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Making this easy scalloped potatoes recipe from scratch is simple for an Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas side dish! They are incredibly comforting, creamy, cheesy, and rich.

You may also like my Funeral Potatoes or this Cheesy Potato Casserole.

close-up of cheesy scalloped potatoes being lifted out of casserole dish with spatula

Why you’ll love them

Scalloped potatoes are the best holiday side dish, but they’re totally worth making for an everyday occasion or Sunday dinner. It’s thinly sliced potatoes that are cooked in a garlicky cream mixture which thickens in the oven for irresistible layers of potato and cheese heaven.

Layering the slices might seem tricky, but this step-by-step guide will show you just how hassle-free this impressive side dish is to assemble. You’ll even have time left over to make these Deviled Eggs too for your next feast or gathering!

Is this potatoes au gratin?

  • Sort of! If you want to get a little technical, this dish borrows a technique from au gratin potatoes. There’s cheese not only on top but also in between each potato layer, which just adds to the deliciousness. Lots of sources use the terms interchangeably, but mine is kind of a hybrid of au gratin and scalloped potatoes. Whatever you call it, it’s delicious.

Ingredients you’ll need

  • Potatoes – use either Russet or Yukon gold. Either will work.
  • Butter – for the base of the cream sauce
  • Garlic – if you’re a garlic lover, go ahead and add more
  • Heavy cream – for ultimate creaminess. I wouldn’t recommend using anything else
  • Cheese – we’re using both cheddar and parmesan for extra cheesiness!

How to make scalloped potatoes

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

slicing potatoes and making cream sauce in a pan

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grate the cheese, and slice the potatoes with a mandoline. In a small saucepan, add the butter and garlic. After frying for 30 seconds, stir in the cream and salt & pepper. Let it warm, and remove from the heat.

arranging potato slices in a casserole dish

Arrange half of the potato slices to the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. It’s ok if you don’t do this perfectly evenly! Pour half the cream mixture over top.

adding cheese to scalloped potatoes and cream sauce

Sprinkle on half the cheddar and parmesan cheese. Arrange remaining potato slices over top of the first cheese layer. Pour in the other half of the cream mixture.

scalloped potatoes before and after baking

Top with the rest of the cheese, and bake until golden.

Make ahead tip

  • Assemble the potatoes up until the step prior to baking. Cover them tightly with foil, and refrigerate up to a day ahead.
  • It may take a bit longer to cook them than suggested since they’ll be cold coming straight from the fridge. I’d let them warm up on the counter for an hour or so prior to baking!

Tools for this recipe

  • I highly recommend using a mandoline slicer to get even slices fast. It takes me less than 5 minutes to cut the entire 3 pounds of potatoes up. I also always use a protective glove so it’s a worry-free experience. 
  • Definitely grate your own cheeses. They will taste and melt a lot better, so it’s worth the bit of extra effort. I use this grater for the cheddar and this grater for the parmesan.

Substitutions and variations

  • I don’t recommend subbing the cream for something lower fat. It may curdle/separate and it won’t thicken the same since there’s no roux in this recipe.
  • You could change the cheeses up if you wish. For example, any nicely melting cheese like Gruyère will work instead of cheddar for a twist.
  • You’re welcome to throw in some herbs if you like such as rosemary or thyme.

What to serve with it

Leftovers and storage

  • They will keep for 3-5 days in the fridge in a covered container.
  • Reheat these potatoes in a covered saucepan on the stove at a low heat vs. in the microwave unless you put it on a lower setting. The cream is likely to separate if you warm the potatoes up at too high of a heat. You could also warm them up in the oven if you’ve got a lot left still in the casserole dish. Cover with foil.
  • I wouldn’t recommend freezing leftovers because of the cheese and cream.
creamy scalloped potatoes in a 9x13 casserole dish

Questions about this side dish? Did you make it for the holidays? Let me know in the comments below!

close-up of cheesy scalloped potatoes being lifted out of casserole dish with spatula
4.91 from 62 votes

Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Making this easy scalloped potatoes recipe from scratch is simple for an Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas side dish! They are incredibly comforting, creamy, cheesy, and rich.
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 3 pounds Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups heavy/whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 350F and move the rack to the middle position.
  • Meanwhile, grate the cheeses and prepare the potatoes by peeling them and using a mandoline slicer to cut them into 1/8" (3 mm) slices.
  • Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium-high heat, and once it's melted, add the garlic and cook it for about 30 seconds. Add in the cream, salt, and some pepper. Let it warm through, stirring occasionally. As it reaches a boil, take it off the heat.
  • Arrange half of the potatoes on the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish (overlap the potatoes but don't worry about arranging them perfectly). Pour half the cream mixture over top, and then add half of each cheese. Repeat the process for the second layer, finishing up with a layer of cheese on top.
  • Bake, covered with foil, for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick slides into the potatoes without much resistance. Ovens vary, so check for doneness earlier than suggested if your oven runs hot.
  • Let the potatoes sit for 5-10 minutes prior to serving.

Notes

  • Serves anywhere from 6-10 depending on serving size/what else you serve these with.
  • I highly recommend using a mandoline slicer to cut the potatoes into uniform slices quickly and without hassle. I always use a protective glove with my mandoline.
  • You may want to place the baking dish on a baking sheet just so any splatter/spills don’t end up in your oven (especially if your baking dish is a bit shallow).
  • See blog post for more tips including how to make these ahead and step-by-step photos that show how to layer them.

Nutrition

Calories: 415kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 101mg, Sodium: 562mg, Potassium: 647mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 1050IU, Vitamin C: 27mg, Calcium: 323mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Hi! I’m Natasha.

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174 Comments

    1. I can’t recall exactly what I used last time I made them. Whichever is your fav or looks good at the store will work just fine. I personally prefer something a bit milder in flavor when it comes to cheeses.

    1. Hi Kara! Milk won’t work as there isn’t anything to thicken it. The cream reduces enough that it works without making a roux here, and I do caution in the blog post not to swap the cream for anything. If she is lactose intolerant, I am not sure all the cheeses (or milk, for that matter) would be good for her either, unfortunately.

      1. 5 stars
        Delicious! I had leftover ham to use up so I added that. I only had 1/2 & 1/2 on hand and it worked out just fine. I’m used to making scallopped potatoes with flour — so great that I didn’t need to add it to this one!