Thinly sliced potatoes baked in a cheesy creamy sauce. This dish makes the perfect holiday side dish and pairs well with turkey and ham!

Golden simple scalloped potatoes in a white casserole dish garnished with fresh parsley.

Hey cousins! In this post I’m going to show you how to make simple scalloped potatoes. In the past I’ve shared several scalloped potato recipes such as my Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and my Scalloped Potatoes with Ham; however, I think it’s time to just share a simple recipe for scalloped potatoes. No extras, no hassle, just delicious homemade scalloped potatoes. This dish is perfect to serve any time of the year, but it’s perfect during the holiday season as well. So perfect this recipe now, and you will be ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Let’s get right to it.

How to Make Simple Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients

2 ½ lb russet potatoes, washed and thinly sliced

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded colby jack cheese

2 ½ tsp seasoning salt

1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

¼ cup salted butter

3 tbsp all purpose flour

2 cup heavy whipping cream

Parsley

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, and set to the side.
Add ¼ cup of butter into a pan, and place it over medium heat.
Once the butter starts to sizzle, add in the flour and stir.
Let the butter and flour mixture cook for 3 minutes.
Pour in the half & half and stir.
Sprinkle in the seasoning salt and black pepper, mix.
Turn off the heat, and stir the sauce. Remove the pan from the hot burner.
Add a layer of the sliced potatoes to the bottom of the baking dish. Pour half of the sauce over the potatoes, then sprinkle half of the shredded cheeses over the sauce.
Repeat the layering once more.
Cover the bake dish with a lid or foil.
Bake in the oven for 35 – 40 minutes.
Take the pan out of the oven, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Remove the foil from the bake dish and sprinkle fresh chopped parsley on top of the scalloped potatoes
Serve and enjoy with your other favorite holiday dishes.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Simple Scalloped Potatoes

What’s the difference between scalloped and au gratin potatoes?

A serving of creamy and golden simple scalloped potatoes on a round white plate.

Scalloped potatoes are far more simple than au gratin potatoes. Typically, scalloped potato recipes use less ingredients. When making scalloped potatoes you usually make a simple roux. The roux is poured over potatoes, and cheese is also incorporated; however, this is certainly not the case when it comes to au gratin potatoes. Au gratin potatoes are made with a creamy cheese sauce, sometimes a little garlic and onion, then topped off with a crispy buttery breadcrumb topping. Not only does au gratin potatoes contain more ingredients, but there is a lot more preparation time needed for the dish as opposed to scalloped potatoes.

What are the best potatoes for Simple Scalloped Potatoes?

The best potatoes to use when making scalloped potatoes are Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes.

Tips for making the best scalloped potatoes:

Thinly slice the potatoes: I personally use a mandolin when I make scalloped potatoes to ensure that all the slices are perfectly thin and even.
Make sure the sliced potatoes are the same size, that way the potatoes cook evenly.
Be sure to lightly grease your baking dish prior to baking the scalloped potatoes. This will prevent the potatoes from burning and sticking to the dish while it bakes in the oven.
Less is more. No need to use a bunch of ingredients when making scalloped potatoes. Less is more. This side dish is usually paired with other sides during holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter; therefore, there really isn’t a need to load this dish up with a ton of ingredients because it will be paired with other dishes.
Use half & half instead of using regular milk. It’s half milk and half cream. Half & half is a lot creamier than regular milk. Using half & half instead of whole milk will result in a much better and richer sauce.
Do not use 2% milk when making this recipe. It’s not thick enough and will curdle while it bakes. For best results, use half & half as listed in the recipe.

Make scalloped potatoes ahead of time.

A white casserole dish filled with golden simple scalloped potatoes garnished with bright green parsley.

If you’d like to make scalloped potatoes a day or so in advance you certainly can do so. Simply follow the instructions above, then store the scalloped potatoes in the refrigerator. When you are ready to reheat the scalloped potatoes, remove them from the refrigerator, and let them sit on the countertop for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350° F, cover the dish with a lid or foil, and heat in the oven for 25-30 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Make this Simple Scalloped Potatoes recipe your own.

Want to jazz this recipe up just a tad bit more? Here are a few ways that you can do so!

Add minced onion or garlic! Onion and garlic can be used to add more layers of flavor without adding more fat or calories.
Want to add some smokiness to your scalloped potatoes? Switch out one of the cheeses, and use smoked gouda!
If you’re a seafood lover, you can add shrimp! Simply add peeled and deveined shrimp on top of the scalloped potatoes during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
You can also sprinkle cooked chopped bacon on top of the scalloped potatoes before baking.

How to store and reheat Simple Scalloped Potatoes.

If you have leftover simple scalloped potatoes, you can store them in airtight containers, and refrigerate for up to a week. Simply reheat the leftovers in the microwave for a few minutes.

What pairs well with Simple Scalloped Potatoes?

Other potato dishes to try:

Print this Simple Scalloped Potatoes recipe, and don’t forget to share it with your family and friends!