Elevate your next meal with these cozy, comforting, cheesy Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes! They are luxurious and indulgent! The nuttiness of gruyere cheese, the creamy buttery flavor of the Yukon Gold potatoes, and warm, fragrant fresh thyme make an irresistible combination! This is one side dish recipe you will be making over and over!
I am 99% certain there is nothing better than the combination of gruyere, thyme, and potatoes. Especially when comfort food is top of mind.
While crispy potatoes are definitely a fan favorite, there’s something magical about scalloped potatoes. Their cheesy, creamy sauce and melt-in-your-mouth potatoes are unbeatable.
This recipe is loved on holiday tables, at Sunday family dinners, and whenever you need just a little extra cheesy-carby-goodness in your life.
You’ll love that this recipe is fairly easy to make. It requires a little bit of time to slice the potatoes, and then to bake to golden perfection, but it’s relatively hands-off and can be made ahead of time for special occasions.
Ingredients and Substitutions
We can all gather around and love that this recipe has simple ingredients that deliver loads of flavor, comfort, and creamy goodness.
Since they are pretty straightforward, there aren’t many substitutions, but I will list a few where relevant, in case you need to adapt given what you have on hand (or can find at the grocery store).
- Yukon Gold Potatoes: small, waxy yellow potatoes are perfect for this recipe! They are buttery, and their small size provides perfect potato rounds to stack in a baking dish. Their thin skin softens up while baking, and therefore you don’t need to peel them before making this recipe (YES!).
- If you do need to substitute, you can try Russet Potatoes (although I would recommend peeling those), Fingerling Potatoes, or Red Bliss Potatoes.
- Yellow Onion: an aromatic we couldn’t make potatoes without! You could also use shallot, however, keep in mind that shallots need less time to cook until tender.
- Garlic: of course, garlic is a must with these flavor combinations!
- Flour: to make a roux for our sauce. You could use gluten-free flour to make this recipe gluten-free, although I haven’t extensively tested this. Be sure to let us know if you do!
- Vegetable Stock: it’s part of our creamy sauce that coats the potatoes. If you don’t need to keep this recipe vegetarian, you can also substitute chicken stock.
- Milk: again, part of our creamy sauce! I recommend using whole milk for the most luxurious texture, but you can use what you have on hand.
- White and Black Pepper: I love using a hint of white pepper for a hint of unique flavor. It’s slightly pungent, and warm. If you’re not a fan, you can omit and use black pepper to your tastes.
- Thyme: this fresh herb is a delicious pairing with gruyere cheese. If you don’t have fresh, you can substitute dried thyme, just be sure to halve the amount since it will be more potent.
- Gruyère Cheese: the ultimate star, this Swiss cheese is nutty, salty, and slightly sweet. It has a luxurious texture and flavor. If you need to substitute cheese in this recipe, I recommend using Emmental, Jarlsberg, or Raclette cheese as they are most similar.
- Parmesan Cheese: to round out the cheesiness, it pairs so well with the flavors of this recipe!
Scalloped vs. Au Gratin Potatoes
Let’s clear the air before we get cooking. Scalloped potatoes or au gratin potatoes?
It seems nowadays the two are used interchangeably, yet there are those of us that still adhere to hard-and-fast rules between the two dishes.
There are many variations of these two recipe types, yet both are essentially layered potatoes cooked in a casserole dish.
Scalloped potatoes sometimes have cheese, au gratin potatoes often do. Scalloped potatoes always have a cream sauce, and sometimes au gratin potatoes do.
You can read more about the overall differences between potato gratin and scalloped potatoes via Taste of Home if you’re interested. But really, at the end of the day, they’re both absolutely delicious and whatever you want to call them, they need to be on your table!
How to Make Scalloped Potatoes
In a few simple steps, this potato side dish will be baking and the scent that wafts through the house will have your taste buds watering!
Step 1: Prepare the Cream Sauce
This scalloped potato recipe uses a cream sauce infused with onion and garlic for the ultimate flavors!
Saute the aromatics in butter, then stir in the flour. Be sure to let it cook down for a minute or two before adding the vegetable stock, additional spices, and milk.
I recommend starting to salt the sauce with the onions, adding bit by bit in layers, to bring out the most flavor from each component of the recipe. Be sure to taste test as you go, remembering that the cheese will add a good amount of salt to the overall sauce, too.
Let the sauce simmer to thicken, being careful to not aggressively boil it so the milk doesn’t burn. Then, remove the mixture from the heat and it’s time to assemble!
Step 2: Assemble the Scalloped Potatoes
It’s time to layer! Begin with a layer of thinly sliced potatoes (we’re going to talk about the importance of the thin slice in a minute).
Once the potatoes cover the bottom of the baking dish, pour on half of the cream sauce. Then spread on a layer of shredded gruyere cheese and parmesan cheese.
On top of the cheese will be our next layer of potatoes. Then, again, pour the remaining cream sauce on top, and the rest of the gruyere cheese. That’s it! Our potato dish is ready for the oven.
Step 3: Time to Bake
For the first half of the baking process, cover the casserole pan with aluminum foil. This helps prevent the cheese from cooking too quickly before the potatoes are done.
About halfway through, remove the foil and continue baking until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Prepare to start salivating as the delicious scent of gruyere, thyme, garlic, and onion begins wafting throughout your house. It’s incredible!
Step 4: Serve
Once the potatoes are cooked, let them cool slightly before serving. This helps the sauce set up, and helps prevent the dreaded burning of your mouth from irresistible hot cheese.
Sprinkle on the remaining fresh thyme for garnish, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use a mandoline to slice the potatoes! This is the easiest way to ensure your potatoes are thin enough to cook through while baking and to ensure they’re sliced evenly. I love this hand-held one. It’s easy to store and use, however, any kind will do!
- Shred your own cheese! Hands down, I will always advocate for shredding your own cheese, especially in recipes where the cheese needs to melt evenly into a sauce. Many prepackaged shredded cheese types come with an anti-caking agent which makes it difficult for the cheese to melt smoothly into the sauce. Use a box grater or food processor to make this easier to do. It’s totally worth it!
- If you want crispy edges, consider using a cast-iron skillet to make this dish!
What to Serve with Scalloped Potatoes
There are endless possibilities when it comes to what to pair with scalloped potatoes. I like to think of this as a fancy scalloped potato side dish recipe, making it a favorite around holiday tables. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter, it’s no surprise when they make their appearance.
But this recipe isn’t just for the holidays.
It’s special and elegant enough for those, sure, but it’s also easy enough to make Sunday family dinners feel extra special. Or when you need some comfort food.
They are excellent served alongside rosemary salmon and roasted broccolini. For meat-eaters, they are a match made in heaven with sous vide roasts, grilled steaks, or roasted chicken.
To keep it entirely vegetarian, they are excellent with whole roasted cauliflower, or as a side for broccoli butternut squash soup.
More Potato Side Dish Recipes to Love
- Gruyere and Thyme Stacked Potatoes
- Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Potato Croquettes
- Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Bites
- Crispy Potatoes with Garlic Aioli
FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the scalloped potatoes in the baking dish, then cover and place the pan in the fridge. I wouldn’t recommend doing this more than a day in advance. Potatoes can tend to turn grayish when exposed to air, however, I haven’t had issues with preparing the dish this way in advance. Remove the pan from the fridge 20-30 minutes before baking so it has time to warm up (you don’t want to put a cold pan in a hot oven!).
I recommend a casserole pan or a 9×9 baking dish for a thicker result. However, you can also use a 9×13 baking dish, which will be thinner and require a little less cooking time. A 12-inch cast-iron skillet also works, and gives you more crispy edges!
Yes, you can. The recipe won’t be vegetarian anymore if you do so, but you can if you don’t need it to be vegetarian.
While I haven’t tried this myself, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to if that’s your preferred potato! I would peel the potatoes since they have thicker skin, and you may need to cook longer depending on the thickness. We would love to hear if you try this!
Absolutely! Bake it in a 9×13 pan for approximately the same time.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!
Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-6 large yukon gold potatoes, thinly sliced (approx. 1.5-2 pounds)
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, or olive oil; additional for pan
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup vegetable stock
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, optional
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped, and divided
- 1 1/4 cups gruyere cheese*, freshly shredded
- 1/2 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9×9 baking dish with butter. Thinly slice the potatoes using a mandoline.4-6 large yukon gold potatoes
- In a large stockpot or sautee pan, melt butter. Add onion and saute for 2-3 minutes, adding a pinch of salt to begin layering in the flavor. Add garlic and continue to saute for 1-2 minutes. Then stir in the flour and continue to stir for 1-2 minutes to ensure the flour does not burn.3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/2 cup yellow onion, 4 garlic cloves, 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Whisk in the vegetable broth until combined, then whisk in milk. Add any remaining salt as needed, white pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme. Bring cream sauce to a simmer and continue to lightly simmer for 4-5 minutes, being careful it doesn't boil. Remove from heat.1/2 cup vegetable stock, 1 cup whole milk, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon white pepper, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- Layer half of the potato slices at the bottom of the greased baking dish for the first layer.
- Pour over half of the cream sauce on top. Sprinkle ¾ cup of the shredded gruyere and ½ cup of parmesan on top of the first layer of cream.
- Layer the rest of the potato slices in the pan and pour the remaining cream sauce on top. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of gruyere on top of the finished dish.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking for 15-20 minutes, until cheese begins to turn golden brown and potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. The sauce should also be bubbly.
- Let cool slightly for about 10 minutes. Garnish with the remaining thyme. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- 9×13 baking dish will also work, just reduce the cooking time by 5-10 minutes as it will be thinner and need less cook time.
- Dried Thyme: to substitute dried thyme, use 1 teaspoon in the cream sauce and omit the garnish.
- *Look for cheese specifically labeled vegetarian, if needed.
Video
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.
This post was originally published in March 2016. The photos were updated and republished in October 2018 and 2021; no changes were made to the original recipe.
Gila Alter
OMG! Truly, OMG! The best we’ve ever had! Followed your recipe to the letter and it came out extraordinary! Used 5 Yukon/yellow potatoes. Sauce as instructed. Layered as instructed in a cast iron enameled 12″ round covered skillet. And away we went! My own veggie broth I tuck away in the freezer.
A special occasion dish for holidays. November 30, 2019
Thank you so much!
Becca
I’m so glad you loved it, Gila! Love that you used your own veggie stock, too! Thanks so much for commenting – Happy Holidays!
Michael Anthony Vincente
This recipe is phenomenal !! After researching recipes for scallop potatoes , your recipe caught my attention. It was the perfect blend of herbs, taste, and texture. You deserve more compliments!
Thank you
Becca
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment, Michael! I am so glad you enjoyed! Thanks for trusting my recipe in your kitchen!
Marissa Misra
Everyone in my house loved it. We initially had it with dinner, but ended up eating the leftovers with breakfast. They are light enough that they will work with any meal. Quick and easy to prepare.
Becca Mills
What a yummy breakfast, too! Thanks, Marissa!
bandlpoirier@gmail.com
Can I use chicken broth
Becca Mills
Yep, you can!
Tara Cutty
This recipe is delicious. I made this for Thanksgiving and now again for Christmas.
Have a question- Can I make it up to the point of putting in the oven and sit in the refrigerator overnight to cook tomorrow?
Becca Mills
I’m so glad to hear, and honored its part of your traditions now 😊 yes, you should be able to do that! Enjoy!!
Jennifer in Sacramento
Everyone loved it!!
Becca Mills
Yay! I’m so glad to hear. Thanks so much, Jennifer!
Amy Paquette
Hello I made this dish last night waiting to bake this evening so I don’t have a full review. I have a question regarding the cream sauce. I did use GF flour my cream sauce turned out thick it didn’t pour our i spread the cream sauce onto the layers. I am sitting here concerned I am taking this dish to friends making this for the first time, I sure hope it turns out. Since my sauce was so thick is the sauce going to melt into the potatoes? Is there anything at this point before i bake tonight can i add?? Help need some confidence. Thank YOU.
Becca Mills
Hi Amy! Have you already added the cheese on top? I’d recommend adding more liquid (milk or stock – although I’d recommend milk) to thin it out a bit. Maybe a couple tablespoons to 1/4 cup. If you have the cheese on top try to pour it in the corners of the pan so it seeps into the potatoes. It should hopefully help loosen the sauce while baking. I’d love to hear how it turns out.
Kristy
These were awesome! I made them for Christmas dinner and again tonight. I could only find applewood smoked Gruyère cheese, and I use chicken stock. I only had 2% milk, so I used 1/2 cup 2%, and 1/2 cup of half and half. Used dried thyme also bc that’s what I had. They were DELICIOUS!!!! Best online recipe ever!
Becca Mills
Yay! I’m so happy to hear you loved them, Kristy, and thanks for your notes on your substitutions.
Mae
Made 5 lb bag potatoes and this recipe for church funeral guests and got rave reviews from many! So delicious!
Becca Mills
I’m so glad to hear! I hope they brought comfort to the guests during a hard time. Thanks so much for making them and commenting, Mae!
carrie
No other scalloped potato recipe will be made in this house. This is excellent. I had an oval 10×8 dish and for some reason, it took almost double the time to make. I used 5 potatoes, used a mandoline so they slices were super thin and they came out crunchy. We bombed on our rib roast, so just put these in for another 40 minutes and had that for our late dinner. Was excellent though. I did make the dish 3 hours ahead of time, so maybe the potatoes glued themselves together and created their own insulation. ?? Either way, delicious.
Becca Mills
So glad you loved it, Carrie! Interesting that it took so much longer to bake. Hard to tell if it was the pan size, the prep, or just if there were a lot of other things in the oven baking, too. I’ll try them in an oval pan next time. Thanks so much for making and taking the time to leave a comment!
Suzanne
Best scalloped potatoes recipe ever!!
Becca Mills
Yay! So glad you love them, Suzanne! Thank you!!
Jen Gaiski
This dish is amazing! My family loved it. We served it with a standing rib roast for Christmas dinner. That said, poke the potatoes before serving to make sure they are fully cooked! I followed the recipe and it was not near enough baking time.
Becca Mills
Thanks for the feedback, Jen! Next time you may need to slice the potatoes thinner if possible, but hopefully poking them worked for you too. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Rae Ann Rice
Made this tonight and cut the recipe in 1/2. It is so delicious! Used a mandolin and chicken broth. Making it in a cast iron gave it a wonderful crunch. I will definitely be making this again.
Becca Mills
Thanks so much for sharing – that’s so helpful to note! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it!