Scalloped Potatoes

How to Make Scalloped Potatoes

If you’re a fan of simple, easy-to-follow instructions, this is one of the best recipes for scalloped potatoes around. With our tips and tricks, they’re sure to turn out delicious—and there are so many ways to customize the dish. As a bonus, the recipe only requires about 20 minutes of hands-on prep time before your homemade scalloped potatoes are baked to golden perfection in the oven. Here’s how to make them.

Heat Oven and Prep Ingredients

While your oven heats, prep the ingredients you’ll need. We’d recommend slicing up either russet or Idaho potatoes—the dry, light, and fluffy interiors of these potatoes hold their shape well when cooked into scalloped potato dishes. Want to leave the skins on your spuds to make prep even quicker? No problem! Peeling them might look a little neater, but this easy scalloped potatoes recipe leaves the decision up to you. To create uniform slices of potato (about ¼ inch) quickly and easily, try using a mandoline or a food processor fitted with a blade for thin slices. Don't forget to prep your pan with grease, shortening, or your preferred cooking spray—this will prevent the sauce from browning and sticking to the pan.

Cook Sauce

Time to make the rich, creamy white sauce! Melt a few tablespoons of butter over medium heat in your saucepan. Add in your chopped onion to cook for about 2 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper, then let the sauce cook until smooth and bubbly, stirring constantly. Remove it from the heat before stirring in the milk. Heat the sauce to a boil, stirring constantly, then let it boil while stirring for 1 minute.

Assemble Scalloped Potatoes

Spread your thin potato slices all at once or in neat layers in the casserole dish, then pour the white sauce over the potatoes. Cut up the remaining butter into small pieces before sprinkling it over the dish.

Bake

Cover the casserole dish and let your scalloped potatoes bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Uncover the dish and put it back in the oven to bake for about another hour, or until the potatoes are nice and tender. After you take out your scalloped potato dish, let it sit on the counter for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. The sauce thickens as it sits, so don’t skip this step!

What Goes with Scalloped Potatoes?

Homemade scalloped potatoes play a delicious supporting role in holiday potluck dinners and casual family meals alike. Here are some tasty sides and mains we love pairing with this rich, tender potato dish for a well-rounded meal.

Ham or Turkey: Want to serve up a hearty, delicious protein alongside this creamy scalloped potato dish? Try making a juicy baked ham with a sweet glaze, or go for a moist, savory roasted turkey rubbed with aromatic herbs and spices. You really can’t go wrong with meat and potatoes—and these pairings are no exception!

Roasted Veggies: You’ll want to get some veggie-forward side dishes on the table, too. Roasted rainbow carrots, maple-glazed brussels sprouts, and creamed corn are some of our favorites. Any of your preferred fresh, flavorful veggie sides will perfectly complement the richness of these easy scalloped potatoes.

Hearty Casseroles: Nothing says Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner quite like a casserole! From savory squash and green bean casseroles to subtly sweet yam casseroles topped with brown sugar and marshmallows, there are so many types to choose from—and together, they’ll ensure that everyone leaves the table satisfied.

Mac and Cheese: The ticket to a comforting, kid-friendly meal? Ooey, gooey mac and cheese. Choose a classic mac and cheese recipe to make from scratch, and bake it until the top is golden and crispy. Just like scalloped potatoes, this irresistible side dish basically goes with everything!

Storing and Reheating Scalloped Potatoes

You’ll want to bake this scalloped potato dish the same day you assemble it, as the sauce will continue to thicken and soak into the potatoes during storage. Once your potatoes are out of the oven, serve them up while they’re still warm—you might have to fight for seconds! If you somehow end up with leftover scalloped potatoes, here’s how to store and reheat them.

How to Store Leftovers: Leftover cooked scalloped potatoes can be refrigerated once they’ve cooled completely. Tightly cover the dish and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week. We wouldn’t recommend freezing this dish, as the potatoes might turn mealy, and the texture of the sauce can become overly thick.

How to Reheat Multiple Servings: To reheat several servings of scalloped potatoes in the same casserole dish used to bake them in, cover the dish with foil before baking at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.

How to Reheat One Serving: If you only need to reheat enough for one, we’d recommend using the microwave. Just place your individual serving on a microwaveable plate, cover it loosely and microwave it on medium-high (70%) for about 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. The reheated dish may not be as saucy this time around, as the potatoes will have soaked up all the tasty sauce—but it’ll be just as flavorful!