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    BeeyondCereal » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes

    Modified: Oct 17, 2023 Published: May 19, 2023 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links. 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    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.

    Recipe: $3.02 | Per Serving: $0.30 | Servings: 10

    half a baking dish filled with au gratin potatoes.

    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 This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🧾 Substitutions
    • 🔪 Instructions for Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 🍳 Reheating
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Storage
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Instant Pot Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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

    labeled ingredients needed to make instant pot au gratin potatoes.

    Ingredient Notes:

    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.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🧾 Substitutions

    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.

    🔪 Instructions for Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes

    potatoes and water in an instant pot.

    Step 1: Add the water, milk, and sliced potatoes to the bottom of your instant pot.

    cheese packets potato and water and milk in an instant pot.

    Step 2: Add in the cheesy powder. Mix well to combine.

    pads of butter on top of cheesy potatos for au gratin potatoes in an instant pot.

    Step 3: Top with pads of sliced butter.

    cooked au gratin potatoes in an instant pot.

    Step 4: Close the lid and seal the vent. Cook on High Pressure for 7 minutes. Do a Quick Pressure Release once done.

    au gratin potatoes in a baking dish.

    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.

    broiled au gratin potatoes in a baking dish.

    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!

    Serving spoon with scoop of au gratin potatoes above baking dish with more inside.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    1. You can use room temp water. You do not need to warm up the water before use.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

    🍳 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.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Storage

    Store any uneaten leftover scallop potatoes in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What can I substitute for milk in scalloped potatoes?

    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.

    Are boxed scalloped potatoes good?

    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.

    Why are my instant pot au gratin potatoes watery?

    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.

    au gratin potatoes on a plate with more in a baking dish in the background.

    ❤️ More Delicious Instant Pot Recipes

    • steamed brussel sprouts with bacon and onions on a plate with a fork.
      Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts and Bacon
    • steamed zucchini and lemon wedges on a plate with a fork.
      Instant Pot Zucchini
    • two cooked chicken quarters in a dish with broccoli next to an instant pot.
      Instant Pot Chicken Quarters
    • au gratin potatoes in a white baking dish.
      Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes

    If you tried this instant pot boxed au gratin potatoes, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    au gratin potatoes in a white baking dish.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes

    Speed up dinner with this fast and simple side dish. Making Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes is as 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.
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 7 minutes mins
    Total Time 9 minutes mins
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 144kcal
    Cost Recipe $3.02 / Serving $0.30
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 6qt Instant Pot
    • Measuring Cups
    • Wooden Spoon
    • 8x8 Baking Dish *optional

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups water ($0.00)
    • 1 cup milk ($0.20)
    • 2 boxes (4.7oz) au gratin potatoes ($2.32)
    • 4 Tablespoons butter ($0.50)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Add the water, milk, and sliced potatoes to the bottom of your instant pot.
    • Add in the cheesy powder. Mix well to combine.
    • Top with pads of sliced butter.
    • Close the lid and seal the vent. Cook on High Pressure for 7 minutes. Do a Quick Pressure Release once done.
    • 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.
    • Broil on High in the oven for 2 minutes to brown the top.
    • Allow to cool and thicken before serving.
    • Serve warm and enjoy!

    Notes

    Boxed Potatoes:
    • Use boxed au gratin or scalloped potatoes with any flavor variation (bacon, chive, etc.).
    • Margarine can be substituted for butter.
    Recipe Tips:
    • No need to warm up the water before use.
    • Follow water, milk, and butter amounts on the box, adjusting for any discrepancies with the recipe card.
    • Cooking two boxes helps avoid burn warnings due to increased liquid.
    Reheating:
    • Microwave leftover scalloped potatoes on a microwave-safe plate for 1.5-3 minutes, stirring halfway for even heating.
    Storage:
    • Refrigerate uneaten scalloped potatoes for 3-5 days.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 523mg | Potassium: 317mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Calcium: 344mg | Iron: 0.001mg
    Author Nicole Durham
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Diet Vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jennifer says

      January 31, 2024 at 11:00 am

      If you use more than 2 boxes do you add any additional time?

      Reply
      • Nicole Durham says

        January 31, 2024 at 11:07 am

        Nope. No additional time is required. Just add to the ingredients as needed.

        Reply
    2. Alison Salotti says

      November 17, 2023 at 8:02 am

      When is the milk added in? It is not mentioned in the steps..

      Reply
      • Nicole Durham says

        November 17, 2023 at 8:03 am

        Milk is added in with the water at the beginning.

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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