Classic Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

Name: Classic Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick; 1/4 cup unsalted butter; 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 cup all purpose flour; 2 cups whole milk; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves; Optional: 1 cup shredded cheddar or gruyere cheese

This is a cozy, old fashioned dish with tender potato slices tucked into a rich and savory cream sauce.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· October 26, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

1 hour 15 minutes

Total

1 hour 35 minutes

Serves

If you grew up eating the boxed kind of potatoes, you are in for a real treat with this homemade version. It is pure comfort food at its best, with thinly sliced potatoes that get so soft they almost melt in your mouth. The secret is the sauce, which is flavored with sweet onions and a few simple herbs.

I like making these the traditional way without cheese, but you can always stir in a handful if your family prefers it that way. Make sure you slice your potatoes nice and thin so they cook evenly and soak up all that creamy goodness.

🧺 Ingredients

3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Optional: 1 cup shredded cheddar or gruyere cheese

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with a little bit of butter.
2
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the diced onions. Cook them for about 10 minutes until they are soft and golden brown.
3
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for just one minute more until it smells wonderful.
4
Whisk in the flour and cook for two minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste.
5
Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream while whisking constantly. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens up.
6
Add the salt, pepper, and thyme to the sauce. If you want to use cheese, stir it in now until it is completely melted.
7
Layer half of the sliced potatoes in your prepared baking dish. Pour half of the cream sauce over the top.
8
Add the rest of the potatoes and pour the remaining sauce over them, spreading it out so every potato is covered.
9
Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
10
Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes. The top should be golden and the potatoes should be very tender when you poke them with a fork.

💡 Tips

You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat them, just pop a serving in the oven or microwave with a tiny splash of milk to keep the sauce creamy.

#side dish #comfort food #potatoes #vegetarian #family dinner

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