If you’ve ever had real home-cooked cheesy scalloped potatoes, you know they’re hard to beat. I’ve taken that classic dish and added a garlic Parmesan flavor, as well as added 3 kinds of cheese. Rigorously tested, these scalloped potatoes are no-fail, and can be made ahead of time or frozen!
Looking for other holiday side dishes? You’ve got to try my Homestyle No-Boil Mashed Potatoes, Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, and Ultimate Dinner Rolls!
CHEESY SCALLOPED POTATOES
You guys, I have never spent nearly half as long coming up with a recipe title, than I have for this post. I went back and forth on cheesy scalloped potatoes or potatoes au gratin.
Which then led to a spiral of googling to try and figure out what the heck the difference between scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin is. My deduction? It’s still not very clear!
Traditionally, scalloped potatoes are baked with no cheese, in a cream sauce, most often made with raw flour in the sauce that thickens up as it bakes… and potatoes au gratin are cheesy potatoes, but traditionally have a breadcrumb topping.
However, so many scalloped potatoes recipes have cheese in them, and not many au gratin recipes have the breadcrumbs. So confusing.
In the end, I went with my past… and called this recipe cheesy scalloped potatoes, since when I was growing up, my Mom made scalloped potatoes, and they always had cheese in them.
HOW TO MAKE SCALLOPED POTATOES
- Make sure you cut the potatoes very thin! Using a mandoline slicer makes this SO much easier (I’ll link to the one I use at the end of the post).
- No need to use heavy cream for the cheese sauce, whole milk works just as well. But if you’d like to use half and half or heavy cream, you can!
- Red and yukon gold potatoes are my favorite for scalloped potatoes, since they hold up well to the baking, and don’t need any peeling (unless you want to). Russet potatoes will work (and are cheaper), but they could potentially fall apart more during the long baking time.
MAKING SCALLOPED POTATOES AHEAD OF TIME
Usually this recipe is made for a holiday, when oven space is at a premium, and your time is precious. For that reason, I did some extra testing and have come up with a great, easy way to make these scalloped potatoes ahead of time!
I’ve found making this recipe ahead works best when you partially cook the potatoes first. Plus, that means you don’t have to bake them that long when reheating!
Baking the dish for 60 minutes gets the potatoes about 75% of the way cooked through. Let the dish cool, then cover tightly and refrigerate for 1-2 days.
Reheat at the same baking temperature, for 30-40 minutes.
Can you just imagine how amazing your house will smell while this ultra cheesy dish is baking? You’ll have to find something to do to keep yourself busy, because you’ll definitely be hungry!
FREEZING SCALLOPED POTATOES
As a bonus, this dish can also be frozen, using the same instructions as the make ahead directions. Just freeze the covered, partially cooked dish instead of refrigerating it.
Scalloped potatoes can be frozen for 2-3 weeks. Defrost by setting the dish in the refrigerator overnight.
crockpot scalloped potatoes
If you absolutely cannot or would rather not bake them (which is how I think they taste best), you can layer the scalloped potatoes in a greased slow cooker in the same manner as directed for this recipe. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.
Still want to bake the scalloped potatoes the day you make them but want to shave some time off? Microwave the sliced potatoes for about 10 minutes, to cut down on the total baking time (it will take about 45-50 minutes).
ADD-INS FOR SCALLOPED POTATOES
They’re amazing as-is, but if you want to add some extra flavor, here are my favorite options.
- Diced ham
- Sliced mushrooms
- Peas
- Different cheeses
Making this for Easter? Try these with my Copycat HoneyBaked Ham, Cranberry Almond Broccoli Salad, and don’t forget the Carrot Cake or Lemon Pie for dessert!
SHOP THE RECIPE:
- Mandoline Slicer – Once you try using one of these, you’ll wonder how you EVER sliced vegetables without it!
- 2 qt Baking Dish – I used a Le Creuset one for these photos, which I can’t seem to find online, but this is a great one!
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Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lbs red potatoes, washed, but not peeled
- 1 1/4 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, washed, but not peeled
- 1 onion, sliced thinly
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup gruyere cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- fresh chives, for garnish
- fresh parsley, for garnish
- additional 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- additional 1/4 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
- additional 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 2 quart casserole dish and set aside.
- Slice potatoes in 1/8" thin slices (I use this mandoline slicer), and set aside.
- Add butter to medium saucepan, and heat over MED heat. When butter is melted, add garlic and saute for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add flour, whisk, and cook 1 minute. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously, until no lumps remain. Whisk over MED heat until mixture is thick and coats the back of a spoon.
- Turn off heat, add cheeses, dry mustard, thyme, paprika, salt and pepper, and stir until smooth.
- Layer half the potatoes and onion slices in prepared casserole dish, pour approximately half of the cheese sauce over potatoes and let sit for a minute. Repeat with remaining potatoes, onions, and cheese sauce.
- Sprinkle top of potatoes with gruyere, cheddar and Parmesan. Spray aluminum foil with cooking spray, then cover the casserole dish (sprayed side down). Place casserole on a baking sheet and bake for 60 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake uncovered an additional 25-30 minutes. Potatoes should be tender and cheese melted. Broil on HIGH for a minute or two for extra browning and crispiness.
- Sprinkle top with chives and parsley and serve.
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Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Scott says
This is my go to recipe for scalloped potatoes. It is just fantastic.
Sometimes I’m missing different potatoes, or a type of cheese, or a spice, but it always turns out superb.
Thank you!!
Karen says
Have made this recipe again and again. Everyone loves it. I am taking it to a girls getaway but someone is gluten free. What would you recommend I substitute for the flour? and how much?
The Chunky Chef says
I would probably use gluten-free flour, but I’m not experienced with gluten-free cooking/baking, as we aren’t a gluten-free household. I would ask the person who’s coming what gluten-free alternatives they use, as I’m sure they have a preference 🙂
Patty says
This recipe is very forgiving. I used russet potatoes and onion, and cut them and the onion to fit the food processor slicer (I have a joint disease so the mandoline is risky.) Same for the shredded cheese.
I put the casserole in the oven. 10 minutes later I saw the food processor bowl filled with thinly sliced onion.
AAAAUUGH! I forgot the onion!!
So: I pulled the casserole out of the oven and dumped the onion on top with more shredded cheese.
Go figure. The dish was warm and bubbly and browned and delicious!
Served alongside grilled ribeye and sautéed baby greens. Wonderful!
Johnathan says
I used Irish cheddar and Gouda as substitutions. The potatoes were great! Thank you for sharing!
Diana says
Hi! Can I just use either red or Yukon versus both?
The Chunky Chef says
Yes, it’s pretty versatile.
Ann says
Making them again because the were requesting for a family luncheon.
Jeni June says
This is absolutely my fav and I have shared the recipe after havin on served it multiple times! So good!!!
Peggy says
When changing serving sizes I was disappointed to see “0.13 tsp. & 0.13 cups”! I have no idea how much that was and neither did my computer! PleASE MAKE IT EASIER TO FIGURE OUT!!
The Chunky Chef says
I can’t make math work differently, unfortunately. 0.13 is roughly equivalent to 1/8th, which makes sense since the original amount called for 1/4 cup and 1/4 tsp, which is 1/8 when halved.
Di says
Made this yesterday and it was a hit! Everyone said it was the best scalloped potatoes they have ever had😊. I will be throwing out all my other recipes now!
Dre says
Forced to make this every Easter now!
Cc says
Delicious! I make it for Christmas each year to rave reviews.