Stovetop Scalloped Potatoes (so easy!)

You’ll love creamy stovetop scalloped potatoes, prepared in a skillet, bubbling hot and covered with a layer of melted cheddar cheese. Oh, so good!

It’s hard to think of something more delicious than creamy scalloped potatoes! Thinly sliced potatoes, sweet bites of onion, creamy sauce, topped with a layer of sharp cheddar cheese! 

Maybe you love traditional cheesy potatoes, made with frozen potatoes. Consider these skillet scalloped potatoes as cheesy potatoes’ sophisticated big sister. 

Of course, you don’t have to top them with cheddar cheese. Technically, the cheddar cheese makes these scalloped potatoes “au gratin,” but we won’t quibble over the fine points. Stovetop scalloped potatoes are so good, you’ll love them with or without cheese.

Maybe your only experience with scalloped potatoes has been from a box. You know, the one that says “made with 100% real sliced potatoes.” Well, why would you have to make that claim? Because they don’t taste like real potatoes! Take a look at the ingredient list. It’s shocking! You’ll notice that there’s an asterisk by the potatoes. At the end of that list, you find that the potatoes are dried. 

Potatoes*, Enriched Flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Maltodextrin, Corn Starch, Salt, Potassium Phosphate. Contains less than 0.5% of: Monosodium Glutamate, Vegetable Oil (canola and/or partially hydrogenated soybean oil), Potassium Chloride, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Paprika, Whey, Celery*, Onion*, Wheat Starch, Mono and Diglycerides, Soy Flour, Nonfat Milk, Lactic Acid, Yeast Extract, Enzyme Modified Cheddar Cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Calcium Lactate, Spice, Enzyme Modified Cream, Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent), Color (yellow lakes 5 & 6, artificial color), Blue Cheese* (milk, salt, cheese cultures, enzymes), Enzyme Modified Blue Cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Soy Lecithin, Sodium Phosphate. Freshness Preserved by Sodium Bisulfite.     *Dried

Okay, what the what?

Make your own scalloped potatoes with less than 10 ingredients:

• potatoes
• onions
• butter
• cream
• broth
• nutmeg
• salt
• pepper

Wholesome, quick, easy and cheesy! And most importantly, so much more delicious than the boxed version.

You’re going to love this recipe!

About these stovetop scalloped potatoes:

You may be skeptical about making stovetop scalloped potatoes. Traditionally, scalloped potatoes are baked in the oven. I remember my grandma had a special casserole dish she always used for her specialty, scalloped potatoes with ham.

The beauty of this recipe is that you don’t have to turn on the oven. Perfect for warm days, when you don’t want to heat up your kitchen. And instead of baking them for an hour or more, you can have creamy scalloped potatoes in under 30 minutes! 

I bet you’re thinking you’ll have to make a white sauce first! Nope! This recipe is seriously easy. 

Prepare your potatoes: scrub, and slice thinly. If you have a thicker skinned potatoes like Russetts, you’ll want to peel them first. Thin skinned varieties like red or yellow potatoes don’t require peeling, just a good scrub. If you have a mandolin, all the better. You’ll be able to slice the potatoes even more quickly.

Slice an onion into half moons, and you’re ready to get started. Melt a bit of butter in a large skillet, and add the potatoes and onions. Cook for five minutes or so, then add the broth, cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. 

You’re almost done! If you like the idea of cheddar cheese (who wouldn’t?), now’s the time to add the cheese. Sprinkle it right over the top of the potatoes, put the cover back on the pan, and simmer for a few more minutes, until the cheese is nice and melty. 

Turn the burner off, and let the scalloped potatoes rest, 5-10 minutes, to let the sauce settle down and thicken a bit.

This recipe is great because you don’t have to worry about timing everything perfectly. Meat not quite ready? Still have to whip up a salad? Just let the potatoes simmer a little longer, no problem.

Creamy skillet potatoes are perfect as a side dish. Try them with grilled chicken or salmon. Or make a pork roast in your Instant Pot. Serve them with  air fryer breaded pork chops or classic meatloaf. 

How to make these skillet scalloped potatoes your own:

As I mentioned earlier, you can make these scalloped potatoes without cheese, for a more classic dish. Or try some of these variations:

• Use a different variety of cheese such as Gruyère, Swiss, fontina, Asiago, or whatever you like best. 
• Add bacon crumbles or diced ham. 
• Garnish with fresh herbs, such as chopped chives, parsley, or dill.
• Make this dish vegetarian easily by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
• An electric skillet would work great for this recipe. 

Storage and Reheating Tips

If you have leftover scalloped potatoes, cover them well and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave, on the stove, or even in the oven until heated through. Freezing scalloped potatoes isn’t recommended.

Love potatoes?

Economical and versatile, potatoes are amazing in any shape or form! There are so many ways to prepare potatoes. Try some of these awesome recipes:

 

• Crispy Roasted Potatoes – learn how to make the best crispy potatoes!
• Air Fryer French Fries
• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
• Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
• Dill Roasted Potatoes with Lemon
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes – the best way to make mashed potatoes!
• Seasoned Grilled Potatoes 

Verdict: So good, I could eat these for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Husband’s take: Ben doesn’t always love things with creamy sauces, but he looooves these potatoes!
Changes I would make: None! 
Difficulty: Easy!