Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Name: Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 90 min
Ingredients: 1 kg of potatoes (or enough to fill the dish); 1 cup mozzarella; 3/4 cup cheddar; 1 cup of cream; 1.5 cups of milk; 2 tbsp of melted butter; 2 tablespoons of flour; 1 tsp of onion powder; 1 tsp of garlic powder; Salt to taste; Black pepper to taste; Parsley or dill to garnish

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These Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes is a gorgeous side dish perfect for Christmas, thanksgiving and other special occasions. It is crispy, creamy and cheesy and pairs well with chicken, red meat and fish. Serve this stunning dish as a side.

You will love these cheesy scalloped potatoes! The potatoes are sliced thinly and layered in a baking dish with a creamy and cheesy sauce. Then they are baked in the oven until golden and bubbly, with a crispy crust on top. Garnish them with some fresh herbs, such as parsley or dill, for a pop of color and flavor.

These cheesy scalloped potatoes pair well with any main course, such as chicken, salmon, red meat, and more. They are ideal for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, or any other festive occasion where you want to impress your guests with a mouthwatering side dish.

Table of Contents

What I Love About This Recipe

This dish is so beautiful and looks appetizing on the dinner table.
You don’t need many ingredients to make it.
It is easy to customize. Add less or more cheese to suit your preference. You can also add parmesan, mushrooms, or broccoli.
They are budget-friendly and filling, as potatoes are an affordable and widely available staple food that can feed a large crowd.

Ingredients

Potatoes: Select baking potatoes for the best results. Cut thinly with a knife or mandolin. You can also use a food processor with a slicing blade to make the process faster and easier.
Mozzarella: Use shredded mozzarella for ease of mixing. You can also use fresh mozzarella, but make sure to drain it well and pat it dry with paper towels to avoid excess moisture.
Cheddar: Add shredded cheddar or grate a block of cheese. You can also add red cheese too. For a more complex and sharp flavor, you can use a combination of different cheeses, such as gruyere, parmesan, or fontina.
Half and half/heavy cream: Use full-fat cream for the best results. Low-fat cream may split. You can also substitute half and half with whole milk or evaporated milk if you want to reduce the fat content.
Milk: Select full-fat to make the creamy sauce. You can also use skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, but the sauce may be less rich and thick.
Butter: Use unsalted or salted butter to make the roux. If you use salted butter, you may need to adjust the salt you add to the sauce.
Flour: Use all-purpose flour to make the roux. Don’t use self-raising flour because it includes leavening agents. You can also use gluten-free flour if you have a gluten intolerance or allergy.
Onion powder: this will add a savory flavor to the sauce. You can also add thinly sliced onions instead. To enhance the onion flavor, sauté the onions in butter until soft and golden before adding them to the sauce.
Garlic powder: Add for additional flavor. You can also use fresh grated garlic cloves instead. For a more intense garlic flavor, roast the garlic cloves in the oven until soft and caramelized, then mash them and add them to the sauce.
Salt: To taste. You can also use kosher salt, sea salt, or Himalayan pink salt for different flavors and textures.
Black pepper: To taste. You can also use white pepper, cayenne pepper, or nutmeg for different levels of heat and spice.
Parsley: Or dill to garnish and add color. You can also use other fresh herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, or sage, for more aroma and flavor.

How to Make Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Heat the oven to 375°F/190°C/gas mark 5. Lightly grease a baking dish with butter and set aside.

2. Wash the potatoes (peel if you like), then cut them into thin slices using a knife or a mandolin. Arrange them in an even layer on the prepared baking dish.

3. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually whisk in the milk and cream, making sure there are no lumps—season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.

4. Stir in the cheese and mix well until melted and smooth. Pour half of the sauce over the potatoes and spread it evenly. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

5. Remove the foil and pour the remaining sauce over the potatoes. Bake for another hour or until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden and crispy.

6. Sprinkle some chopped parsley over the scalloped potatoes and serve hot or warm. Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

Potato slices: The thinner the potatoes, the faster they cook and the crispier they will be. You can use a knife, a mandolin, or a food processor to slice the potatoes thinly and evenly. You can also soak the potato slices in cold water for about 15 minutes to remove some starch and prevent them from sticking together.
Arrangement: I arranged the slices standing up but you can arrange them flat or in any way you like.
Cheese: Feel free to add less or more cheese depending on your preference. You can also use different types of cheese, such as gruyere, parmesan, or fontina, to create a more complex and rich cheese sauce. You can also add cayenne pepper, or mustard powder to the cheese sauce for some spice and warmth. You can also sprinkle some cheese between the layers for extra cheesiness.

FAQs

Is scalloped potatoes the same as dauphinoise?

Dauphinoise potatoes and scalloped potatoes are not the same, although they are both baked potato dishes that are served as a side. The main differences between them are the thickness, sauce, origin and name.

Why do my scalloped potatoes taste bland?

Scalloped potatoes can taste bland when they are not seasoned enough. Add garlic, onions and mustard powder for more flavor.

Why are they called scalloped potatoes?

Scalloped comes from an old English word collops that means “to slice thinly”.

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