Grandma's "OLD SCHOOL" Scalloped Potato Casserole - 52 Church PotLuck "Old School" Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I slice potatoes ahead of time for scalloped potatoes? ›

If raw, once the potato is cut you can store in the refrigerator, covered with water for 12-24 hours. Be sure to keep submerged in water to prevent slices from turning gray or brown.

To make this dish, layer scalloped potatoes, canned tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese in a baking dish. If you're after a lasagne-like flavor, add in other ingredients, like ricotta cheese, fresh spinach, and olives. Flavoring the mix is a cinch if you start with canned tomatoes that already come with Italian seasoning.

Mix 4 packets potatoes, 4 packets sauce mix, 8 cups boiling water and 1/2 cup butter in an ungreased 6 quart casserole dish (dutch oven works also). Stir in 3 cups milk. Bake uncovered for 50-55 minutes or until top is golden brown and potatoes are tender.

Surprisingly, aluminum foil is his secret weapon. After beautifully shingling the potatoes (he's got a genius trick for doing this quickly, too) he covers the dish in foil before hitting the oven.

Tips and Tricks for the Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes recipe: Soak the potatoes in water. This is a step that grandma always did; she said it was to prevent the potatoes from browning or oxidizing.

My scalloped potatoes are bland

They are also in need of serious seasoning to ensure deliciousness. Make sure your sauce is well-seasoned, but also, season each layer of potatoes with salt and pepper before adding the sauce, to make sure they are as flavorful as you want them!

Pour milk over the top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are fork tender, about 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until cheese is bubbly and begins to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

Bake: Place the dish with the scalloped potatoes in the preheated oven. Bake according to the instructions provided on the packaging, which is usually around 30–40 minutes. Always refer to the specific time and temperature recommendations provided with your product.

The curdling is caused by high heat, which is hard to avoid in an oven. So to keep the sauce together, tackle it before the dish goes in the oven.

Starchy side dishes and casseroles: a 9 X 13 pan makes about 12 one cup servings. A 2 quart casserole will make 6 to 8 cups. A typical serving size for potatoes, stuffing, and yams is 1 cup. However, if you are having more than four sides most people will only eat 1/2 cup.

What's the difference between scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes in a box? ›

The difference comes down to cheese. Scalloped potato recipes are usually baked in a basic cream sauce until soft and tender, with no cheese topping. Potatoes au gratin are a bit more decadent. They are made with lots of cheese sprinkled in between the layers of potatoes and also on top of the casserole.

Start by slicing the potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick slices. You could use a mandoline slicer for this step, but I actually prefer to do it with a knife. Just be careful to slice the potatoes thinly and evenly so that they cook through at the same rate.

Peeled, sliced, submerged, and refrigerated potatoes should be cooked within 24 hours. Another thing to consider is the size of your slice. The smaller the potato piece—i.e., a dice versus a wedge—the more quickly it will oxidize, which means small pieces should be stored for less time.

Soak them in water

The best (and most popular) way to keep cut potatoes from turning brown is to completely submerge them in a bowl of water. Store the water-covered potatoes in a bowl in the refrigerator until you're ready to use them, up to one day in advance.

Make-Ahead Option #1: Prepare the sauce and potatoes, add to the casserole dish, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate. This can be done up to two days in advance. When you're ready to cook, sprinkle the cheese on top and bake as directed.