Name: Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 100 min
Ingredients: 4-5 medium Yukon Gold potatoes; 2 tbsp unsalted butter; 1/2 cup onion, diced (about 1 small onion); 1 tbsp garlic (minced ); 2 tbsp all purpose flour; 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup chicken stock; 1 1/4 cup gruyere cheese (shredded and divided); 1 tbsp fresh thyme (chopped, plus more for garnish); 1 tbsp salt; 1/2 tbsp pepper

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Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are a delicious potato dish, made with thin slices of potatoes, onions and a creamy cheese sauce.

a light blue casserole dish of scalloped potatoes sits at an angle on a wooden background. the scalloped potatoes are browned in spots from the crisping of the cheese and a few sprigs of fresh thyme sits in the center of the dish.

Let me tell you a story about scalloped potatoes. About a decade ago, I decided that I was going to make them for Easter dinner, even though I had never made them before. I rarely ever listen that advice of don't make something for guests if you haven't made it at least three times before. I've never had any issue so I thought nothing of it.

The night took a bad turn when my thumb got into a disagreement with the mandoline but I soldiered on, finished the recipe, baked it and cooled it. I noticed the potatoes were still a little firm, but figured if I cooked it longer the next day it would be fine. That was a lie.

A close up image of a light blue casserole dish sitting at an angle on a wooden background. The dish is full of cheesy scalloped potatoes, browned in places from the cheese, and sprigs of fresh thyme sit on top.

I checked the potatoes every 20 minutes the next day and they never softened. I tossed the entire contents of the casserole dish and the mandoline into the trash can and vowed I'd never make scalloped potatoes again. Clearly, I don't do a good job of listening to myself.

What are easy cheesy scalloped potatoes?

Scalloped potatoes are thinly sliced potatoes that are baked in a casserole dish. Between layers of the potatoes there is a creamy, cheese sauce made with butter, onions, flour, milk, chicken broth and cheese.

Ingredients for Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes sit on a wooden background. From left to right: a bowl of thinly sliced potatoes, a measuring cup of milk, a glass of chicken stock, a pat of butter, minced garlic, fresh thyme, a bowl of shredded cheese, a bowl of diced onion and a small dish of salt and pepper.

🥘 Ingredients for this recipe

yukon gold potatoes
onion
milk
chicken stock
flour
butter
garlic
gruyere cheese
thyme
salt and pepper

Three image collage to make this recipe. The first image is the thinly sliced potatoes, seasoned with salt and pepper, layered into a light blue baking dish. In the middle image the potatoes are covered with the cheesy sauce and in the third image additional cheese is spread on top of the sauce.

🔪Instructions for this recipe

First, preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick spray.
Then prepare the potatoes. Peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Soak in water until ready to use.
Next, make the sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until onions have softened. Then add in the flour and stir to combine. Whisk in the chicken stock, followed by the milk. Bring to a boil and whisk until it thickens, then remove from the heat and stir in the cheese, thyme, salt and pepper.
Then assemble the casserole. Arrange half of the potatoes in an even layer in the prepared casserole dish. Pour half of the cheese sauce on top of the potatoes in the casserole dish. Layer the remaining potatoes on top, followed by the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle more cheese on top.
Finally, bake the casserole. Cover with boil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 10-15 minutes more or until the cheese is golden. Remove from the oven, top with additional thyme for garnish and let rest 10 minutes before serving.

A slotted spoon lifts up a heaping spoonful of the easy cheesy scalloped potatoes from a light blue casserole dish.

FAQ's for this recipe

How thin do you cut the potatoes? As thin as you can, preferable between ⅛ and ¼ inch. Many people use a mandoline. I won't do that again.
What is the difference between scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin? Scalloped potatoes doesn't always have cheese in the sauce and au gratin does. Potatoes au gratin are usually topped with bread crumbs before baking.
Can you make scalloped potatoes in advance? Yes! Prepare the casserole, bake it and then cool completely before refrigerating. Let sit on the counter for 20-30 minutes before heating through for 20-30 minutes at 350.
Why do you soak the potatoes? Potatoes contain starch and cooking potatoes that are too starchy will result in gummy potatoes that don't cook well.
Why should I listen to you if you messed it up the first time? Everyone makes mistakes. I learned what likely caused the potatoes to be hard (not high enough heat) and realized that I'd never take the chance on being defeated by a mandoline again. 🙂

Do you love potatoes? Here are some of my other favorite recipes featuring potatoes:

A slotted spoon lifts of a heaping spoonful of the easy cheesy scalloped potatoes from a light blue casserole dish. The dish sits on a wooden background. The remainder of the potatoes in the dish are lightly golden brown from the cheese and sprigs of fresh thyme sit on top.

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Text and Image for Pinterest. At the top of the image there is a white text overlay on a teal background. In an all capitals font reads "Easy Cheese" and below it a script font reads "Scalloped Potatoes". Below is an image of the scalloped potatoes in a baking dish, crispy and golden from the cheese, sitting on a wooden background. Springs of fresh thyme are on the top of the dish. Below the image is black text on a white background that reads " www.CookaholicWife.com"

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Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are a delicious potato dish, made with thin slices of potatoes, onions and a creamy cheese sauce.

Prep Time30

Cook Time55

Resting Time15

Total Time1 40

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer potatoes, Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, Easter Side dish, Easy Scalloped Potatoes, Scalloped Potatoes

Servings: people

Calories: 286kcal

Author: NicholeL

Ingredients

4-5 medium Yukon Gold potatoes
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
½ cup onion, diced about 1 small onion
1 tablespoon garlic minced
2 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup milk
½ cup chicken stock
1 ¼ cup gruyere cheese shredded and divided
1 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon salt
½ tablespoon pepper

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8x8x3 baking dish with non-stick spray.
Peel and thinly slice the potatoes, ⅛ to ¼ of an inch thick. Soak in water until ready to use.
Then prepare the sauce, by melting the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Whisk in the flour until no lumps remain. Slowly whisk in the milk, followed by the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Whisk until the mixture thickens, then remove it from the heat and whisk in 1 cup of the cheese, the thyme and half of the salt and pepper.
Layer half of the potatoes into the prepared baking dish and season with ⅓ of the salt and pepper. Pour half of the cheese mixture on top of the potatoes in the baking dish. Layer with the remaining potatoes, season with the remaining salt and pepper and pour the remaining cheeee sauce on top. Then sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of cheese on top.
Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese on the top becomes golden brown and bubbly.
If desired to serve as a thicker mixture, let casserole sit for 5-10 minutes before serving, otherwise the sauce will be loose and runny.

Notes

Soaking the potatoes in water before cooking them will remove excess starch, which prevents the potatoes from getting gummy. You can use a mandoline to thinly slice the potatoes, but be very careful.

To make ahead: prepare and bake the casserole. Let cool completely before refrigerating overnight. Prior to reheating, let casserole sit on the counter for 20-30 minutes, then bake for 20-30 minutes at 350 (until heated through)

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