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Ooey, gooey, molten, and oh so decadent, Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are the ultimate side dish. Whether you’re looking for the perfect side to serve alongside your Easter Lamb Lollipops or next to your ham, this is it.

There is no denying that potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. Mashed, roasted, or fried, they’re delicious on their own but even better when melted cheese joins the party. This easy side dish packs a ton of flavor without needing a lot of ingredients.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Versatility – This scalloped potato recipe can be made Dairy Free and it can also be made with regular heavy cream and cheddar cheese.
Easy Process – The sauce is briefly simmered to thicken before being baked with the potatoes. Unlike some recipes that require making a roux, this scalloped potato recipe utilizes the natural starch of the potatoes with thick and luscious heavy cream.
Make Ahead – This can be made ahead and then reheated when ready to serve making it ideal for holiday meal prep.
Familiar Flavors – Is there anything more comforting than the combination of potatoes and cream? This is total comfort food the entire family will love.

Ingredients

These classic Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes require minimal effort and only a handful of ingredients, most of which you probably already have. Savory flavors combined with the best texture will make these part of your regular rotation.

Potatoes – I used buttery, creamy Yukon gold potatoes for this, but you can use russet potatoes as well. Yukon gold potatoes have a creamier texture while russet potatoes are grainier but have more starch which will help thicken the sauce even more. Use what you like.
Heavy Cream – Gives the sauce its rich flavor and decadent creamy texture. You can use a plant based heavy cream such as Country Crock Plant Cream or full dairy heavy cream.
Chicken Stock – Thins out the heavy cream and gives the sauce an all day cooked savory flavor.
Cheddar Cheese – Tangy, sharp, and purely savory, this gives the scalloped potatoes incredible flavor. Use your favorite dairy free cheese or regular cheddar cheese.
Spices – Salt, pepper, and smoked paprika bring all the flavor without overpowering any of the other ingredients.
Onion – Sweetens as it cooks down while adding depth of flavor.
Butter
Garlic – Sharp, bright, and savory, this brings bold flavor to the sauce without overtaking any of the other flavors.

How to Make Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Can we all agree that potatoes are practically their own food group? This is the ultimate comfort food in a pan and it’s so easy to make it won’t just be served up on the holidays.

Time needed: 1 hour and 35 minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and decadent potatoes are baked in a decadent cream sauce.

Pregame
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick baking spray and set it aside.
Potato Prep
Wash and dry your potatoes. Thinly slice your potatoes. Using a mandoline will make this easy.
Sauté
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and onions. Allow the onions to cook for 5-8 minutes until they’re translucent.
Simmer
Add the spices and garlic and stir. Add the heavy cream, stock, and cream and stir. Allow it to cook until the cheese is fully melted.
Layer
Layer half of your potatoes into the prepared baking dish. Pour half of the cheese sauce over the top. Stack on the remaining potatoes and pour the remaining cheese sauce over the top.
Bake
Bake the potatoes for 30-45 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is golden and bubbly.
Cool
Allow the Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes to cool for 20 minutes before serving. They will be hot!

Variations

You can make this recipe vegetarian by replacing the chicken stock with vegetable stock or broth. You can also make these potatoes completely vegan by using plant based heavy cream, cheddar, and butter.

Tools

Using a mandoline will allow you to quickly slice all of your potatoes thinly and in uniform sizes. If your mandoline doesn’t have a guard make sure that you take your time and discard the ends of your potatoes when they get too small to safely cut.

Storage

The only thing better than scalloped potatoes are frozen scalloped potatoes. Let them cool completely and then cover the baking dish tightly with foil or plastic wrap. It will keep refrigerated for up to five days.

To reheat your potatoes, let them sit out on the counter and come to room temperature. Heat them up in a 300-325 degree oven for 115-20 minutes until warm and bubbly.

Top Tip for Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Potatoes like many other fruits and vegetables oxidize quickly when exposed to air. Don’t slice your potatoes too soon otherwise they will start to turn brown.