Description
This festive Christmas scalloped potatoes recipe features tender yellow potatoes layered in a rich, creamy cheddar cheese sauce infused with shallots, garlic, and fresh thyme. Baked to golden perfection, it’s the perfect comforting and savory side dish for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 2 pounds yellow potatoes, peeled, washed and sliced into 1/8 inch rounds
Cheese
- 1 cup grated Kraft Natural Cheese Sharp Cheddar
Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock (plus 2-3 tbsp for making flour mixture)
- 1 1/4 cups 2% milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (plus more for garnishing)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for baking the dish.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent sticking and set it aside for layering the potatoes.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped shallot and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, ensuring it does not burn. Add the pressed garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to release its aroma.
- Make Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the whole wheat flour with 2-3 tablespoons of the chicken stock to form a smooth slurry. Add this mixture to the skillet with the shallot and garlic, cooking for 1-2 minutes while stirring constantly. Slowly pour in the remaining chicken stock, milk, salt, pepper, and fresh thyme. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook for 2 minutes until it thickens slightly, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
- Layer Potatoes: Arrange half of the sliced potatoes to cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish evenly. Pour half of the creamy sauce over the potatoes and sprinkle with half a cup of grated cheddar cheese. Repeat the layering with the remaining potatoes, sauce, and cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to allow the potatoes to begin cooking and flavors to meld.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 25-30 minutes until the dish is bubbly, golden on top, and the potatoes are tender throughout.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh thyme on top for garnish before serving hot as a deliciously comforting holiday side dish.
Notes
- You can use either chicken or vegetable stock depending on dietary preference.
- Ensure potatoes are sliced evenly to allow for uniform cooking.
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
- Use a sharp cheddar for best flavor impact in the cheese sauce.
- Make sure not to burn the shallots as it will affect the sauce’s taste.
- Let the scalloped potatoes rest for 5-10 minutes after baking for easier serving.
