Scalloped potatoes are a classic side dish for almost any meal. Made with thin potato slices, a creamy sauce, and layered with bacon and cheddar cheese, these potatoes are an easy and savory recipe everyone will love!
These potatoes are a perfect side dish when making a holiday Ham, Homemade Meatloaf or Garlic Parmesan Turkey Cutlets.
Scalloped Potatoes
When it comes to side dishes, you can’t go wrong with a delicious potato recipe. I especially love to make this classic recipe around the holidays because my dad would make these when we would have large holiday family gatherings. Plus, my husband is a “meat and potatoes” kind of guy, so we’re both love it when I make these.
While scalloped potatoes don’t typically have any toppings, I’ve decided to bump up the flavor in this classic recipe with some cheddar cheese and bacon. The result is a cheesy and savory side dish that everyone will love!
What’s The Difference Between Au Gratin And Scalloped Potatoes
When I first started learning how to cook, I thought the two were the same and used them interchangeably. While they’re not exactly the same, there are very similar. Au Gratin potatoes are generally made using a cheesy white sauce and topped with breadcrumbs and cheese while scalloped potatoes are baked in just a cream sauce.
How To Make Scalloped Potatoes
These cheesy scalloped potatoes are sure to be a favorite with everyone in the family! If you’re cooking for a larger crowd, you could easily double the recipe and bake it in a 9 x 13 baking dish.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
- Spray a 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat
- Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown
- Slowly add the milk, followed by the chicken broth, while whisking constantly to prevent lumps
- Cook until thickened and starting to bubble
- Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the half and half, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese
- Wash and scrub your potatoes
- Slice the potatoes into pieces that are no more than 1/4″ thick
- Layer 1/3 of the potatoes in the bottom of the prepared dish
- Pour 1/3 of the sauce over the top and spread to cover
- Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese and 1/3 of the bacon pieces over the top
- Repeat twice with remaining potatoes, sauce, cheese, and bacon
- Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes
- Remove cover and bake 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling
- Let stand 15-20 minutes before serving
Scalloped Potato Variations
While the traditional recipe only calls for the potatoes to be cooked in the cream sauce, I like add extra ingredients to make it more flavorful and to add a little variety. Sometimes, I’ll even sneak a few vegetables into the recipe as well. My husband isn’t a big fan of eating them as a side but he likes them when I slip them into other recipes. Here are a few of the tasty ingredients I’ve made with this recipe.
- Ham
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese
- Bacon
- Green onions
Tips For Making Scalloped Potatoes
- To make sure your potatoes cook evenly, the slices should be cut uniformily and no more than 1/4″ thick. The easiest way I’ve found to do this is to use a kitchen medallion slicer. This makes the slicing process super easy and fast.
- Did your potatoes come out too hard? This can happen for a couple reasons but the short answer is that they aren’t fully cooked and just need more time. First, check to make sure your potatoes are sliced thinly enough.
Can You Freeze Scalloped Potatoes
If you have any leftover potatoes, you can store them in the refrigerator for about 5 days if they are in a sealed container. If you don’t think you’ll eat them before then, or if you want to make a batch and serve them later, you can easily freeze this recipe.
Wrap the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap and then cover with aluminum foil before freezing them. You can keep these frozen for about 2 months. Just be sure to write the date on the foil so you can remember when you put them in the freezer. When you’re ready to use them, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before warming them up.
More Easy Potato Recipes
- Easy Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
- Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Creamy Dill Potatoes Recipe
- Twice Baked Potato Bites
- Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Go ahead, give these delicious potatoes a try. Leave us a comment below and let us know how much you enjoyed them or tag us on social media after you make them because we love to see what you’ve been up to in the kitchen!
Easy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 medium red potatoes, sliced thinly
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup half and half
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 3/4 cups cheddar cheese, divided
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Spray a 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.
- Slowly add the milk, followed by the chicken broth, while whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Cook until thickened and starting to bubble.
- Remove from heat and stir in the half and half, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Layer 1/3 of the potatoes in the bottom of the prepared dish.
- Pour 1/3 of the sauce over the top and spread to cover.
- Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese and 1/3 of the bacon pieces over the top.
- Repeat twice with remaining potatoes, sauce, cheese, and bacon.
- Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes,
- Remove cover and bake 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling.
- Let stand 15-20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Other Notes
Love this for a side dish! Pair great with any meat!
Thanks, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This sounds like a great addition to our Easter menu. I love how cheesy they look and can’t wait to make them.
Thanks Jacque! These really are delicious!
One of my favorite dishes when entertaining or for the holidays! Everyone always loves them!
So glad to hear they were a hit, thanks Taylor!
These scalloped potatoes look so mouth watering. Perfect side dish!
Thanks Catalina!
These potatoes look so fantastic! The perfect side dish
Thanks Dee!