Old Fashion Scalloped Potatoes (AKA Au Gratin Potatoes) just like grandma made are the perfect side dish for almost any meal. Just follow these easy step by step photo instructions for this classic homemade dish.
Introduction
I love a classic recipe. They are usually easy and almost always present an unmatched wholesome taste with simple ingredients. This is one of those great older recipes that is easy and absolutely delicious.
This is based on a recipe that originally came from the 1971 Florence Junior League Cookbook. I didn't do much to the recipe. 4 cups of sliced potatoes became six medium potatoes. I used pre-shredded, not grated cheese for ease. But mostly I expanded on the instructions to simplify and make them less intimidating.
My Rating
Excellent old fashion taste. Good enough that my wife dug the recipe out of my "to post" file and made it again two days later. Yep, she loves it.
What is Scalloped vs. Au Gratin?
Scalloped is anything baked in a casserole with a sauce that could be cheese or any other sauce.
Au Gratin means "with cheese." So this recipe could be called Scalloped or Au Gratin or Scalloped Au Gratin. Take the cheese out and just use a white sauce and you have Scalloped but not Au Gratin. Now you know.
I use "scalloped" since it is correct and that is what I have called this forever. But Au Gratin is correct and a bit more specific.
🥔The Potatoes
All potatoes cook about the same. The main difference will be the thick skin on Russets, and they will have a bit more starch. So Russets are an excellent baker.
But other potatoes, like a Yukon Gold, would work great here. I would not use a small potato just because it will cause extra work for no real return.
I usually use peeled Russet potatoes since I have them on hand. I use the smaller potatoes in the bag that are not big enough for baking.
You need about 4 cups of potato slices. I used 6 smaller to medium potatoes to get that.
I suggest using a Mandolin to slice potatoes, but a knife works. If using Russets, then peal. If using a thinner skin potato, then pealing in optional
🧀The Cheese
Most people will use cheddar, but Monterey Jack or Gruyere would be nice also.
The Baking Dish
The thicker the dish, the longer the baking time. I used a 9 by 6 baking dish that was about 1 ½ inch deep.
Double the recipe to use a 9 by 13 standard casserole dish.
❄️Storage and Reheating
Good refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen for 3-4 months.
We much prefer this reheated in an oven instead of a microwave with seems to change the texture some.
⏰How Long to Cook
The standard recommendation for scalloped potatoes is generally 1 hour and "fork-tender," and that is fine.
But for us, we want creamy, melt in your mouth. We love to cook longer. For this about and other 2o minutes. Cover if needed to keep from browning too much.
If you add ham and make a thicker casserole, our cooking time is about 2 hours mostly covered. See the recipe link below.
📖Scalloped Potato Recipes
Old Fashion Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°, not convection.
Slice 5-6 medium russet potatoes about ⅛ inch. If you have crazy ninja knife skills, you can do this by hand, but a mandolin is a good thing here (BE CAREFUL.) The setting on mine for this is "thin." You need to end up with about 4 cups of potato slices. Rinse in a bowl of cold water.
Start the sauce with 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. When melted, add 3 tablespoons flour and whisk for a few minutes. Add 1 ½ cup milk. Frequently whisk for a couple of minutes and add 1 teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional.) Bring to a light boil, and this will start to thicken in a few more minutes.
Reduce heat to low and add 1 cup of shredded cheese. I used cheddar. Whisk until smooth and remove from heat.
Layer half of the potatoes into a casserole dish (6 by 9 inches) that has been sprayed with PAM. Put them in individually, so they are not stuck together. Do not just dump them in.
Pour half the cheese sauce over the first half of the potatoes.
Add the second half of the potatoes, then rest of the cheese sauce. Now top with ½ cup of cheese. Give a light sprinkle of paprika.
Bake until potatoes are "fork-tender." This will be about an hour or a little more. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
📖Full Recipe
Old Fashion Scalloped Potatoes
Ingredients
- 6 medium potatoes - 4 cups prepared
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons AP flour
- 1 ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅙ teaspoon cayenne pepper - optional
- 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese - or cheese of choice
- 1 sprinkle paprika - optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350, not convection.
- Slice 5-6 medium russet potatoes about ⅛ inch to make about 4 cups. If you have crazy ninja knife skills, you can do this by hand, but a mandolin is a good thing here. The setting on mine for this is "thin."
- Rinse the potato slices in a bowl of cold water. Let soak until ready to use then dry a bit with a paper towel.
- Start the sauce with 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat in a large pan. When melted, add 3 tablespoons flour and whisk for a few minutes. Add 1 ½ cup milk. Frequently whisk for a couple of minutes and add 1 teaspoon salt and ⅙ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional.) Bring to a light boil and whisk contentiously, and this will start to thicken in a few more minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and add 1 cup of cheese. I used sharp cheddar. Whisk until smooth and remove from heat.
- Layer half of the potatoes into a casserole dish (6 by 9 inches) that has been sprayed with PAM. Put them in individually, so they are not stuck together. Do not just dump them in.
- Pour half the cheese sauce over the first half of the potatoes.
- Add the second half of the potatoes, then rest of the cheese sauce. Now top with ½ cup of shredded cheese. Give a light sprinkle of paprika (an old fashion touch.)
- Bake until potatoes are "fork-tender." This will be about an hour or a little more. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- All cheese is measured by the volume of shredded cheese. One cup equals 4 oz. by weight not 8 oz.
- Use the potatoes you like, but Russets are standard, but Yukon Gold is also a good choice. You need about 4 cups of potato slices that will obviously vary by the size of the potatoes.
- Be sure to rinse and soak the potato slices for a few minutes and put them in the dish individually to prevent sticking.
- This recipe uses a 6 by 9 baking dish, about 1 ½ inches deep. If you double, use a 9 by 13 standard casserole. Thicker takes longer to cook.
- You can add ham to this but also check the specific Old Fashion Scalloped Potatoes and Ham recipe.
- We like our scalloped potatoes cooked longer for a creamier texture. We add about 20 minutes and tent with foil near the end to prevent over-browning — Cook to your taste but get to at least fork-tender.
- Be sure to allow them to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Good refrigerated for 3-4 days and 3-4 months frozen.
- Like many casseroles, the next day, these are even better.
- Reheat in the oven covered is better than a microwave.
- If you use a mandoline, BE CAREFUL, and follow the instructions. I have seen significant injuries.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: Originally Published January 19, 2013. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Patti
I love your recipes, and even label them in my recipe program as 101 cooking for two, so I can find them quickly! My question isn’t about the recipe, but about another issue. I never have dairy milk in the house, we drink almond vanilla unsweetened milk. But I almost always have Fat Free Half and Half. I’ve been trying for the longest time how to substitute the half and half for milk, the ratio of how much water to add to it. I’m assuming that’s what I would have to do, add water to the half and half to create “milk” for cooking. Especially since the half and half is fat free, I’m sure that also plays into the equation.
I hope you have an idea, I want to try this recipe!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Patti,
Welcome to the blog. I did delete the duplicate comment. First time commentors need their first comment approved, so they don't show up right away... it happens all the time.
Let’s discuss “fat-free” half and half. It is an odd concoction of milk, sweeteners, thickeners, and other things. If you want to think of it as a fancy coffee creamer of some type, that is all I would use it for. But I like black coffee.
Most of the time, almond or soy milk works fine as a milk substitute. But you would generally not want the vanilla taste.
We find we are out of milk frequently when I suddenly want to cook something. The magic of dried milk comes in very handy at those times. I went though a phase of using lots of buttermilk, there is an excellent dried version of that also. Both work great for cooking.
So get some dried milk for the pantry and you will be fine. Don’t use the fat-free half and half.
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Pamela
While this might be good, the title is incorrect. Scalloped potatoes are made with cream and butter. When cheese is added, the dish becomes Potatoes Au Gratin.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
From the post:
What is Scalloped vs. Au Gratin?
Scalloped is anything baked in a casserole with a sauce that could be cheese or any other sauce.
Au Gratin means "with cheese." So this recipe could be called Scalloped or Au Gratin or Scalloped Au Gratin. Take the cheese out and just use a white sauce and you have Scalloped but not Au Gratin. Now you know.
I use "scalloped" since it is correct and that is what I have called this forever. But Au Gratin is correct and a bit more specific.
Jill
Precook yr sliced potatoes. Sprinkle French onion Soup between layers pour over some cream and top with cheese. Easy as. Just heat in oven.