This recipe for Grandpa’s Scalloped Potatoes is proudly sponsored by Cabot Cheese Creamery. We appreciate your support for brands that help bring delicious content to our kitchen.
Grandpa’s Scalloped Potatoes: A Timeless Family Tradition and the Ultimate Comfort Food
Hello, culinary adventurers and comfort food enthusiasts! As the holiday season approaches, many of us are reflecting on traditions, family, and the meals that bring us together. This year, gatherings might look a little different, perhaps smaller or enjoyed from a distance. Yet, the craving for heartwarming, familiar dishes remains stronger than ever. That’s precisely why I’m thrilled to share a cherished family recipe that has graced our holiday tables for generations: Grandpa’s Scalloped Potatoes. This dish isn’t just food; it’s a legacy, a comforting hug in a baking dish, and an absolute staple for my husband – and increasingly, for me too!
Preserving a Legacy: Learning Grandpa’s Scalloped Potato Secret
Like many families today, ours navigates the distances that separate loved ones. My husband’s family lives a good six hours away, making spontaneous visits a challenge, particularly during unpredictable times. This past summer, seizing a window when travel felt safer, we made the journey to visit the grandparents, knowing that the winter months might bring renewed restrictions. During that precious visit, I made it my mission to uncover the culinary magic behind my father-in-law’s legendary scalloped potatoes. These weren’t just any scalloped potatoes; they were *the* family favorite, a dish spoken of with reverence and devoured with glee. I simply had to learn the secret to this utterly comforting dish to ensure its tradition continued within our home.
The Heart of Comfort: Unveiling the Cheesy Goodness with Cabot
What’s the universal truth about almost every truly exceptional comfort food? It’s often brimming with cheese! In our household, that means one thing: Cabot Cheese. It’s our absolute favorite cheddar, and honestly, the only one we consistently use. Thankfully, my father-in-law shares this discerning taste. He had plenty of Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese on hand for our scalloped potato masterclass, which was perfect because its robust flavor stands up beautifully in such a rich dish. Cabot cheddars are not new to our kitchen or this blog; we’ve featured them in countless recipes, from our savory Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburgers to elegant cheese boards for effortless entertaining, and even in this delightful easy asparagus cheese tart. Its consistent quality and incredible taste make it an indispensable ingredient in our home.
Grandpa’s Scalloped Potatoes are a luxurious casserole featuring thinly sliced potatoes, enveloped in a rich, creamy base, and crowned with a golden, bubbly cheese topping. His secret weapon for starting this dish is a deeply flavorful roux. He begins with butter and flour, building a foundation before adding cheese and his signature blend of spices. But the true game-changers, the elements that truly set his recipe apart, are a generous dollop of mayonnaise and a sprinkle of ranch seasoning. These additions create an unparalleled depth of flavor and a silky texture that you simply won’t find in traditional recipes. Furthermore, he opts for chicken broth instead of heavy cream for the base, a clever move that lightens the dish slightly without compromising on its rich, savory profile. This thoughtful substitution ensures that every bite is satisfying yet never overly heavy.
Versatility and Perfecting Your Scalloped Potatoes
While this scalloped potatoes recipe can certainly incorporate ham, it’s entirely optional. We’ve enjoyed it both with and without, and for those like myself who don’t eat pork, turkey ham makes an excellent substitute (a consideration my thoughtful father-in-law always makes). Regardless of your preference, whether you choose to add a smoky, savory layer of ham or keep it vegetarian, this recipe consistently delivers outstanding results. The key to perfect scalloped potatoes lies in the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture of the potatoes, contrasted with their slightly crisp, golden-brown edges. Each forkful is baked in that incredible creamy, cheesy sauce, resulting in an ooey-gooey, utterly comforting experience – exactly what a cheesy carbohydrate bake should be. As we gather, even if in smaller numbers, and seek solace in familiar flavors this holiday season, I wholeheartedly encourage you to try my kids’ Grandpa’s Scalloped Potatoes recipe. It promises a taste of home and won’t disappoint.
Tips for Success: Achieving Scalloped Potato Perfection
To truly master Grandpa’s Scalloped Potatoes, a few tips can make all the difference. First, potato choice matters. Russet potatoes are excellent for their starch content, which helps thicken the sauce, but Yukon Golds also work beautifully, offering a slightly creamier texture. The slicing technique is crucial; aim for uniform, thin slices, about 1/8 inch thick, to ensure even cooking. A mandoline slicer can be a great investment for this task, saving time and ensuring consistency. When layering, don’t be shy – build those layers, ensuring each potato slice gets coated in the rich sauce and cheese. Covering the dish with foil for most of the baking time is essential to steam the potatoes to tenderness before removing it to allow the top to brown and crisp up. If you like a deeply golden, almost caramelized top, a quick broiler finish for a minute or two at the end can create that perfect crunch. Finally, allowing the dish to rest for at least 10-15 minutes after baking lets the sauce set, making for cleaner slices and preventing a soupy outcome. This resting period is often overlooked but truly elevates the final presentation and texture.
Learning this recipe from my father-in-law was more than just a cooking lesson; it was a beautiful experience filled with laughter and shared stories. Recreating it for my family and witnessing the nostalgic joy it brought to my husband, along with the enthusiastic requests for seconds from my children, felt like an immeasurable win. It’s a testament to the power of food to create and preserve cherished memories, especially during these unique times.
Happy Baking, and may your kitchen be filled with the warmth and delicious aromas of family traditions!
For more inspiring recipe ideas and culinary adventures, be sure to visit Cabot Cheese and connect with them on social media. You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for endless cheesy inspiration!
Grandpa’s Scalloped Potatoes
Our family’s favorite comfort food is Grandpa’s Scalloped Potatoes that are tender, crispy, and cheesy goodness.
30 minutes
2 hours
2 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 6 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1/2 cup shredded Cabot cheddar cheese, and more for sprinkling
- 2 cups diced ham (optional, you can use turkey ham too)
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cups broth (vegetable or chicken)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- A pinch of smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a greased 2 ½ quarts baking dish, layer the potato slices, then onions, ham (if using), and cheese. Repeat until you use all the slices of potatoes.
- In a small saucepan set over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour into the melted butter and stir until smooth.
- Gradually add in the broth, garlic, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Simmer over medium heat, stirring for two minutes or until thick and bubbly.
- Pour mixture over the potatoes. Sprinkle with paprika and more cheese. You can also sprinkle on more ham at this point.
- Cover with foil and bake for about 2 hours or until potatoes are tender and bubbling. Remove foil cover for the last 20 minutes to brown the surface, if desired. You can also broil for 2 minutes.
- Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Recommended Products
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- Spring Chef Professional Box Grater
- Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set (3-Piece)
- Ceramic Baking Dish Baking Pan, Casserole Dish
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