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
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
- 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
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
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!
🍴 Recipe 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.
🍳 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
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 Delicious Instant Pot Recipes
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
Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes
Equipment
- 8x8 Baking Dish *optional
Ingredients
- 4 cups water ($0.00)
- 1 cup milk ($0.20)
- 2 boxes (4.7oz) au gratin potatoes ($2.32)
- 4 Tablespoons butter ($0.50)
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
- Use boxed au gratin or scalloped potatoes with any flavor variation (bacon, chive, etc.).
- Margarine can be substituted for butter.
- 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.
- Microwave leftover scalloped potatoes on a microwave-safe plate for 1.5-3 minutes, stirring halfway for even heating.
- Refrigerate uneaten scalloped potatoes for 3-5 days.
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.