Description
Creamy, indulgent Loaded Scalloped Potatoes bring comfort and cheesy delight to your dinner table. Layers of tender potatoes, melted cheese, and crispy bacon create a hearty side dish that family and friends will crave with every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) russet potatoes (8–10 medium), peeled and thinly sliced
Cheese Sauce Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (62.5 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups (735 grams) whole milk, room temperature
- 1 cup (113 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (113 grams) mozzarella cheese, shredded
Toppings:
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup chives, chopped
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a mandoline for precise potato slicing, ensuring uniform thickness for even cooking.
- Create a rich sauce base by melting butter in a saucepan, then whisk in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook the mixture for one minute to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Gradually incorporate milk into the roux, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Simmer for 5-8 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove sauce from heat and fold in half of the shredded cheese varieties, stirring until completely melted and smooth.
- Arrange thinly sliced potatoes in overlapping layers within a 12-inch oven-safe skillet, creating an elegant circular pattern.
- Sprinkle most of the crispy bacon pieces over the potato layers, reserving some for final garnish.
- Pour the velvety cheese sauce evenly over the potatoes, ensuring complete coverage and saturation.
- Top with remaining cheese and bacon bits, creating a tempting golden surface.
- Cover the skillet and bake for 60 minutes until potatoes are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Uncover and broil for 2-3 minutes to achieve a crispy, caramelized top with beautiful golden-brown edges.
- Garnish with freshly chopped chives and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately while hot and bubbling.
Notes
- Slice potatoes uniformly using a sharp mandoline for even cooking and consistent texture.
- Control sauce thickness by whisking milk gradually and watching for the right creamy consistency.
- Try different cheese combinations like gruyère or sharp cheddar for deeper flavor profiles.
- Use turkey bacon or omit bacon entirely for vegetarian-friendly version without compromising richness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg