The Best Homemade Scalloped Potatoes

homemade scalloped potatoes

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Potatoes are my favorite food. It might be a little unconventional, but it is true. Mashed potatoes. Baked potatoes. French fries. Crispy potatoes. The list goes on and on. However, homemade scalloped potatoes has to be one of my all-time favorite ways to enjoy potatoes. There is that little crisp on top, it’s creamy, and there is cheese. Perfection.

Scalloped potatoes served on a plate with steamed broccoli

Are Homemade Scalloped Potatoes a Main Dish or a Side?

Growing up, my family didn’t eat a lot of pork. Therefore, scalloped potatoes were always a side in my mind because they were served with a protein. However, my husband likes ham in his scalloped potatoes. At that point, you can call this a main dish. So the answer to the question: “Are scalloped potatoes a main dish or a side?” is simply “Yes.” It just depends on how you choose to make it.

Woven rectangular basket of russet potatoes

Keep it Simple or Dress it Up

Keeping it Simple

For homemade scalloped potatoes, all you really need are:

  • Potatoes
  • Onions
  • Cheese
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Butter
  • Milk

If you have these ingredients and a casserole dish, then you can make homemade scalloped potatoes. And it’s actually very easy to throw together! The most time consuming part is slicing the potatoes and baking it. However, if you have a KitchenAid mixer with the slicer and shredder attachment, then this recipe will take you no time at all.

Dress It Up

If you want to wow everyone at your table, then you can kick your homemade scalloped potatoes game up a notch by using a few extra ingredients:

  • Ham
  • Crumbled bacon
  • Bone broth
  • Paprika
  • Cayanne pepper
  • Fresh garlic
  • Thyme

Adding a few extra ingredients will take this dish to the next level. Not only will it be more filling because of the protein, but it will also have a depth of flavor that you will love.

homemade scalloped potatoes in a glass baking dish

Ingredients for Homemade Scalloped Potatoes:

For Layering

  • 6-8 potatoes thinly sliced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 3 tablespoons of butter (total)
  • 2 cups of grated cheese
  • 1-2 cups of cubed ham
  • 1 package of crumbled bacon
  • Sprinkle on each layer: thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper

For the Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 3 tablespoons of flour
  • 1 cup of bone broth
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • Pinch of pepper
Roux for the sauce for homemade scalloped potatoes

Directions:

Prep Work

  1. In a cast iron skillet, fry the cut up pieces of bacon. You want the bacon to have a slight crisp to them. Cut the raw bacon up with scissors to make it easier and cook faster.
  2. Remove the bacon bits from the pan.
  3. Saute the diced onion in the bacon grease over medium-low heat. Remove the onion from the pan when they are translucent. Put it in a bowl and set it aside.

Make the Sauce

  1. Add a 1/4 cup of butter to a clean skillet and melt it over low heat.
  2. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic and let them brown for 30-60 seconds.
  3. Stir in 3 tablespoons of flour. Wait for it to smell nutty. Roughly 60 seconds.
  4. In measuring cup, combine the milk and bone broth.
  5. Add the milk and bone broth mixture in small amounts to the skillet while stirring constantly. As you add the liquid, it will thicken into a sauce.
  6. Once all the liquid is added, simmer until the sauce thickens to a gravy consistancy and then turn off the heat. Make sure you do not boil the sauce.
  7. Then, stir in 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and a pinch of pepper.

Assemble

  1. Next, assemble the scalloped potatoes by layering:
    • potatoes
    • sprinkle of salt, pepper, thyme, and paprika
    • onions
    • ham
    • cheese
    • bacon
    • butter
  2. Continue layering until you have used up all of your potato slices or run out of space in your dish.
  3. On the top layer, add your bacon bits on top of the cheese.
  4. Next, slowly pour your sauce over the entire dish.
  5. Cover your dish with foil.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour. Then, uncover the scalloped potatoes and bake for another 20-30 minutes until the top is browned and it can be easily pierced with a fork.
  7. Allow the dish to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Homemade Scalloped Potatoes Recipe Card

The Best Homemade Scalloped Potatoes

homemade scalloped potatoes

Homemade scalloped potatoes has to be one of my all-time favorite ways to enjoy potatoes. There is that little crisp on top, it's creamy, and there is cheese. Perfection.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours

Ingredients

For Layering

  • 6-8 potatoes thinly sliced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 3 tablespoons of butter diced
  • 2 cups of grated cheese
  • 1-2 cups of cubed ham
  • 1 package of cooked and crumbled bacon
  • Thyme 
  • Paprika
  • Salt
  • Pepper

For the Sauce

  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 3 tablespoons of flour
  • 1 cup of bone broth
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 3 cloves of garlic minced
  • 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • A pinch of pepper

Instructions

  1. In a cast iron skillet, fry the cut up pieces of bacon. You want the bacon to have a slight crisp to them. Cut the raw bacon up with scissors to make it easier and cook faster.
  2. Remove the bacon bits from the pan.
  3. Saute the diced onion in the bacon grease over medium-low heat. Remove the onion from the pan when they are translucent. Put it in a bowl and set it aside.
  4. Add a 1/4 cup of butter to a clean skillet and melt it over low heat.
  5. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic and let them brown for 30-60 seconds.
  6. Stir in 3 tablespoons of flour. Wait for it to smell nutty. Roughly 60 seconds.
  7. In a measuring cup, combine the milk and bone broth.
  8. Add the milk and bone broth mixture in small amounts to the skillet while stirring constantly. As you add the liquid, it will thicken into a sauce.
  9. Once all the liquid is added, simmer until the sauce thickens to a gravy consistency and then turn off the heat. Make sure you do not boil the sauce.
  10. Then, stir in 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and a pinch of pepper.
  11. Next, assemble the scalloped potatoes by layering the potatoes, a sprinkling of the seasonings, onions, ham, bacon, cheese, and butter.
  12. Continue layering until you have used up all of your potato slices or run out of space in your dish.
  13. On the top layer, add your bacon bits on top of the cheese.
  14. Next, slowly pour your sauce over the entire dish.
  15. Cover your dish with foil.
  16. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour. Then, uncover the scalloped potatoes and bake for another 20-30 minutes until the top is browned and it can be easily pierced with a fork.
  17. Allow the dish to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

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