning as they cook, but using two boxes seems to avoid this issue entirely because there is more liquid in the pot.
❄️ Storage and Reheating
Storage: Store any uneaten leftover scallop potatoes in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Reheating: You can reheat leftover scallop potatoes in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate in about 1.5-3 minutes, depending on the size of the serving. I recommend stirring the potatoes about halfway through for even cooking.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve boxed au gratin potatoes with baked or grilled chicken, ham, or pork chops for a hearty dinner. They also pair well with roasted vegetables, a simple green salad, or steamed broccoli. For a comfort food combo, add a warm roll or slice of garlic bread on the side.
- Healthy Turkey MeatloafRecipe $5.34 / Serving $1.34
- Honey Baked Spiral HamRecipe $10.35 / Serving $0.52
- Instant Pot Mississippi RoastRecipe $29.14 / Serving $4.86
- Stuffed Chicken LegsRecipe $8.13 / Serving $1.36
❓ Recipe FAQs
You can use soy or almond milk in place of whole-fat dairy milk. It doesn't matter which brand of a boxed mix, whether it be Betty Crocker or Walmart, the potatoes will turn out fine. I do recommend unsweetened and unflavored milk choices.
From the delicious texture of the warm cooked potatoes to the thickened cheese sauce, these potatoes are delicious and worth every bite! I especially love to serve them up with Meatloaf Without Eggs and Air Fryer Canned Green Beans for a simple meal full of colors and vibrant comforting flavors.
When you open the lid to the instant pot, the sauce will be thin and watery. This is because there isn't much evaporation happening inside the sealed container as they cook. Once the lid is opened, the liquid can evaporate and thicken. Wait 2-5 minutes, and the sauce will be much thicker.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts and BaconRecipe $4.01 / Serving $1.01
- Instant Pot ZucchiniRecipe $1.96 / Serving $0.49
- Instant Pot Chicken QuartersRecipe $3.03 / Serving $0.77
- Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin PotatoesRecipe $3.02 / Serving $0.30
🐝 If you tried this Instant Pot boxed au gratin potatoes, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes
Equipment
- 8x8 Baking Dish *optional
Ingredients
- 4 cups water - ($0.00)
- 1 cup milk - ($0.20)
- 2 boxes (4.7 ounces each) au gratin potatoes - ($2.32)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter - ($0.50)
Instructions
- Add ingredients. Add water, milk, and sliced potatoes from the boxes to the Instant Pot. Sprinkle in the cheese sauce packets and stir to combine.
- Add butter. Place butter on top in small pieces.
- Pressure cook. Secure the lid, seal the vent, and cook on High Pressure for 7 minutes. Perform a quick pressure release when finished.
- Thicken. Let potatoes rest a few minutes to thicken before serving.
- Optional broil. Transfer potatoes to a greased 2-quart baking dish or 8x8-inch pan. Broil on High for about 2 minutes to brown the top.
- Serve. Allow to cool slightly and serve warm.
Notes
- Boxed Potatoes. Au gratin or scalloped potatoes both work, including flavored varieties.
- Ingredient Swaps. Margarine can replace butter. No need to preheat liquids.
- Cooking Tip. Using two boxes helps prevent burn warnings due to increased liquid volume.
- Reheating. Microwave leftovers for 1 ½ to 3 minutes, stirring halfway.
- Storage. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.
Nutritional Information
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we'll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Jennifer says
If you use more than 2 boxes do you add any additional time?
Nicole Durham says
Nope. No additional time is required. Just add to the ingredients as needed.
Alison Salotti says
When is the milk added in? It is not mentioned in the steps..
Nicole Durham says
Milk is added in with the water at the beginning.
Brenda says
Turned out perfect ty for recipe