This cheesy scalloped potatoes recipe is a true family favorite! It’s an excellent make-ahead side dish, guaranteed to feed a crowd. Pair it with any menu for an easy side dish that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Cheesy scalloped potatoes are a classic side dish, perfect for any occasion! They’re my go-to side on Easter, Mother’s Day, or whenever I’m in the mood for a cozy meal. My kids are obsessed with them! They can’t wait until the cheesy potatoes arrive at the table!
While they may seem daunting or complicated to make, they’re actually quite easy! Plus, they work well to make in advance and reheat later.
Serve them with spiral glazed ham or lemon herb turkey. If you have an Instant Pot, try this 45-minute Instant Pot scalloped potatoes recipe, too.
“Great recipe… I Always get requests from guests for this recipe.” -Kathy
Why you’ll love this recipe
No complicated steps, no messing with a cheese sauce. Just easy steps to comfort food perfection!
- Easy and affordable ingredients – There’s nothing complicated here when it comes to making scalloped potatoes. Cheesy, potatoes, and cream, along with aromatics, are really all you need.
- Great make-ahead side dish – You can assemble and hold in the fridge or bake, then reheat before serving a crowd. It’s an effortless side once assembled.
- Crowd-pleasing – I’ve yet to meet somebody who doesn’t like potatoes combined with cream sauce and melted cheese.
Scalloped Potatoes vs. Potatoes Au Gratin
Classic scalloped potatoes are thinly sliced potatoes baked with cream and herbs. Potatoes au gratin have cheese sprinkled between the layers.
We’re naming our scalloped potatoes “cheesy” for the exact reason that we are adding cheese to them. Plus, we also slice the potatoes a little thicker than the classic potatoes au gratin.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Potatoes – Russet, Idaho, or Yukon gold potatoes are your best choice when making cheesy scalloped potatoes. They have a high starch content that, when cooked, gives the potatoes a creamy, soft, melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
- Flour helps to thicken the sauce. I promise you won’t taste raw flour!
- Garlic -A non-negotiable flavor addition! The only question is, how much!? To get the best punch of flavor, I highly recommend mincing freshly peeled garlic right before using it.
- Milk and heavy cream – When combined, milk and heavy cream create the perfect creamy, rich sauce that’s not too heavy. Any milk works, but whole milk or 2% milk will give you a richer result.
- Cilantro – This might sound like a bizarre addition to scalloped potatoes, but you have to trust me on this one. It adds a delicious, slightly peppery, herbaceous flavor. However, if you’re someone who has that gene that causes cilantro to taste like soap, then by all means, skip it! Or, you can substitute the cilantro with flat-leaf parsley.
- Cheese – Creamy, buttery Havarti cheese and melty mozzarella run the show here. Both cheeses melt beautifully and add a nice velvety texture to the dish. The combination of two types of cheese makes this cheesy scalloped potato recipe far better than any frozen or store-bought option. But you may opt for classic sharp cheddar as well!
Types of Potatoes to Use
Starchy potatoes, such as russet, Yukon gold, and Idaho, are best for making scalloped potatoes. They become tender as they cook and soak up the creamy sauce, resulting in a velvety, luscious texture.
Low-starch potatoes remain firm and don’t soak up the sauce, which obviously isn’t the consistency we’re going for!
How to make cheesy scalloped potatoes
Before you get started, preheat your oven to 400°F, and spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray. I recommend using a dish that’s at least 2 inches deep!
1. Prepare the potatoes
- Wash and peel 3-4 medium-sized russet potatoes.
- Cut the potatoes into very thin slices, about ⅛-inch thick. I like to use a mandoline slicer for this step as it helps to make uniform slices!
2. Make the creamy roux mixture
- Whisk the flour, garlic, salt, and pepper with ½ cup of heavy cream in a medium-sized mixing bowl until well combined.
- Stir in the remaining heavy cream, milk, and cilantro.
Avoid lumps
Mix the flour with just a small amount of cream first to prevent any lumps and create a smooth, saucy consistency.
3. Layer the potatoes, cream, and cheese
- Arrange half of the potatoes in the prepared baking dish, overlapping them as needed.
- Pour half of the creamy roux mixture over the rows of potatoes.
- Sprinkle half of each cheese evenly over the potatoes and cream mixture.
- Layer on the remaining potatoes, cream, and cheese.
4. Bake the cheesy scalloped potatoes
- Tightly cover the baking dish with foil, and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil. Then, bake for another 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- If desired, broil under high heat for about 2 minutes for a crisp, golden-brown top.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use Russet, Yukon gold, or Idaho potatoes. These varieties have a high starch content, which results in the best texture for this dish.
- A mandolin is a game-changer for achieving super-thin, uniform potato slices. This ensures that the potatoes cook quickly and evenly.
- Using a combination of different types of cheese adds more flavor. Feel free to try making cheesy scalloped potatoes with other cheeses, such as cheddar, gouda, fontina, or gruyère. You can’t go wrong with a melty cheese!
- This is a basic version of scalloped potatoes, perfect for customizing. I encourage you to play around with the seasonings and herbs! You can add fresh chives, rosemary, and/or thyme, if desired.
- Let the scalloped potatoes rest before serving. Resting allows the sauce to thicken and makes it easier to serve.
Storage
Store leftover scalloped potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat leftovers in the oven or microwave. Microwave in short intervals until your desired warmth is reached. Warm in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 350°F, covered with foil to prevent browning.
Cheesy scalloped potatoes don’t freeze well, as freezing significantly changes their texture and flavor.
Make-Ahead Tips
This cheesy scalloped potatoes recipe is the ideal make-ahead side dish. You have a few options here:
- Prep ahead and bake later: Fully assemble the casserole, cover it tightly with foil, and refrigerate it for up to 1 day. Then, bake the scalloped potatoes as instructed when you’re ready to serve them.
- Bake ahead and reheat: Baking cheesy scalloped potatoes in advance is also an option. Assemble and bake the casserole as instructed, and let it cool. Then, cover the dish with foil, and place it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve the casserole, reheat it in the oven at 400°F for about 30 minutes. Keep the potatoes covered with foil to prevent excessive browning!
- Slice your potatoes in advance: Place sliced potatoes in a bowl of cold water, making sure to submerge them fully. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours. When you’re ready to prepare your casserole, rinse the potatoes with fresh water, and thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels.
FAQs
If you stored your sliced potatoes in a bowl of water to prevent discoloration, drain them well and pat them dry with a paper towel. The extra water on the potato slices could be the reason your sauce is runny. Also, the flour in the sauce mixture helps to thicken the sauce, so don’t skip it!
Scalloped potatoes are finished cooking when they’re fork-tender. If a fork pierces through easily, you know they’re done!
Both au gratin and scalloped potatoes are prepared with thinly sliced potatoes and a cream sauce. Some scalloped potato recipes contain cheese (like this one), but it’s not always a key ingredient. On the other hand, all au gratin potato recipes contain cheese and a crunchy breadcrumb topping.
Au gratin potatoes are also lovingly referred to as cheesy potatoes. Since not all scalloped potato recipes contain cheese, it’s not safe to assume scalloped potatoes and cheesy potatoes are the same dish.
If your scalloped potatoes are still hard, they may need more time in the oven, more liquid added, or you may have used the wrong type of potato.
More Easy Potato Sides
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3-4 medium russet potatoes Note 1
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic about 3 cloves Note 2
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk Note 3
- ½ cup loosely packed cilantro chopped Note 4
- 4 oz (120 g) mozzarella cheese grated Note 5
- 4 oz (120 g) Havarti cheese grated
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Spray at least 2-inch deep large casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Cut the potatoes into 1/8-inch thin slices. (TIP: Use a mandoline slicer for even slices.)
- In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup of heavy cream, flour, garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined. Then stir in the remaining heavy cream, milk and cilantro.
- Arrange half of the potatoes in prepared baking dish. Then pour half of the cream mixture over the potatoes and sprinkle half of each cheeses in even layer.
- Layer the remaining potato slices, pour the remaining cream mixture and sprinkle the cheeses.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake another 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. If desired, broil for about 2 minutes for beautiful golden color.
- Rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
⭐️ Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a review and let us know how you liked it!
Tips & Notes
Scalloped potatoes are perfect make-ahead side dish for different occasions. And you can take one of two routes:
– Prep ahead and bake later: You can assemble the casserole, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Then bake it right before serving.
– Bake-ahead and reheat: You can also bake it a day in advance. And when ready to serve, reheat it in the oven at 400°F for about 30 minutes. Storing Tip:
Refrigerate leftover scalloped potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Scalloped potatoes don’t freeze well.
Nutrition
This looks amazing. I originally found your recipe on realhousemoms recipe website. I noticed the two cooking times were different, and was wondering which one we should follow?
Great recipe… I use 6 oz. Cheddar & gruyere…and 3oz gruyere from trader Joes. Do 3 layers instead of 2. Also par boil sliced potatoes for 7 mins. Always make ahead without baking..cover & put in fridge. Take out 30mins b4 baking. Always get request from guest for the recipe
Fantastic!! Thank you for so much for your feedback, Kathy!!
Hi there! If you want to make ahead of time, would you make it all the way and then just heat up when you are ready? If so – Whats the process of reheating?
Or do you make it to the 30 minute mark, and then continue cooking for the 20 minutes uncovered??
Thanks!
Hi, Steve. I usually make it through step 8, before baking, and refrigerate until the next day. And then proceed with the baking directions. Since the potatoes are covered with milk mixture, they won’t turn color or anything. Hope this helps.
Looking forward to more cheese recipes!! Need to pick up some Havarti but this is a must try. Cheese and bacon are my favorite add-ons. And you are correct! Flavor IS everything!
Barbara, hope you give this a try. It’s soo good. And I love Havarti, but you can also use any other cheese you like.