Name: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Casserole with Gruyere
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups cream; 2 cups milk; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 2 ½ lbs Yukon Gold potatoes (sliced thin); salt and pepper; nutmeg (just a sprinkle over the dish); 8 ounces gruyere (grated (2 cups))

This side dish casserole for cheesy scalloped potatoes is no-fail decadent potato side that will be the star of any meal! My well-tested recipe is made with thinly sliced Yukon gold potatoes, fresh garlic, milk and cream, plus flavorful gruyere cheese. Ready in 30 minutes! Best of all, these these scalloped potatoes can easily be made ahead of time, saving precious oven space!

A baking dish of homemade scalloped potatoes

Make ahead Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Need a make-ahead dish for the holidays or your next dinner party, this scalloped potato casserole is calling your name. A creamy potato side dish that only requires 30 minutes of oven time, and you can do all the prep work ahead of time.

When you’re searching for Southern-style potato recipes and don’t feel like make -ahead mashed potatoes, you can’t go wrong with Gruyere scalloped potatoes. A classic comfort food that you’ll find at any special meal in the South.

Baked scalloped potatoes are an old fashioned side dish that has been around forever for good reason. It’s so creamy and cheesy that melts in your mouth. Most people think about Yukon gold scalloped potatoes around the holidays because they’re so easy to make but still deliver that “wow” factor.

While they’re fabulous with turkey and ham, you can also pair them with a simple rotisserie chicken and transform a boring dinner. Easy side dish recipes can really make the meal.

Au gratin vs. Scalloped: What’s the difference?

These terms are used interchangeably by most people. Officially au gratin potatoes are covered in cheese and breadcrumbs while scalloped potatoes just have cream. However, growing up we called these scalloped potatoes and they always had cheese on top.

My crispy au gratin potatoes have cheese throughout and a crispy cheese topping. While it has plenty of cream, it’s not as creamy as scalloped potato casserole. They’re great if you’re looking for a crispier potato dish. If mashed is more your thing but you want the convenience of a casserole, try twice-baked mashed potatoes.

Potatoes au gratin in a baking dish with a serving spoon. — **Crispy au gratin Potatoes**

Why this Make-Ahead Scalloped Potato Recipe is the Best

You get the ‘wow’ factor with this creamy potato dish
It’s prepared and ready to serve in just 30 minutes
I consider this a no fail dish – it’s hard to screw it up
It can share the oven with another dish
It needs to rest for 15 minutes before serving freeing up the oven for another side

A half eaten baking dish oof the best scalloped potatoes

Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or just having friends for dinner, I want at least one easy side dish that I can make ahead and don’t have to worry about. You can assemble gruyere scalloped potatoes a day or two in advance and then bake it before serving.

But what’s really great about this scalloped potato casserole is that the sliced potatoes are partially cooked before they go in the oven which reduces the baking time. Typically scalloped or au gratin potatoes need to bake for an hour and a half while these will be done in just 30-40 minutes.

Do you struggle with making sure that everything is done and ready to serve at the same time. This popular potato casserole is ideal for a meal where you have multiple dishes and you’re having to juggle which to put in the oven first.

It can cook at any temperature, just adjust the time. Since it needs to sit for a minimum of 15 minutes before serving this will free up your oven for yeast rolls!

What you’ll need for Scalloped Potatoes with Cheese

Ingredients for the best scalloped potatoes — Gather the ingredients

Yukon Gold potatoes – I find that they will more readily absorb the cream and milk and will not take as long to cook as a russet, but russet potatoes will work for this dish.
Cream and milk – to make these decadent, you need to use whole milk and cream. You could get by with half-and-half.
Garlic and Nutmeg – for flavor.
Gruyere – an aged gruyere is even better. You can use another variety such as cheddar but I like the subtle flavor gruyere adds. It’s only going on top of the casserole.

How to make Scalloped Potatoes from scratch

Step 1 – slice the potatoes

Peel and then slice the potatoes with a mandolin or food processor. You want the slices to be thin.

A cusinart bowl full of sliced potatoes. — Peel and slice the potatoes.

Step 2 – boil in cream

Add the sliced potatoes to a large pot with cream, milk and garlic and bring it to a boil.

A pot of cream and sliced potatoes. — Boil the potatoes in cream.

Step 3– layer

Add the slightly cooked potatoes to a baking dish, sprinkle with nutmeg,

A casserole dish of sliced potatoes and cream. — Place in a casserole dish.

Cover with cheese.

Cheesy covered scalloped potatoes. — Cover with cheese and bake.

Bake for about 30 minutes until it’s bubbly, the cheese is toasty brown and the potatoes are soft.

Step 4 – let rest

Make sure you let them rest for at least 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes before serving. They’ll be soupy at first and need time to thicken.

Pro Tip: Place a baking sheet under the casserole dish in case it bubbles over. This will save you plenty of clean up time!

A spoon full of au gratin potatoes with cheese

A trick to making Homemade Scalloped Potatoes creamy

The fat content in the cream and whole milk is what makes scalloped potatoes creamy, but using Yukon gold potatoes will help also along with partially cooking the potatoes in the cream and milk.

What goes with Baked Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes with cream are such a great side dish because they go with everything. The flavor and texture pair well with a honey baked ham but also are perfect with steak marsala or any beef dish.

While make-ahead mashed potatoes are great with turkey, they can’t compete with a creamy scalloped potato casserole.

How to Store Cheesy Scalloped Poatoes

To store scalloped potatoes let them come to room temperature and then cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. You can reheat in the microwave or oven.

Make Ahead Scalloped Potatoes tips & FAQs

What’s the best cheese for scalloped potatoes?

The type of cheese depends on your preference. You will see many recipes with cheddar, but I prefer an aged gruyere.

What are the best potatoes to use for scalloped potatoes?

Yukon Golds will provide a creamier texture than a russet.

How long to bake scalloped potatoes?

The nice thing about this recipe is that you can bake it at any temperature and just adjust the time. So if you have multiple dishes to bake, this dish can share the oven with something else. At 350º it will take about 30 minutes. If cooking at a higher temperature remove when the top is golden and bubbly.

Can I prep scalloped potatoes the night before?

You can prepare these ahead of time. Once the boiled potatoes have been placed in the baking dish let them come to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for 1-2 days. Let them come to room temperature before baking.

What’s the best way to get thin potato slices?

A mandolin or food processor is the easiest way to get thin potatoes. If not available, then slice as thin as you can with a sharp knife.

More fabulous potato recipes

Adapted from My Kitchen Year

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