Scalloped Potatoes Recipe is the ultimate comfort food side dish with layers of tender potatoes baked in a rich, creamy cheese sauce. This easy homemade recipe skips the boxed mixes and uses simple ingredients for a budget-friendly side dish that is perfect for holidays, Sunday dinners, or busy weeknights.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This dish is seriously the best comfort food. If you have never made homemade potatoes au gratin before, it is a must try. The flavor can’t be beat and each bite is rich and creamy. Once you make these, you will never go back to store bought mixes. The flavor is richer and all around amazing.
My family loves this delicious recipe. We also have made a instant pot scalloped potatoes, stove top scalloped potatoes recipe, potatoes au gratin recipe, crock pot scalloped potatoes and ham and scalloped corn recipe if you are interested.
Quick Glance at this Recipe
- Budget-Friendly: Made with simple ingredients like potatoes, milk, broth, and shredded cheese.
- Family-Tested: Creamy, cheesy layers make this a side dish everyone comes back for.
- Real-Life Prep Time: About 20 minutes, plus baking time.
- Method: Baked casserole side dish.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Assemble ahead and bake when ready.
- Best For: Holidays, Sunday dinner, potlucks, or an easy comfort food side.
Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes – Thinly sliced potatoes. You can also use Yukon Gold Potatoes
- Butter – We used unsalted butter
- Flour – We used all purpose flour
- Milk – Use 2% or whole milk. You can also use heavy cream instead of the milk if you prefer.
- Chicken Broth – See Chicken broth substitutes
- Minced Garlic – If you use garlic cloves, learn how to How to Mince Garlic Cloves
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Use Shredded cheese but you can also use Colby Monterey Jack Cheese and Pepper Jack Cheese
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
How to Make Scalloped Potatoes
Follow along with my simple instructions to learn how I make my cheesy scalloped potatoes recipe.
Step 1 – First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. You will need a 9X13 baking pan and spray it with cooking spray.
Step 2 – Second, melt the butter in a small sauce pan. Once melted, add the flour and minced garlic and whisk together.
Step 3 – Then whisk in the chicken broth. Once this is combined, gradually add in the milk. Make sure to whisk constantly so that the sauce will be smooth. Just add the salt and pepper.
Step 4 – Next, cook this melt butter on low until it smooth and keep whisking constantly. Add the shredded cheddar cheese. Combine this keep stirring until the cheese is melted.
Step 5 – Now get your baking dish and put half of the potatoes in it. Then carefully pour half of the cheese sauce on top of the potatoes you just put in the casserole dish. Do another layer of potato slices and cream sauce. That is it!
Step 6 – Now just bake the scalloped potatoes uncovered for about 55 to 70 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
Step 7 – During the last 3 to 5 minutes of cooking, switch the oven to the broil setting. Let the potatoes broil until the top starts to get slightly browned.
Step 8 – Once you take the potatoes out of the oven, let them sit at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes before you serve them. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Shredded Cheese – It is best to shred your own cheese instead of using the pre-shredded cheese. It melts smoother and more evenly.
- Slicing Potatoes – Make sure to slice the potatoes about the same size so they cook evenly. Using a mandolin helps to slice the potatoes evenly.
- Baking Dish – This recipe is large enough for to be baked in a 9×13 baking dish. But you can also use two 8×8 baking pan.
Additions and Variations
These au gratin potatoes can be made with additions and variations. Add in fresh herbs such as parsley, rosemary or fresh thyme. It would even be delicious with diced ham for a hearty side dish.
You can even add in vegetables such as diced onions or bell peppers.
Serving Suggestions
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
- Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken Recipe
- Slow Cooker Traditional Meatloaf Recipe
- Easy Crock Pot Pork Chops
- Mississippi Pot Roast
Honestly, these potatoes go with just about anything. These are just a few of our favorites.
Frequently Asked Questions
We sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe but you can use any type of cheese that you prefer. We do recommend using fresh shredded cheese instead of the packet shredded cheese for the best flavor.
The best way to prevent your scalloped potatoes from being to watery is to use the right kind of potatoes. You want to use a starchy potato such as Russet or Yukon Gold Potatoes. Also, there is no need to soak or rinse the potatoes. This removes the starch which could turn your dish to be watery.
It is very simple to make these potatoes ahead. Just prepare the potatoes as instructed but do not bake.
Cover and store the baking dish in the refrigerator. Then when you are ready to cook them, allow the potatoes to come to room temperature.
Bake based on the recipe as normal.
Storing and Reheating Tips
- Storing – Store the leftovers in an airtight container. The leftovers will stay fresh for 3-4 days. We think they taste even better the next day.
- Reheating – Reheat the leftovers in the oven or microwave depending on how much you have leftover.
- Freezing – You can freeze scalloped potatoes, but the texture may change some. We recommend making fresh and enjoying within a few days.
More Easy Potato Recipes
These homemade Scalloped Potatoes are creamy, cheesy, and always a favorite for holidays, family dinners, and potlucks. They are simple to make with affordable ingredients and taste so much better than the boxed versions.
If you try this Scalloped Potatoes Recipe, please leave a comment and a star rating below. We love hearing how it turned out for your family and any delicious additions you made.
Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Potatoes thinly sliced (⅛ inch thick) (Russet or Yukon Gold)
- ¼ cup Butter
- ¼ cup Flour
- 2 cups Milk 2% or whole milk
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese shredded
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9X13 baking dish with a non stick cooking spray.
- Melt ¼ cup of butter in a small sauce pan and then whisk in ¼ cup of flour and 1 Tbsp minced garlic.
- Whisk in 1 cup of chicken broth and then gradually add in 2 cups of milk and whisk constantly until well combined and smooth. Then stir in the 1 tsp of salt and ½ tsp of pepper.
- Cook on low until the sauce is smooth (whisking constantly).
- Turn the heat off and then stir in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and well combined.
- Then place half of the potatoes (1.5 lbs) in the baking dish. Pour half of the cheese sauce on top of the layer of the potatoes in the pan. Repeat with the remaining potatoes and cheese sauce.
- Bake uncovered for 55-70 minutes at 350 degrees F until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Switch the oven to the broil setting and broil for 3-5 minutes until the top of the scalloped potatoes are browned slightly.
- Remove and let the potatoes set at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Wow good, just like mom’s !
That is the best compliment! Thank you so much for sharing Douglas and for the positive review of the review!
Absolutely delicious!!
Jackie – Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
The easiest side dish and tastiest that I serve at get togethers and they are the RAGE !