• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Girl Heart Foodยฎ
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ร—

    Home ยป Recipes ยป Favourite Recipes

    Easy Scalloped Potatoes

    Published: October 28, 2018 Updated: July 6, 2020 / By: Dawn | Girl Heart Food 28 Comments

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe
    Cheesy scalloped potatoes in a casserole dish garnished with thyme.

    Scalloped potatoes from scratch are easier than you think! A comfort food classic, these easy scalloped potatoes with cream have lots of herbs, spices, garlic and cheese. They’re super delicious and make for a fabulous vegetable side dish the whole family will love.

    Cheesy scalloped potatoes in a casserole dish garnished with thyme.

    Whenever I think of scalloped potatoes, I always think of special occasions. It’s definitely not your average side dish. Though this recipe takes about an hour to bake, the prep time and ingredients are pretty simple.

    Hubby purchased a bag of veggies from a co-worker who was selling them as a fundraiser for their kid’s sports team. 

    The bag was loaded with lots of potatoes, a lot more than what hubby and I would normally eat. They were local potatoes, so I knew that I had to make good use of them so cheesy scalloped potatoes it was!

    Growing up, the boxed scalloped potatoes were pretty popular in our home. They were delicious, of course, but nothing beats scalloped potatoes from scratch. So it’s homemade all the way these days!

    Close-up of cheesy scalloped potatoes garnished with thyme.

    Ingredients for Scalloped Potatoes With Cream

    • Russet potatoes
    • Cheddar cheese
    • Aromatics, like onion and garlic
    • Fresh herbs
    • Seasoning
    • Flour
    • Milk
    • Cream
    Ingredients for a homemade scalloped potatoes recipe.

    How To Make Them

    Full details on how to make scalloped potatoes are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:

    1. Layer half of the potatoes in a greased casserole dish.
    2. Top with half of the sauce.
    3. Repeat with remaining potatoes
    4. Then repeat with remaining sauce.
    5. Top with shredded cheese.
    6. Bake. You can garnish with thyme after, if you like.
    Collage of steps to make scalloped potatoes.

    Best Potatoes To Use

    You want to go with something that is on the starchier side of things so it will lend to a lovely, creamy sauce. And who doesn’t love creamy scalloped potatoes?

    I love to use Russets. Yukon gold would work great too!

    Portion of cheesy scalloped potatoes on a small white plate.

    Tips for Making This Recipe

    • Slice the potatoes thinly and about the same size so they cook through equally. If you have a mandolin, (carefully) use that.  Otherwise, slice by hand the best you can. I like roughly โ…› to ยผ  inch thick.
    • Peeling the potatoes isn’t necessary, though I did. If you decide not to peel, just ensure that they are washed and scrubbed clean before cutting.
    • If using dried herbs, use โ…“ the amount as fresh. For these scallop potatoes, I used 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme. If using dried, use 1 teaspoon.
    • Want to lighten things up a little? Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and cut back the cheddar cheese on top to 1 cup instead of 1.5 cups.
    • Cheddar cheese was used in this easy cheesy scalloped potatoes recipe. Use a young cheddar over an aged. It has more moisture and melts better.
    Forkful of scalloped potatoes.

    More Yummy Vegetable Side Dishes

    • Wild Rice Salad
    • Roasted Root Vegetables
    • Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad
    • Skillet Potatoes

    Hope you love these homemade scalloped potatoes as much as we do! Hubby happens to think they’re the best scalloped potatoes.

    If you make these scalloped potatoes with cream, be sure to leave a comment below!

    Cheesy scalloped potatoes in a casserole dish garnished with thyme.

    Easy Scalloped Potatoes

    Dawn | Girl Heart Food
    Scalloped potatoes from scratch are easier than you think! A comfort food classic, these easy scalloped potatoes with cream have lots of herbs, spices, garlic and cheese. They're super delicious and make for a fabulous vegetable side dish the whole family will love.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 25 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Servings 8 servings
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • Cooking spray, or butter (to grease casserole dish)
    • 2.5 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into thin slices, approximately โ…›-inch to ยผ-inch thick (about 7 to 8 cups)
    • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 yellow onion, peeled and minced
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups milk, I used 2% milk fat
    • ยฝ cup heavy cream (whipping cream)
    • 10 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, divided (about 2.5 cups)
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme, plus more to taste for optional garnish
    • ยฝ tablespoon minced summer savoury, optional
    • 1.5 teaspoons salt
    • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ยฝ teaspoon paprika
    • ยผ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
    • ยผ teaspoon ground nutmeg

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for later. Spray a 9-inch x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or grease with butter and set aside.
    • Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
    • Add onion to melted butter and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
    • Add flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring to form a paste. Whisk in milk and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
    • Add heavy cream, stirring occasionally, and cook until it just starts to lightly bubble. Off heat, stir in 1 cup of cheddar cheese, thyme, summer savoury (if using), salt, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper and nutmeg.
    • Spread half of the sliced potatoes in the prepared casserole dish. Pour over half of the sauce mixture. Repeat with remaining potatoes and sauce. Top with remaining 1.5 cups of cheddar cheese.  
    • Cover with aluminum foil (ensuring that the foil doesn't touch the cheese) and bake for 30 minutes. Carefully remove foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes until bubbly and the cheese is a little golden brown. You can garnish to taste (if desired) with a little more thyme. Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Slice the potatoes thinly and about the same size so they cook through equally. If you have a mandolin, (carefully) use that.  Otherwise, slice by hand the best you can. I like roughly โ…› to ยผ  inch thick.
    • Peeling the potatoes isn’t necessary, though I did. If you decide not to peel, just ensure that they are washed and scrubbed clean before cutting.
    • If using dried herbs, use โ…“ the amount as fresh. For these scalloped potatoes, I used 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme. If using dried, use 1 teaspoon.
    • Cheddar cheese was used in this easy cheesy scalloped potatoes recipe. Use a young cheddar over an aged. It has more moisture and melts better.

    A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

    Keyword homemade scalloped potatoes, scalloped potatoes recipes

    Tried this recipe?

    If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!

    More Favourite Recipes

    • Thanksgiving Turkey Meatloaf
    • Spinach Mushroom Bacon Quiche
    • Ground Chicken Meatloaf Recipe
    • Gnocchi and Meatballs With Creamy Tomato Sauce

    ยฉ Girl Heart Food Inc. All photographs and content are COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kevin

      October 31, 2018 at 1:28 pm

      5 stars
      I like the spices you added to mix up this traditional dish! Definitely need to add these to my menu soon! YUM!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:47 am

        Thank you Kevin! They definitely add a lil’ somethin’ ๐Ÿ˜‰ Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

        Reply
    2. Ben|Havocinthekitchen

      October 30, 2018 at 9:55 pm

      Holy Cow…I mean, Holy Potato! Love this herbaceous, garlicky, cheesy deliciousness. This dish looks and sounds utterly delicious and comfort; that’s a perfect autumn and festive winter side. The only one problem is that when it comes to potato dishes in our family, we cannot treat them like a side dish. We don’t need anything eelse, and we won’t stop until the entire dish is gone… But let me enjoy it today, and I’ll regret tomorrow (or never) ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:48 am

        Lol – you’re too funny, Ben!! I like the way you think ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks so much!

        Reply
    3. Karen (Back Road Journal)

      October 30, 2018 at 11:25 am

      I love that a bag of vegetables was used as a fundraiser…a total win for everyone. Your cheesey potatoes look great.

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:48 am

        So nice, right?? Thanks Karen ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Sarah

      October 30, 2018 at 9:19 am

      I want these right now! (Also I didn’t know boxes scalloped potatoes were a thing!!) You made me so hungry, and it’s only 8am!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:49 am

        Yes! They totally are!! Thanks Sarah ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5. Laura

      October 29, 2018 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      Dawn – these look amazing! Thereโ€™s nothing my kids love like cheesy scalloped potatoes. I will need to try this recipe, Iโ€™m not crazy about the one Iโ€™ve been using, so thanks! My fam appreciates it!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:49 am

        Thanks a million, Laura ๐Ÿ™‚ Hope you guys love it!

        Reply
    6. SHASHI AT SAVORYSPIN

      October 29, 2018 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      Your Potatoes + cheese together = bliss for me! I mean, this is one comforting combo! Dawn, I’ve never had boxed potatoes though I’ve heard all sorts of things about them and I don’t think I ever want to try them – but THIS – this I’d love to try over and over again!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:50 am

        Can’t blame ya ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks Shashi!

        Reply
    7. Milena

      October 29, 2018 at 12:20 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious looking potatoes! Love the color from the paprika + cayenne, I bet the flavor boost is worth it. I can call these dinner, lunch and even breakfast with a fried egg on top:)

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:44 am

        Totally! Love the idea of an egg on top! Talk about delish!! Thanks Milena ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    8. [email protected]

      October 29, 2018 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      I’m not sure a potato can be any more perfect! All that golden gooey cheese – I can’t handle it! This with my meatloaf today….oh my – all the comfort!! Have a great week, my friend! XOXO

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:44 am

        Thanks Annie! Hope you’re week is going wonderful! XOXO

        Reply
    9. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

      October 29, 2018 at 10:58 am

      5 stars
      My mom’s scalloped potatoes were always a favorite in our house growing up but I don’t think hers had cheese–or if they did, it was minimal. I’m absolutely craving yours now. ALL THAT CHEESE! There’s nothing more comforting (or more yummy) than cheesy carbs :). You nailed it!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:43 am

        Cheese makes everything tastier, if you ask me ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks so much, Kelsie!

        Reply
    10. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers

      October 29, 2018 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      Just sit me down in front of this with a fork and I am one happy, happy woman ๐Ÿ™‚ Potatoes and cheese. It’s what I live for!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:43 am

        Hahaha – I completely understand ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks Jennifer!

        Reply
    11. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

      October 29, 2018 at 9:56 am

      We’re both all about comfort food today Dawn! These look PERFECT for the upcoming holidays! Can’t beat cheesy, creamy potatoes! Pinned and will be trying soon!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:43 am

        We are ๐Ÿ˜‰ So true, Mary Ann! Hope you love ’em!

        Reply
    12. David @ Spiced

      October 29, 2018 at 9:25 am

      Interesting! That bag-o-veggies is way better than some of the stuff that I’ve bought over the years for fundraisers. The Boy Scouts here in the States sell bagged popcorn, and it’s seriously some of the worst popcorn ever. I buy it because I like to support the scouts, but ugh. I could totally get behind veggies instead! I love scalloped potatoes, and I would be all in on this recipe. Looks like some serious comfort food right there, my friend! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:42 am

        Ugh, no one wants stale popcorn!! This one sure is comforting! Thanks David ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    13. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

      October 29, 2018 at 8:16 am

      5 stars
      Scalloped potatoes definitely remind me of growing up. My mom made them occasionally and they were always a big hit. This dish would make such an awesome side dish for large gatherings. You could easily double the recipe, and who doesn’t love cheesy, potato goodness?! Hope you have a great week Dawn!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:41 am

        I totally agree! Thanks Leanne ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    14. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

      October 28, 2018 at 11:41 am

      5 stars
      All that cheesy goodness! These potatoes look amazing and so delicious. Perfect comfort food and side dish for this time of year!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        November 01, 2018 at 10:35 am

        Definitely! Love cheese…so much! Thanks Kathy ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Profile picture of Dawn from Girl Heart Food.

    Hi, I'm Dawn! Welcome to Girl Heart Food, a food blog that's all about easy comfort food recipes (especially cheesy recipes) that'll satisfy your taste buds and make your belly happy. Have a look around and find something that'll inspire you to get into the kitchen and whip up something delicious to enjoy today!

    More about Girl Heart Food โ†’

    Currently Trending

    • Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
    • Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls (Inspired by Nan)
    • Buttermilk Fried Crispy Chicken Burger
    • Pan Fried Smelt Recipe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails & updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright ยฉ 2023 Girl Heart Food Inc.

    Girl Heart Foodยฎ is a Registered Trademark.

    Use of this site constitutes acceptance of its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.