Easy Instant Pot Loaded Potato Casserole is a comforting dish made with cheese, bacon, and green onion. It's ready in 30 minutes and perfect for family dinners!
Instant Pot (or any electric pressure cooker) ** See notes to make without a pressure cooker**
Ingredients
5poundspotatoes, scrubbed and cut into 2" chunks
1 ½sticksbutter
1teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonground pepper
1cuphot water
1cupwhole milk
1cupsour cream
1packetranch seasoning mix(see notes for substitutions)
2cupsshredded cheese
1bunchgreen onions, chopped(green parts only)
4slicesbacon, cooked and crumbled, approx ¾ cup(can sub with chopped ham or turkey)
Instructions
Add the scrubbed and chopped potatoes, hot water, and butter to the Instant Pot. Add lid, close sealing lever, and cook at high pressure for 7 minutes. After the pressure cycle is complete, allow to naturally release for 10 minutes then initiate a quick release.
Mash potatoes with a potato masher in the pot. Stir in milk, sour cream, ranch mix, cheese, and half the green onions. Add the bacon and green onion on top as garnish before serving.
To serve as a casserole:
If you prefer to serve this as a casserole, add to a casserole dish and bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes. Top with the green onion and bacon.
Notes
This dish can be made ahead. After step one, allow potatoes to cool. Place potatoes into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and refrigerate for 1-3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw frozen potatoes in the refrigerator. Then mix with ingredients from step two and bake as directed in step three.To make this without an Instant Pot: Boil the potatoes in a large stock pot with 2 tsp salt added to the water. When the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, drain potatoes. Continue on to Step 2, increasing milk to 2 1/2 cups (adding more if necessary).Ranch seasoning substitute: 2 Tablespoons Buttermilk Powder (optional), 1 Tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried chives, 2 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried dill. Mix together.