Description
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes is a classic comfort food featuring tender, thinly sliced potatoes baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce. This dish offers layers of rich cheddar cheese and a smooth béchamel-style sauce, perfect for cozy dinners or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups milk
Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the potatoes evenly.
- Prepare Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour, salt, and black pepper, stirring continuously until smooth to form a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens to a creamy sauce.
- Layer Ingredients: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, arrange half of the sliced potatoes evenly. Pour half of the prepared milk sauce over the potatoes and then sprinkle half of the shredded Cheddar cheese. Repeat the layering process with the remaining potatoes, sauce, and cheese to create two layers.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. This allows the potatoes to cook through and absorb the flavors while keeping moisture in.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes uncovered. This step will let the cheese bubble and turn a lovely golden brown, and the potatoes will become tender.
- Serve: Once done, remove from the oven and serve hot as a hearty side dish or main comfort food.
Notes
- For creamier potatoes, use whole milk or a combination of milk and cream.
- Make sure to slice the potatoes evenly and thinly to ensure they cook uniformly.
- You can add garlic powder or fresh herbs like thyme for added flavor.
- To reduce prep, use pre-shredded cheese but freshly shredded cheese melts better.
- Let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
