These cheesy scalloped potatoes are sliced potato rounds that are cooked in a creamy sauce and then layered with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. An easy, yet impressive side dish that pairs perfectly with any potluck or holiday dinner! This easy recipe for scalloped potatoes is one you will want to make again and again. Delicious, creamy, cheesy potato perfection!

a serving of cheesy scalloped potatoes on a plate

In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a creamy potato side dish! Potatoes just seem to complete any meal and these are some of the best potatoes I’ve ever had, and your friends and family are sure to agree.

My family has actually been enjoying these delicious, creamy scalloped potatoes from Martha Stewart for years. These potatoes are the perfect side dish for large gatherings, parties, and holidays. You better believe they always have a place on my Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter menu!

baked scalloped potatoes in a white dish

Ingredients needed

These delicious creamy potatoes use super simple ingredients and are easy to customize with your favorite cheese. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Garlic. A clove of garlic adds flavor to the dish in two ways: it’s rubbed all over the pan before greasing it and is then added to the cream sauce mixture.
  • Butter. A couple tablespoons butter is needed to grease the pan.
  • Potatoes. The base of these scalloped potatoes is of course, slices of potatoes! I like to use yukon gold potatoes in this recipe for the best buttery flavor.
  • Heavy cream + whole milk. For an incredible rich cream sauce use heavy cream and whole milk.
  • Herbs & spices. This dish is made super flavorful with fresh thyme and freshly grated nutmeg! You’ll also need plenty of salt and pepper.
  • Cheese. For the most wonderful taste, use Gruyère cheese. It’s a smooth-melting type of Swiss cheese that’s sweet but slightly salty, with a flavor that varies widely with age. You could also mix in sharp cheddar and/or parmesan cheese, if you’d like.
Stirring sliced potatoes in a cream sauce.

How to Make this Potatoes side dish

Even though some say scalloped potatoes should be cheese-free, Martha Stewart’s scalloped potatoes call for freshly grated Gruyère. It’s the most wonderful cheese for this recipe. It adds such a lovely flavor and really compliments the taste of the potatoes and cream. So, let’s whip up this irresistible side dish!

  1. Prep. The first step of this recipe is quite brilliant. You rub a clove of garlic all over your baking dish before greasing the dish with butter. It’s such a great idea for extra flavor and you’ll be using the garlic in the recipe anyway.
  2. Cook potatoes. First, peel and slice potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Transfer the potatoes to a large pot with garlic, cream, milk, thyme, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir and bring this to a boil, reduce the heat, then simmer. Let it cool.
  3. Layer everything together. Use a slotted spoon to transfer one third of the mixture into the casserole dish, sprinkle with Gruyère, and repeat the layering twice more. I recommend the slotted spoon because you’ll want to pour the cream sauce over the top once everything is layered. After layering the potatoes and cheese, drizzle the cream sauce over the top, letting it seep down into the dish.
  4. Bake. Loosely cover the dish with parchment and then foil or you can spray the foil with cooking spray and cover. Bake until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the parchment and foil, and broil until the potatoes are bubbly and browned in places, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool 30 minutes before serving.

Layer potatoes with cheese in a baking dish.
Top potatoes with shredded cheese.

Tips for recipe success

These dreamy scalloped potatoes are absolutely delicious and pretty easy to make. Here are a few tips before you get started:

  • Weigh the potatoes. I recommend actually weighing your potatoes. This recipe calls for 4 pounds of potatoes and depending on the size of your potatoes, the amount of potatoes needed could vary.
  • Slicing potatoes. Try to make sure the potato slices are even and about 1/8 inch thick so that they cook evenly. A mandolin makes this super easy!
  • Casserole dish. A shallow baking dish works best for scalloped potatoes. If you don’t have a 3-quart baking dish, a glass or ceramic 9×13-inch baking dish will work just fine.
  • Use a slotted spoon. When transferring the potatoes to the baking dish, use a slotted spoon. This will help you from separating the layered slices. Then after layering, you can drizzle the cream mixture over the top, letting it seep down into the dish.
  • Let potatoes cool for 30 minutes. Once the potatoes are taken out of the oven, I highly recommend letting the dish rest for the full 30 minutes. This will give the potatoes the best possible texture and flavor.

Flavor Variations

This dish is great as is, but you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes. Here’s some options:

  • Protein. Try layering thinly sliced or diced cooked ham or smoked sausage between the layers of potatoes. Another tasty option would be the addition of about 6 to 8 ounces of cooked, crumbled bacon.
  • Vegetables. You can sneak in other veggies to this side dish. Try diced onions, cauliflower, thinly sliced carrots, mushrooms or spinach.
  • Cheese. For me the Gruyere cheese is a must, but I know it is a pricier cheese, and you can definitely still have great results by using sharp cheddar, parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese or mozzarella cheese.
  • Seasoning. Feel free to add any favorite seasoning mixes into the sauce or sprinkle on different herbs. I love the thyme, but parsley or rosemary would be great too!
Cheesy scalloped potatoes in a white baking dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of potatoes are best in scalloped potatoes?

My favorite potatoes to use for scalloped potatoes are Yukon gold potatoes. They have a nice creamy texture and buttery flavor. They also hold their shape well.

Russet potatoes will work but they tend to break apart more and, in my opinion, they aren’t as flavorful.

Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

This recipe is perfect for making in advance! You can either first cook the dish and then storing it, or you can assemble it, let it cool, refrigerate it and then cook it right before the meal.

Store the dish cooked. Bake the scalloped potatoes as instructed and let them cool completely to room temperature. Then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to serve, cover with foil and bake at 350° for 30 minutes, or until warmed through.

Store the dish uncooked. Prepare dish as instructed, but leave off the last portion of cheese, cover the dish with plastic wrap (pressing it directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming), and refrigerate for up to one day. Remove the dish 30 minutes before baking, sprinkle with the remaining cheese, and bake as instructed.

Difference between scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin?

Scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin are very similar. They’re both creamy potato dishes made with rounds of sliced potatoes and baked in a casserole dish.

Scalloped potatoes are typically made with heavy cream and milk. Sometimes they will include cheese, like in this recipe, but often times they don’t.

However, the signature ingredient in potatoes au gratin is grated cheese. Potatoes au gratin is usually a more cheesy, rich dish. Breadcrumbs are also usually added to the top before the dish goes into the oven.

The way the potatoes are sliced also differs slightly. The potatoes in scalloped potatoes are often cut a little thicker than those in au gratin potatoes.

Regardless of what they’re called, one thing is for sure – both types of potatoes are absolutely delicious and so comforting!

Is this recipe freezer friendly?

I don’t recommend freezing scalloped potatoes. I haven’t had very good results with freezing the potatoes or the cream sauce. The potatoes don’t have a great texture and the sauce will freeze then separate when thawed. Not good.

Can this recipe be made gluten-free?

This recipe is naturally gluten-free!

Storage tips

  • To store. Store leftover potatoes in the refrigerator in individual, airtight containers or cover the entire pan and place it in the fridge. They’ll stay good for up to 5 days.
  • To reheat. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or place the pan back in the oven until heated through.
Scalloped potatoes in a large white casserole dish.

If you want major comfort and flavor, you’ve got to add this irresistible potato dish to your regular meal rotation and your holiday menu. Once you try this recipe for homemade cheesy scalloped potatoes, it’s one you will want to make again and again. 

More Side Dish Recipes

Looking for some different side dishes? Here’s some other family favorites:

If you try this delicious cheesy scalloped potato recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

A serving of cheesy scalloped potatoes on a plate.
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Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Yield: 10 servings
Prep Time: 40 mins
Cook Time: 50 mins
Resting Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
These cheesy scalloped potatoes are sliced potato rounds that are cooked in a creamy sauce and then layered with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. An easy, yet impressive side dish that pairs perfectly with any potluck or holiday dinner!
Author: Kim

Ingredients

  • 1 clove garlic, lightly smashed and peeled
  • unsalted butter, room temperature, for pan
  • 4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, (I recommend weighing the potatoes for the right proportions)*
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon lightly packed fresh thyme leaves + more for garnishing the cooked potatoes
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons course salt + more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 6 ounces Gruyere cheese, coarsely grated (2 1/4 cups)**

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub the bottom and sides of a 3-quart baking dish*** with garlic; then mince garlic to be used in cream sauce. Grease dish with butter. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Transfer potatoes and garlic to a large pot with cream, milk, thyme, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 1 minute. Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
    Stirring potatoes in a cream sauce.
  • Use a slotted spoon, to transfer one-third of potato mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle with one-third of cheese. Repeat layering twice more. After layering the potatoes and cheese, drizzle the liquid over the top, letting it seep down into the dish. Loosely cover dish with parchment and then foil or cover with foil that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
    Potato rounds in a baking dish.
  • Bake until potatoes are fork tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove foil and parchment; turn oven to broil. Broil until potatoes are bubbly and browned in places, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool 30 minutes before serving. This 30 minute resting time is important for the most perfect texture and flavor of the dish.
    Baked scalloped potatoes in a shallow pan.

Notes

*Russet potatoes will also work well.
**White cheddar cheese is a good substitute for Gruyere cheese.
***A shallow baking dish works best for this recipe. A 9×13″ dish can also be used.
Recipe from Martha Stewart and photos from Sasha at Eat Love Eats.
Author: Kim
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 371kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 15g, Cholesterol: 89mg, Sodium: 463mg, Potassium: 867mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 973IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 315mg, Iron: 6mg

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