Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (2024)

Home » Recipes » Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

by Mike Hultquist · · 21 Comments · Jump to Recipe

This scalloped potatoes recipe is layered with sliced potatoes and creamy sauce with just the right seasonings, the perfect holiday side dish, easy to make!

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (1)

The Best Scalloped Potatoes - Right Here!

Forget the mashed potatoes, my friends. If you want to make the ultimate potato dish, scalloped potatoes are where it's at.

Whether you're making scalloped potatoes for the holidays - they ARE the perfect holiday side dish - or serving them up for a special occasion, you need the right recipe to make them as awesome as they can be.

This is recipe.

I make my scalloped potatoes with thinly sliced layers of potatoes and onions - onions are key! - along with a thick and creamy sauce and the perfect blend of seasonings.

You can make it with or without cheese, whichever you prefer. I can't tell which one I like better! I love it both ways!

I think you'll love this recipe as much as we do. It is seriously amazing. Take one bite, you'll see.

Let's talk about how to make scalloped potatoes, shall we?

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (2)

Scalloped Potatoes Ingredients

  • FOR THE POTATOES
  • Potatoes. Use your favorites, peeled or unpeeled. Yukon gold potatoes or russet potatoes are good here.
  • Onion. Onion is KEY for me for additional flavor that permeates the dish.
  • FOR THE CREAMY SAUCE
  • Butter.
  • Flour.
  • Milk.
  • Seasonings. I'm using paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Feel free to use your favorites.
  • OPTIONAL ADDITIONS
  • Cheddar Cheese. Or use other melty cheese. See the recipe notes section.
Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (3)

How to Make Scalloped Potatoes - the Recipe Method

The Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Rinse and dry the sliced potatoes and onions in cold water. Set them aside.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (4)

Make the Creamy Sauce. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour to form a roux (paste) and cook 2 minutes. Do not let it brown.

Add the warmed milk, stirring, until the sauce thickens. The sauce should coat a spoon.

Cheese Option: If you’d like a cheesy version, stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese until incorporated.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (5)

Spice and Simmer. Bring to a boil. Add the paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, and salt and pepper. Lower the heat and cook 2-3 minutes longer, stirring.

Remove from heat.

The First Layer. Layer a lightly oiled baking dish or casserole dish (8x8) with half the thinly sliced potatoes, then half the onions.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (6)

Make a nice, even layer, so everything spreads across the bottom of the pan. This will help it cook more evenly.

Add the Sauce. Cover with half the bechamel (cream sauce) or cheese sauce, if using cheese.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (7)

The Second Layer. Top with remaining potatoes, then onions, then remaining bechamel.

Sprinkle with extra paprika and cayenne if desired for color.

Cheese Option: If using cheese, sprinkle remaining ½ cup shredded cheese over the top.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (8)

The First Bake. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Use aluminum foil, or a baking dish cover, whichever is easiest.

The Second Bake. Remove the cover and bake another 30-40 minutes, or until bubbly and the potatoes are tender to your liking.

Boom! Done! Your scalloped potatoes are ready to serve. Easy enough to make, isn't it? This dish will make the perfect holiday side dish, or any special meal.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (9)

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Recipe Tips & Notes

Should I Peel the Potatoes for Scalloped Potatoes? There is no need to peel the potatoes, but you can if you'd prefer. I make mine with unpeeled potatoes.

Cheese Options. Cheddar cheese is perfect here, but you can use any melty cheese.

Consider adding cream cheese for extra decadence. Parmesan is also a wonderful addition. Go for it! Cheese it up!

NOTE: If you use cheese, it’s technically “potatoes au gratin”, but I promise not to tell anyone.

Add Meats! A great addition is chopped or country ham, for a wonderful dish of scalloped potatoes and ham. I also love it with Mexican chorizo or smoked andouille sausage.

So good!

Spice It Up. This is not usually a "spicy" recipe, but you can very easily up that spice and heat factor with the addition of your favorite spices.

Feel free to add in more cayenne pepper, or bring in your favorite Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning blend. Don't forget the hot sauce!

Make Ahead Scalloped Potatoes

Can I make scalloped potatoes ahead of time? Yes, you can. The best way to do this is to make the recipe as written, but only bake it, covered, for 30 minutes without the shredded cheese topping.

Then, cover and refrigerate the dish.

When you'd like to serve, bring it to room temp, then top with shredded cheese, and bake for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are nicely tender.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (10)

Storage

This recipe will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Simply reheat in the oven to enjoy them again.

You can also freeze it for 2-3 months.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy my scalloped potatoes recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

  • Turkey Wings Recipe
  • Oven Roasted Turkey Legs
  • Chipotle-Honey Baked Ham
  • Hot Honey Glazed Ham
  • Hoppin’ John
  • Cajun Corn Maque Choux
  • Papas con Chile – Cheese Tex-Mex Mashed Potatoes
  • Potato Salad Recipe
  • Jalapeno-Cheddar Dutch Oven Bread
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Sausage Stuffing
  • Cornbread Dressing
Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (11)

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (12)

Print

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

This scalloped potatoes recipe is layered with thinly sliced potatoes and an easy, creamy sauce with the perfect blend of seasonings, ideal for a holiday side dish or any special occasion. This is how I like to make mine.

Save Recipe

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: potatoes, roux

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Calories: 259kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: 8

Tap or hover to scale

4.89 from 9 votes

Leave a Review

Ingredients

FOR THE POTATOES

  • 2 pounds potatoes thinly sliced (1/8" thick - a mandolin is best for consistency)
  • 1 small onion thinly sliced

FOR THE CREAMY SAUCE

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 1/2 cups milk heated
  • 1 tablespoon paprika + more as needed
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt and pepper to taste

OPTIONAL ADDITIONS

  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese or other melty cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Rinse and dry the sliced potatoes and onions. Set them aside.

  • Make the Creamy Sauce. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour to form a roux (paste) and cook 2 minutes. Do not let it brown.

  • Add the warmed milk, stirring, until the mixture thickens. The sauce should coat a spoon.

  • Cheese Option: If you’d like a cheesy version, stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese until incorporated.

  • Bring to a boil. Add the paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, and salt and pepper. Lower the heat and cook 2-3 minutes longer, stirring. Remove from heat.

  • Layer a lightly oiled baking dish (8x8) with half the potatoes, then half the onions. Cover with half the bechamel (creamy sauce).

  • Top with remaining potatoes, then onions, then remaining bechamel. Sprinkle with extra paprika and cayenne if desired for color.

  • Cheese Option: If using cheese, sprinkle remaining ½ cup shredded cheese over the top.

  • Cover and bake for 30 minutes.

  • Remove the cover and bake another 30-40 minutes, or until bubbly and the potatoes are tender to your liking.

Notes

Consider adding cream cheese to your sauce along with cheddar cheese for extra cheesiness. NOTE: If you use cheese, it’s technically “potatoes au gratin”, but I promise not to tell anyone.

Spice It Up! This dish is all about the spices. Use a nice Cajun or Creole seasoning blend for some spicy goodness.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 259kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 9gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 198mgPotassium: 614mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 903IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 227mgIron: 1mg

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (13)

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Gregory says

    Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (14)
    Thanks for the recipe Mike, going to make this one for Christmas day instead of the usual potato salad. A early Merry Christmas to you and the family and thank you for all the great recipes! Best regards from Africa.

    Reply

    • Mike H. says

      Sounds like a great plan, Gregory. Thank you and happy holidays to you, too!

      Reply

  2. gary dyck says

    Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (15)
    will try this i know it will be super good

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Enjoy!

      Reply

  3. James says

    can you make ahead of time and freeze without baking?

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      James, yes, cover it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months or so. Thaw the dish, then bake. Let me know how it turns out for you.

      Reply

      • James says

        thank you. traveling out of state and this will make it easier.

        Reply

      • James says

        Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (16)
        turned out great. used American, cream cheese and chopped up a ham steak. thanks.

        Reply

        • Mike Hultquist says

          Excellent! Thanks, James!

          Reply

  4. Janelle says

    Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (17)
    Made this today and we loved it. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Great! Glad you enjoyed it, Janelle!

      Reply

  5. Anne Davis says

    Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (18)
    Hi Mike, Thanks for all the great recipes. I would like to save some of them instead of immediately printing, but the "save" button on the recipe doesn't work for me. Can you please help me with this.

    Anne

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Ann, this site is connected with "Grow". You can create a quick account with it so you can save your favorites with the little "heart" icon that pops up. Let me know if you have trouble finding it.

      Reply

      • Anne Davis says

        Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (19)
        Hi Mike, sorry but I can't get any website to some using Grow or "Grow". I did get one site Grow Foods, but it is no longer an active site. If you could help, that would be great--Thanks Anne

        Reply

        • Mike Hultquist says

          Hi, Anne. By “Grow”, I’m referring to an account with Grow, which is a bookmarking application. On the lower right side of your screen there is a heart icon right above a Share icon. If you click on the share icon, you will see options to save or go to your account. If you don’t already have an account, you’ll be prompted to create one. Grow is used across thousands of websites online and it will save all of your bookmarked items together in one place. Please let me know if this helps.

          Reply

  6. Vic (R.V) Mennell says

    Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (20)
    HI Mike, have been doing a similar version for many years. Instead of the bechamel sauce I use fresh cream and sprinkle a layer of finely chopped fresh garlic on each layer. It's a delicious family favourite. BR. Vic

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Wonderful! Thanks, Vic!

      Reply

  7. DOUGLAS KINTON says

    Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (21)
    Which type of potato do you recommend??

    Looks delicious!!

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      This works with any, but I love Yukon Gold or any yellow potatoes. Tasty!

      Reply

  8. Deb says

    Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (22)
    This recipe looks delicious! Thank you for the care you put into the directions for this and all your recipes. I will be making this for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow and I'm sure it's going to be a favorite!
    Thanks for all the good work you do, your website is wonderful and filled with exciting recipes!!

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      Thanks, Deb! I'm sure you will love it as much as we do! I almost ate the whole pan! Oops!

      Reply

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the one trick Michael Symon uses to make perfect scalloped potatoes? ›

Surprisingly, aluminum foil is his secret weapon. After beautifully shingling the potatoes (he's got a genius trick for doing this quickly, too) he covers the dish in foil before hitting the oven.

Why are my scalloped potatoes not creamy? ›

High heat will cause the milk to curdle. Use milk or cream with higher fat content. Whole milk, half-and-half, or cream and full-fat cheeses are necessary. Skim milk and reduced-fat products will not be your friend in this dish.

What is the difference between scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes? ›

The difference comes down to cheese. Scalloped potato recipes are usually baked in a basic cream sauce until soft and tender, with no cheese topping. Potatoes au gratin are a bit more decadent. They are made with lots of cheese sprinkled in between the layers of potatoes and also on top of the casserole.

How do you thicken runny scalloped potatoes? ›

Instant potato flakes are an excellent thickening agent made from real potatoes that have been cooked, mashed, and then dried. When added to watery scalloped potatoes, they absorb excess moisture and thicken the sauce, improving the overall consistency.

Why are my scalloped potatoes always hard? ›

Starch Will Not Swell–Rock-Hard Scalloped Potatoes

Potatoes or rice can remain rock-hard after prolonged cooking. Starch will not swell if it is acidic. If you have a lot of sour cream in your scalloped potatoes or add something acidic, your potatoes may not soften.

Why do my scalloped potatoes taste bland? ›

My scalloped potatoes are bland

They are also in need of serious seasoning to ensure deliciousness. Make sure your sauce is well-seasoned, but also, season each layer of potatoes with salt and pepper before adding the sauce, to make sure they are as flavorful as you want them!

How to keep potatoes from turning brown when making scalloped potatoes? ›

Do I have to blanch my potatoes, to make scalloped potatoes ahead of time? A: The short answer I recommend is yes, almost always. If sliced and then placed into a pot of cold water, bring to a boil for 1-2 minutes till the slices have a rubbery consistency, this blanching will help stop the oxidation process.

Why does the sauce in my scalloped potatoes curdle? ›

The curdling is caused by high heat, which is hard to avoid in an oven. So to keep the sauce together, tackle it before the dish goes in the oven. Instead of simply layering grated cheese and milk or cream with the potatoes, you need to make a smooth cheese sauce.

How to keep cream from curdling in scalloped potatoes? ›

The best way to prevent curdling in scalloped potatoes is to start with high starch potatoes, such as Russets, that will help to thicken the sauce, use very fresh cream or half-and-half rather than whole or low-fat milk, and thicken the cream with flour or corn starch to make a sauce rather than topping the ingredients ...

How do you know when scalloped potatoes are done? ›

Pour milk over the top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are fork tender, about 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until cheese is bubbly and begins to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

What is the best way to slice potatoes for scalloped potatoes? ›

Slice Evenly

The recommended thickness is around 1/8 inch. Using a sharp knife, start by cutting off a small portion from one side of the potato to create a stable base. Then, continue to slice the potatoes into thin, even rounds. Take your time and try to maintain a consistent thickness throughout.

Why are scalloped potatoes called funeral potatoes? ›

Why are they called funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes get their unique name from being a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons (particularly in the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

Why are my scalloped potatoes so watery? ›

Watery scalloped potatoes are not good, and is often caused by using the wrong type of potato. This recipe requires starchy potatoes, such as russets or Yukon golds, not waxy potatoes. Another cause is washing or holding the sliced potatoes in water (as outlined in the question above).

What is the real name for scalloped potatoes? ›

Potato-based

Sliced raw potatoes may also be baked in a liquid or sauce that steams them and forms a golden crust on top. In the US, the dish is referred to variously as funeral potatoes, potatoes au gratin, scalloped potatoes, or au gratin potatoes.

What are the ingredients in Main Street Bistro scalloped potatoes? ›

POTATOES, WHOLE MILK, CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES, ANNATTO EXTRACT [COLOR], NATAMYCIN [MOLD INHIBITOR]), BUTTER (SWEET CREAM [MILK], SALT), SOUR CREAM (PASTEURIZED CULTURED CREAM [MILK], ENZYMES), PARMESAN CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), ROMANO ...

How to make Main St Bistro scalloped potatoes? ›

Oven cook - From Chilled 1 Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). 2 Remove tray from package and remove film. 3 Place container on baking tray and heat in oven for 20-22 minutes or until bubbly around edges. (Caution: Product and package may be hot.)

Why are my scalloped potatoes soupy? ›

Watery scalloped potatoes are not good, and is often caused by using the wrong type of potato. This recipe requires starchy potatoes, such as russets or Yukon golds, not waxy potatoes. Another cause is washing or holding the sliced potatoes in water (as outlined in the question above).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Melvina Ondricka

Last Updated:

Views: 5704

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Melvina Ondricka

Birthday: 2000-12-23

Address: Suite 382 139 Shaniqua Locks, Paulaborough, UT 90498

Phone: +636383657021

Job: Dynamic Government Specialist

Hobby: Kite flying, Watching movies, Knitting, Model building, Reading, Wood carving, Paintball

Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.