Scalloped Potatoes

Recipe Ingredients

Let's get started! Here are the main ingredients you'll need.

Potatoes: We recommend Russet or Idaho potatoes, they will retain their shape when baked. For even cooking, slice the potatoes to a consistent 1/8-inch thickness using a mandolin, food processor, or sharp paring knife.

Butter: We used salted butter, but unsalted will work just as well. Add an additional 1/8 teaspoon salt, if you like, to make up the difference.

Onion: You can use a white or yellow onion, or for a sweeter flavor, opt for a Walla Walla or Maui onion. Just a heads-up: these are larger onions, so you might have some leftovers.

Milk: The recipe calls for 2% milk, but don't be afraid to get creative! Use whatever dairy milk or cream you like best. Just keep in mind that lower-fat options will be less rich, while higher-fat options will be creamier and a bit more decadent.

Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Small onion, flour, salt, pepper.

Cookware You’ll Need

To make these scrumptious homemade scalloped potatoes, you'll need the following.

2-Quart Saucepan:  After extensive testing, we found this size ideal for making the sauce. A smaller pan won't allow enough evaporation, resulting in a thinner sauce, while a larger pan evaporates too much, leading to a thick sauce and a dry casserole.

2-Quart Casserole Dish: This size is perfect for baking, ensuring even browning and that the sauce won’t bubble over the edge.

Other Cookware You’ll Need: Wisk, silicone spatula, cutting board, vegetable peeler, knife or mandoline slicer.

How to Make Scalloped Potatoes

These are our pro tips for an easy scalloped potatoes recipe. Refer to the recipe itself for all the instructions.

1. Make the Sauce

A 2-quart saucepan is the ideal size to cook the sauce without it boiling over. For a flawlessly smooth sauce, our recipe experts recommend cooking the onions in butter with a silicone spatula, then switching to a whisk to incorporate the flour, salt, pepper, and milk.

2. Slice the Potatoes

Peel the potatoes with a vegetable peeler and use a sharp knife (or mandoline slicer) to slice the potatoes about 1/8-inch thick. Keeping your slices the same thickness ensures they get done at the same time.

3. Assemble the Dish

Pour the hot sauce evenly over the potatoes (potatoes left uncovered can dry out). Starting with a hot sauce gives the potatoes a jump on cooking. Sprinkle butter pieces over the sauce to add extra flavor and promote beautiful browning.

4. Bake and Enjoy

Cover the casserole for the first 30 minutes of baking to ensure even cooking. Then, remove the cover to allow the top to brown as the potatoes finish cooking to tender perfection.

Possible Variations

With a few simple changes you can customize these scalloped potatoes to your tastes or needs.

Add Herbs: Incorporating fresh or dried herbs adds a layer of aromatic complexity. Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh leaves or 1 teaspoon dried leaves with the milk. Experiment with herbs like thyme, rosemary, chives, or parsley.

Sprinkle with a Topping: A fan recommended to add Parmesan cheese on top before baking for a wonderful, crispy, browned top. Other topping options could include breadcrumbs or grated Gruyere cheese.

Slow-Cooker Scalloped Potatoes: This adaptation is perfect for situations where oven space is limited or you prefer a hands-off cooking method. 

Scalloped Potatoes with Roasted Tomatoes: It’s a potato and veggie side dish, all in one.

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes: Adding ham elevates the scalloped potatoes to a hearty main course.

Serving Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are a tasty addition to any meal. Here are our favorite dishes to serve with it.

Glazed Baked Ham: Whether it’s for Sunday dinner or the holidays, our traditional scalloped potatoes recipe is perfect with ham for a deliciously rich pairing.

Turkey Recipes: Scalloped potatoes are an equally delightful accompaniment to other proteins including turkey. The creamy flavor is a nice complement to other highly seasoned sides like stuffing.

Green Bean Casserole: This combination creates a traditional holiday spread. The creamy texture of the scalloped potatoes contrasts nicely with the crisp-tender green beans in the casserole.

Storing and Reheating

These tried and trusted storage and reheating methods work best to enjoy leftover scalloped potatoes on another day.

Refrigerator

Within 2 hours of serving, tightly cover the dish or transfer the potatoes to a food storage container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week. Potatoes will absorb the sauce, so they won’t be saucy like when first prepared, but will still taste as delicious.

Freezer

We don’t recommend freezing scalloped potatoes, as the potatoes can get mealy, and the texture of the sauce can become overly thick.

Reheating

• Reheating Several Servings: Place the potatoes in an oven-safe dish sprayed with cooking spray. Wrap tightly with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.

• Reheating Individual Serving: Place a serving on a microwaveable plate. Cover loosely and microwave on medium-high (70%) about 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Why Betty Users Love This Recipe

This scalloped potato recipe is a 5-star winner for its incredible versatility, ease of preparation, and delicious results. “First of all I am not a cook, and I don’t want to be, however, I fixed the scallop potatoes, and it was super easy and ever better…IT TASTED GREAT!” says TarakianWarrior.

Other users rave about the creamy, perfectly textured potatoes and the wonderful flavor that evokes comforting memories of home-cooked meals. The recipe's adaptability shines through, with people easily adding their own twists using ingredients like ham, bacon, or different cheeses. Whether you're feeding a crowd or making a family favorite, this classic recipe delivers a consistently satisfying dish that's just as delicious reheated the next day.