If you don’t want ooey gooey cheese covering every single nook and cranny of your scalloped potatoes then look away. These Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are perfection! If you happen to want an easy Crock-Pot Scalloped Potato, I’ve got ya covered. You may also love my Potatoes Au Gratin with Smoked Sausage.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
For this recipe, I take a cream sauce and smother it over thick-cut potato rounds. I like to use a mandolin so that our potato slices come out the same every time. This is seriously the most amazing cheesy scalloped potato recipe that I have ever had.
Scalloped Potatoes vs. Au Gratin Potatoes
Why is there so much confusion about scalloped potatoes versus Au Gratin Potatoes? Well, they are very similar. So, we are calling our dish cheesy scalloped potatoes, and let me explain why we can do that. We are basically combining the best parts of both dishes.
A traditional scalloped potato dish consists of sliced potatoes layered in a casserole dish and baked with heavy cream and lots of herbs. A traditional Au Gratin Potato dish, on the other hand, has grated cheese sprinkled between the layers, resulting in a cheesy, more decadent dish. In both dishes, the potatoes are cut into rounds, but the potatoes used in scalloped potatoes are often cut a bit thicker than those in au gratin potatoes.
What Potatoes are Best for Scalloped Potatoes?
When choosing a potato for scalloped potatoes, I recommend a Russet potato (like I used for this recipe) or Yukon Gold potatoes. These two kinds of potatoes are starchy enough to help thicken the sauce and they will also turn out soft and tender. If you choose a more waxy potato, they may not soften up. Also, slice the potatoes as evenly as you can (which is why I recommended a mandoline earlier). Keep the thickness from 1/8 of an inch to 1/4 of an inch to ensure the potatoes are cooked evenly.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
So many people have asked if this could be combined with Ham. Without a doubt. This would be amazing with the addition of ham! I would maybe cube it and put it in between the rows of potatoes. Really, all you need to do is add it to the ingredients list, it will incorporate with the rest of the recipe just fine. That would take this from a side dish to a knock out the main course!
No matter which way you decide to prepare this cheesy scalloped potatoes dish, you will not be disappointed! Neither will anyone at your dinner table. Seriously? What is there not to love!?
I love to pair this with other holiday favorites like the worlds WORST stuffing, roasted carrots, creamy mashed potatoes and herb butter roasted turkey!
More Side Dishes
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Equipment
- Medium saucepan I like this one from Kitchenaid!
- Mandoline (optional)
- 2-Quart baking dish I use a glass baking dish like this one!
Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes, peeled and sliced into ยผ-inch slices (about 2 pounds)
- 1 yellow onion, sliced into rings
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups whole milk, room temperature
- 1 ยฝ cups mild cheddar cheese, shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ยฐF. Lightly spray an 8×8-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Arrange the potatoes and onions in the prepared baking dish, staggering potato and then onion.
- In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Cook until mixture has thickened.ย
- Stir in cheese all at once, and continue stirring until melted and smooth, about 30-60 seconds.ย
- Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 85-90 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
- For a crisp topping, change the oven setting to broil after the potatoes are baked. Broil until golden brown.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
I didnโt realize i donโt have onion sooooโฆsubstituting it for bell pepper!! Wish me luck! ๐
How did it go?!
Love all your recipes. Denise
Made it tonight. Delicious!!
Absolutely delicious!!
Just put it in the oven let’s see what happens lol.
Can it be assembled the day before baking it?
Yes, you can assemble this potato casserole the day before baking it. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Potatoes may oxidize: When potatoes are exposed to air, they can start to turn brown due to oxidation. To prevent this, you can place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of cold water with a bit of lemon juice added. This will help maintain their color. Then assemble when ready.
Cheese sauce: The cheese sauce is poured over the potatoes. When assembling it in advance, the sauce might thicken slightly in the refrigerator.
Baking time: If you assemble the casserole the day before, you might want to allow it to come to room temperature for a bit before baking. This can help ensure even cooking throughout the casserole.
Storing: Make sure it’s tightly sealed to prevent air from getting in.
Overall, if you follow these precautions, assembling the potato casserole a day in advance should work well. It can save you time on the day you plan to serve it. Just remember to adjust your baking time if you feel the casserole is still cold from the refrigerator when you put it in the oven.
Looks delicious
I made this today. It all went well except the baking time seemed a bit too long as my creamy cheese sauce was too absorbed. I would like it creamier. It was delicious though. And will make it again.
This recipe is so yummy! I have made it several times for different people and there are no leftovers. Just made another batch with 1/2 Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cheddar. It was the best ever!
I made this last night, and was hoping for leftovers – NOPE! I didn’t thicken the cheese sauce too much so it was perfect when it came from the oven. Thanks for a terrific recipe and inspiration.