Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (Tested and Perfected) - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published December 19, 2018

My idea of the BEST Scalloped Potatoes! These are rich and creamy and have just the right amount of cheesy flavor. The sauce has the perfect consistency and the potatoes are perfectly baked. A staple side dish recipe that’s perfect for weekends and holiday dinners.

Tested and Perfected Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

We’ve all had our fair share of bad scalloped potatoes. You know the kind that are so bland you’d rather just have cold cereal instead.

Or there’s the kind that are so gluey and thick you’re thinking it’s a paste coating the potatoes instead of a sauce. Then there’s the kind that have hard undercooked potatoes and crisp, seemingly raw onions. No thanks to all of the above!

In this recipe you get a smooth and creamy sauce with sharp cheddar for a boost of flavor, it also has onions and garlic for fresh flavor – and those are sauteed before hand so they don’t end up crisp or adding harsh flavor.

Then the potatoes end up perfectly soft and tender since they’re thinly, evenly sliced. And the golden brown areas on the top of it all will leave you smitten!

Are you hungry yet? I know I’m ready for more!

Ingredients for Scalloped Potatoes

• Butter– to make a roux and make the sauce rich.
• All-purpose flour -to thicken the sauce.
• Yellow onion– this livens up the bland potatoes.
• Garlic – not so common in scalloped potatoes but I say it’s a must.
• Salt and pepper – potatoes will need a fair amount of salt.
• Whole milk– this creates a delicious creamy sauce.
• Cheddar cheese – don’t use pre-shredded cheese, it won’t melt as smoothly.
• Red potatoes – I like waxy less starchy potatoes here. Yukons gold will work great too.
• Parsley (optional) – this just adds a nice contrasting vibrant color for garnish.

How to Make Scalloped Potatoes

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute 3 minutes.

• Add flour and garlic and saute 1 minute.
• While whisking pour in milk. Bring to a light boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.

• Remove from heat. Stir in cheese.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste (you’ll need about 1 tsp salt). Cover pan with lid and set aside.

• Peel potatoes and slice into 1/6-inch slices using a mandolin. Spread half of the potatoes into an even layer in prepared baking dish (be sure each slice is separated).
• Pour half the sauce evenly over potatoes. Spread over remaining half of potatoes and finish by covering with remaining half of sauce.

• Bake in preheated oven until potatoes are tender when pierced with a toothpick, about 55 – 70 minutes.
• Garnish with parsley if desired and serve warm.

Made from Scratch Oven Baked Comfort Food!

This recipe is one of those homestyle dishes that will take you back home and remind you of the classic recipes mom and grandma made. I just love recipes like this.

And also I don’t know what it is about winter but I’m loving comfort food like this lately.

Tips for Scalloped Potatoes

• Use a mandolin to slice the potatoes. That way the don’t end with various thicknesses which would leave some potatoes undercooked.
• I like to wait to slice the potatoes until after I make the sauce so they don’t brown. Plus that way you can skip the bowl and water trick and another dirty dish.
• Regular yellow/orange cheddar will work great too in place of white if that’s what you’ve got but stick with the sharp intensity for best flavor.
• Create layers. Don’t just add potatoes then pour sauce. Layering the potatoes and sauce twice will leave the sauce evenly distributed.
• If you like them extra cheesy feel free to sprinkle some cheese on top too. Cover with foil for half of the baking time if doing so so it doesn’t burn.
• Broil at the end for some browning. It adds lots of flavor.

Can I Make these Ahead of Time?

For best results I recommend baking and serving just after prepping. Reheated potatoes are never as good if you ask me.

What to Serve with Scalloped Potatoes?

• Roast Chicken or Slow Cooker Rotisserie Style Chicken
• Honey Baked Ham
• Peas or green beans
• Side Salad

More Potato Recipes You’ll Love!

• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
• Best Baked Potatoes
• Creamy Potato Soup
• Potato Salad