Description
Creamy cheesy scalloped potatoes dance with layers of rich flavor, bringing comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen. Potato lovers will savor each golden, bubbling bite of this classic side dish that promises warmth and deliciousness in every forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 pounds (40 oz) russet or Yukon gold potatoes
- 3 cups (12 oz) cheddar cheese
- 2.5 cups (20 oz) heavy cream
Dairy and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons (1.5 oz) butter
- 3 tablespoons (1.5 oz) all-purpose flour
- 3 cloves garlic
- 0.5 onion
Herbs and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon chives
- Salt and pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Prepare potatoes by slicing uniformly into thin rounds, peeling is optional.
- Create a creamy base by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Sauté onions until translucent and fragrant, approximately 3 minutes.
- Introduce garlic and thyme, allowing aromatics to release their flavors for 1 minute.
- Dust flour over the mixture, stirring to create a smooth roux.
- Gradually incorporate heavy cream, whisking continuously to prevent lumps.
- Season the sauce with salt, pepper, thyme, and optional cayenne for subtle heat.
- Melt cheddar cheese into the sauce until silky and uniform in texture.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a baking dish.
- Construct first potato layer, covering the entire dish bottom.
- Drizzle half the cheese sauce evenly across potato layer.
- Distribute first portion of shredded cheese over sauce.
- Repeat layering process with remaining potatoes, sauce, and cheese.
- Sprinkle fresh herbs like chives or parsley for garnish.
- Shield dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
- Uncover, add final cheese layer, and bake additional 20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Allow slight cooling before serving to help layers set and stabilize.
Notes
- Slice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Use a mandoline slicer for perfectly thin and consistent potato slices, making preparation faster and more precise.
- Select starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for the creamiest and most luxurious scalloped potato experience.
- Experiment with cheese varieties like Gruyère or sharp white cheddar to add depth and complexity to the classic recipe.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream, reducing overall calorie content.
- Create a gluten-free variation by using cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend instead of traditional wheat flour.
- Enhance flavor profile by adding crispy bacon bits, caramelized onions, or roasted garlic between potato layers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg