Classic Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Scalloped potatoes were one of my favorite comfort foods growing up. Unfortunately they were not my brothers so Mom made them once or twice a year, but because I loved them she showed me an easy fail proof way to make them when I was about 12, and I have made them that way ever since.
My Mom never made a seperate sauce, she always just dusted everything with flour and dabs of butter. As a young cook she taught me to make the sauce separately and that’s how I still make them.
Scalloped Potatoes Ingredients
10 potatoes ( I prefer yukon gold)
2 medium onions
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1 cup frozen peas (optional)
Salt and Pepper to Taste
2 cups cheddar cheese (optional)
4 cups of milk
Extra milk (if needed)
Scalloped Potato Recipe Instructions
Start by buttering a large casserole dish. Set aside.
Peel, wash, and slice the potatoes thinly, about 1/4 inch thick by hand or with madelaine. Place in a large bowl and set aside.
Peel, then cut each onion in half. Then cut each 1/2 onion into thin slices. Place the onions into a bowl breaking them into individual half rings. I cover my bowl of onions with a glass plate while I continue.
In a large sauce pan over medium heat melt the butter.
Once melted add the flour. Whisk together, it will look like a huge lump of glue, but don’t worry.
Add the four cups of milk, heat the butter mixture over the low heat until it is a smooth sauce. As soon as the sauce is smooth you can remove it from the heat. It will finish cooking in the oven.
Optional Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
If you like cheesy scalloped potatoes, its the same process. Reduce the flour to 1/2 cup and once the flour and milk is blended, add 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir over medium heat until the sauce is well blended. Continue with the recipe. Just before placing in the oven cover the potatoes with a top layer of grated cheddar.
Layering the Scalloped Potatoes
Start with a layer of potatoes in the bottom of the casserole dish, so that the entire bottom is covered. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Add a thin layer onions.
Cover with the sauce until it comes to the level of the onions.
Add more potatoes.
The peas are optional, most people don’t add peas to their scalloped potatoes, but I love them with the little bits of green. The choice is yours. If using peas add them now.
Continue with a layer of potatoes and onions. Repeat until all the potatoes are used up. Pour in the remaining sauce.
Never Fail Scalloped Potatoes Hint
Potatoe sizes and moisture can vary quite a bit. To make nice moist creamy scalloped potatoes, once the potatoes are all layered and the sauce is added check to see the layer of milk sauce. The milk sauce should come to the top of your potatoes. If it doesn’t you need no make more sauce, just pour in a little more milk.
Place the potatoes covered in the oven and bake
Cover the pan lightly with a lid or aluminum foil and bake for about 30 minutes. the sauce is all bubbly around the edges. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through.
Scalloped Potato Recipe Baked in the Oven
Ingredients
- 10 potatoes I prefer Yukon Gold
- 2 med onions
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup frozen peas optional
- pinch salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups milk add extra if needed
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese optional
Instructions
- Start by buttering a large casserole dish. Set aside.
- Peel, wash, and slice the potatoes thinly, about 1/4 inch thick by hand or with madelaine. Place in a large bowl and set aside.
- Peel, then cut each onion in half. Then cut each 1/2 onion into thin slices. Place the onions into a bowl breaking them into individual half rings.
- In a large sauce pan over medium heat melt the butter. Once melted add the flour. Whisk together.
- Add the four cups of milk, heat the butter mixture over the low heat until it is a smooth sauce. As soon as the sauce is smooth you can remove it from the heat. It will finish cooking in the oven.
Layering the Scalloped Potatoes
- Preheat oven to 350. F
- Start with a layer of potatoes in the bottom of the casserole dish, so that the entire bottom is covered. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add a thin layer onions. Add more potatoes.
- The peas are optional, most people don’t add peas to their scalloped potatoes, but I love them with the little bits of green. The choice is yours. If using peas add them now.
- Continue with a layer of potatoes and onions. Repeat until all the potatoes are used up. Pour in the remaining sauce.
- Place the potatoes covered in the oven and bake at 350 . Cover the pan lightly with a lid or aluminum foil and bake for about 30 minutes. the sauce is all bubbly around the edges. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through.
Related Recipes
Scalloped potatoes are a classic old fashioned comfort food, often accompanied with a baked ham. This baked ham recipe is both easy to make and mouthwatering good. I love it because it bakes in the oven along with the potatoes, and is such an easy meal to prepare for a large gathering, or special occasion.
I love scalloped potatoes but I’ve never made them myself. I will need to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing.