Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes are cheesy, creamy, and delicious! Yummy little yellow potatoes thinly sliced and smothered in the best cheese sauce make it my go-to recipe on winter nights. It is also a great crowd-pleasing dish to make during the holidays or for any special occasion.
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Why We Love This Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Using the Instant Pot is the easiest way to make scalloped potatoes! The pressure cooker and your oven’s broiler work together on this one to make potatoes that perfectly hold their form under the creamy cheese sauce.
- Comforting. Any recipe with a creamy cheese sauce stays on my list of comfort foods!
- Hearty. Not only do potatoes taste yummy and comforting, but they are also high in potassium, vitamins, and fiber.
- Crowd Pleaser. Whenever you serve these cheesy scalloped potatoes at a gathering, I promise you will get tons of requests for the recipe!
Variations on Pressure Cooker Scalloped Potatoes
There are lots of great substitutions to be made in this recipe to suit the ingredients you have on hand as well as your dietary preferences. You can use baby red potatoes, Yukon Gold, or red-skinned potatoes instead of baby yellow potatoes. For the cheese, feel free to swap in white or yellow cheddar. If you only have unsalted butter, use that and simply add an extra pinch of salt to the sauce.
You can substitute milk for the half-and-half, but your sauce will be thinner. You can also substitute heavy cream but be aware that it may curdle. I recommend adding it with the butter so that it isn’t added to a hot liquid as it doesn’t handle drastic temperature changes as well as half-and-half does. AndfFor vegetarians, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover Instant Pot scalloped potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in 30-second bursts in the microwave or in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes, until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze Instant Pot scalloped potatoes tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These Instant Pot scalloped potatoes make a great side dish for holidays and weeknights alike. Try them with any of these delicious main dishes: Honey Baked Turkey, Beef Wellington, Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, or Air Fryer Beef Tenderloin.
Scalloped potatoes are a much simpler version of au gratin potatoes, baked simply in a cream sauce with cheese on top. Au gratin potatoes involve cheese between each layer of potatoes.
Yes, these potatoes are naturally gluten-free!
For scalloped potatoes, you want even ¼-inch slices. Use a sharp knife to make these slices, or save some time (and your fingers!) by using a mandoline slicer or food processor. If your potatoes are wobbly, slice a thin layer off along the bottom so that they sit flat for easier cutting.
I like to use baby yellow potatoes because they’re easy to slice, but you can use any waxy potato, such as Yukon Gold or red-skinned potatoes. Waxier potatoes hold their shape better. Plus, they are thin-skinned, so they don’t need to be peeled. Russet or baking potatoes are starchier and don’t hold their shape as well, which can lead to mushy scalloped potatoes.
These potatoes only need 1 minute of cooking time to get soft in the Instant Pot!
Absolutely! Many Instant Pots or pressure cookers don’t allow for less than 5 minutes on any setting. If this is the case with your pot, simply set it for the lowest amount of time available but set a separate timer so that you can turn off the pot and release the steam after 1 minute of cooking. If you aren’t sure how long your pot will take to pressurize, I would stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on it. Once the timer countdown begins, cancel the pot after 1 minute has elapsed and vent the steam. If you allow the potatoes to cook for a full 5 minutes they will simply turn to mush and you will have only mashed potatoes instead of scalloped potatoes.
Yes! Simply layer the potato slices in the crockpot, top with the sauce, and cook for 4-5 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low. Follow this Crockpot scalloped potato recipe for full instructions.
More Scalloped Potato Recipes To Try
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
- 8×8-inch Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds baby yellow potatoes sliced into ¼-inch discs (length or widthwise)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons salted butter (¼ stick)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ¾ cup half-and-half
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1½ cups freshly shredded marbled cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
- Place the potatoes, chicken broth, and salt together in your Instant Pot and stir until the potatoes are all wet.1½ pounds baby yellow potatoes, 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Seal the Instant Pot and pressure cook the potatoes for 1 minute. It will take longer than 1 minute for the pot to pressurize but that is ok. Allow it to pressurize and then cook the potatoes for just 1 minute.
- After the potatoes have cooked for 1 minute, turn off the Instant Pot and quick release the remaining pressure.
- Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and then gently remove the potatoes from the pot and place them in the prepared pan. Try to keep as much liquid in the pot as possible.
- Add the butter and minced garlic to the liquid in the Instant Pot and set the sauté function for 7 minutes, stirring frequently.2 tablespoons salted butter, 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- After the pot has heated and the butter is bubbling, slowly mix in the half-and-half, stirring constantly.¾ cup half-and-half
- Mix in the italian seasoning and allow the sauce to cook and continue stirring until the sauce has thickened, about 2-3 minutes.½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Turn off your Instant Pot and stir in 1 cup of marbled cheddar cheese until melted and combined.1½ cups freshly shredded marbled cheddar cheese
- Pour the sauce over the potatoes and gently spread it evenly over the potatoes.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese all over the top.
- Place the 8×8-inch baking dish in the oven and broil for 5-7 minutes, or until the potatoes are bubbling and golden brown on top.
- Serve hot.
Becky’s Tips
- Take care to slice the potatoes into even ¼-inch thick slices; use a mandoline or food processor for easy even slices!
- If your instant pot can’t be set for less than 5 minutes, set it for the lowest amount of time available but set a separate timer so that you can turn off the pot and release the steam after 1 minute of cooking.
- Shred your own cheese from a block for the smoothest sauce. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in starches that can cause the sauce to become grainy!
- Add the half-and-half slowly to prevent curdling.
- Watch the potatoes closely as you broil them to avoid burning the cheese.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes Step by Step
Prep the Potatoes: Place 1½ pounds of sliced baby yellow potatoes, 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt together in your Instant Pot and stir until the potatoes are all wet.
Cook the Potatoes: Seal the Instant Pot and pressure cook the potatoes for 1 minute. It will take longer than 1 minute for the pot to pressurize but that is ok. Allow it to pressurize and then cook the potatoes for just 1 minute. After the potatoes have cooked for 1 minute, turn off the instant pot and quick release the remaining pressure.
Grease the Pan: Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and then gently remove the potatoes from the pot and place them in the prepared pan. Try to keep as much liquid in the pot as possible.
Sauté the Garlic: Add 2 tablespoons of salted butter and 1 teaspoon of minced garlic to the liquid in the Instant Pot and set the sauté function for 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the Cream: After the pot has heated and the butter is bubbling, slowly mix in ¾ cup of half-and-half, stirring constantly. Mix in ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning and allow the sauce to cook. Continue stirring until the sauce has thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the Cheese: Turn off your Instant Pot and stir in 1 cup of marbled cheddar cheese until melted and combined.
Sauce the potatoes: Pour the sauce over the potatoes and gently spread it evenly over the potatoes.
Bake the Casserole: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese all over the top. Place the 8×8-inch baking dish in the oven and broil for 5-7 minutes, or until the potatoes are bubbling and golden brown on top. Serve hot.
