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Scalloped Potatoes With Caramelized Onions

by:
April  5, 2022
4.6
14 Ratings
Photo by Julia Gartland. Food stylist: Anna Billingskog. Prop stylist: Amanda Widis.
  • Prep time 30 minutes
  • Cook time 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Serves 6 to 8
Author Notes

These scal­loped pota­toes were a hit on Easter Sun­day with friends and fam­ily, so why not Thanksgiving? These are not your aver­age scal­loped pota­toes, as there are deli­cious caramelized onions lay­ered in between the sliced pota­toes and cheese. A lighter ver­sion can be made with milk and a béchamel sauce instead of the whip­ping cream; see the direc­tions at the end of the recipe. You can also double the recipe if you have lots of guests, making the potatoes in 2 (12x8-inch) casseroles.

Thanksgiving 2020 Update:

I was a finalist in the 2013 recipe contest, “Your Best Potato Recipe,” with my recipe for Scalloped Potatoes With Caramelized Onions. It doesn’t seem so long ago, but the world is a very different place now. What hasn’t changed is my love for this comfort dish; seven years later, I still make it a few times a year. What has changed is who is at the dinner party or holiday meal.

The last time I made it was this past summer, for my husband and me plus two close friends of ours—it’s a favorite dish of theirs. We felt safe with them after not having invited anyone into the house in months, a bizarre reality. We’ve already had the conversation regarding Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at our place and the email we will have to send out pre-arrival to confirm no one has symptoms of COVID-19, nor anyone they have had contact with recently.

Cooking and baking have always been a comfort to me, and I’ve been doing a lot more of it through the pandemic lockdown. In almost a desperate way we ran around to grocery stores finding ingredients like flour, sugar, and yeast to feed that comfort. Many others did the same, some baking for the first time, experiencing that neat feeling of accomplishment in the finished product and sharing it with their lockdown companions.

In times like this, the one constant we have is food. It’s a wonderful positive way to bring comfort to your loved ones with a familiar well-loved recipe or excitement in trying something new. How lucky are those who have just discovered this age old craft, a sweet positive during this trying time in the world. —Katheryn's Kitchen

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Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil
  • 1 large Spanish or yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 large Yukon Gold potatoes (2 to 3 pounds), peeled
  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 whole peppercorns
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese, divided
Directions
  1. In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, warm the oil. Cook the onion, stir­ring often, for about 45 minutes, until light brown. Meanwhile, slice the pota­toes as thinly as pos­si­ble (use a man­do­line if avail­able).
  2. Heat the oven to 300°F. In medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream, gar­lic, pep­per­corns, thyme, and salt to just under a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and sim­mer for 15 min­utes. Remove from the heat; set aside.
  3. Layer one-quarter of the pota­toes in greased 12x8-inch glass bak­ing or casse­role dish; top with one-third of the onion and one-quarter of the cheese. Repeat twice. Top with the remain­ing pota­toes. Strain the reserved cream mix­ture over the pota­toes, shak­ing the pan to dis­trib­ute evenly. Sprin­kle with the remain­ing cheese.
  4. Place the pan on a baking sheet (to catch drips) and bake for 1½ to 2 hours, until ten­der and a knife inserted into the dish pierces the pota­toes eas­ily.
  5. Do Ahead: The casserole can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Reheat, tented with foil, in a 375°F oven for 30 minutes.
  6. Tip: For a lighter ver­sion, steep the gar­lic, pep­per­corns, thyme, and salt in 2 cups (500 milliliters) milk. Then make the béchamel sauce: Melt 2 tablespoons but­ter over medium-low heat. Add 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Cook, stir­ring, for 1 minute. Whisk in the strained milk mix­ture and sim­mer for 5 min­utes, until slightly thickened. Pour over the pota­toes.
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54 Reviews

Write a Review
rani March 31, 2024
amazing !!!!! time spent cartelizing onions was worth it
suzieq12 December 29, 2022
I’m having guests for dinner who do not eat any cheese. Do you think this dish would work without it?
Thank you !
Katheryn's K. December 29, 2022
Sure, just season extra well and maybe caramelize extra onions to sprinkle on top or make crispy fried onions to sprinkle on top.
Katheryn's K. December 29, 2022
I’ve also added a little horseradish to potatoes in the past for a little zing. You could also alternate with sweet potato for extra flavour.
Jenluv November 23, 2022
My favorite I’ve made this for years it’s so simple and so delicious!
Noel December 1, 2021
These potatoes were super easy to make and a huge hit at Thanksgiving. Instead of using just Gruyère, I used half an aged Gouda with Gruyère. I think with just the Gruyère would have been great as is, but I was feeling adventurous with my cheese mixing. Would 100% make again!
Miss_Karen November 16, 2021
This is very similar to a recipe I already make. Both are scrumptious! The main difference is I use smoked Gruyere and chopped bacon. Sometimes I use leeks instead of onions.
Kitchen C. October 26, 2021
Best scalloped potatoes I’ve ever made. You should have won the contest! <3
Katheryn's K. October 26, 2021
Thank you so much! It makes me happy people are still enjoying the recipe so many years along. I think I posted the recipe in 2013. Thanks again.
Sb55 November 25, 2020
Hi! Making this tomorrow! Can you please clarify number 3? Cook oil and onion for 45min? Do I add the potatoes to this too? Thank you!
Meisen November 25, 2020
The onions are caramelized by themselves. The raw potatoes are layered with the onions and cheese and cook in the oven.
Sb55 November 26, 2020
To clarify cook onions in oil for 45min?
jennygallo November 21, 2020
I'm wondering about adding peas. Any advise or thoughts?
Katheryn's K. November 21, 2020
I would never have thought of adding peas but they would go well with caramelized onions, maybe add at the same time you add the onion layer, I mean why not, I love peas!
jennygallo November 21, 2020
Thank you for the swift reply! Trying on Thanksgiving :)
Katheryn's K. November 21, 2020
Happy Thanksgiving!
jennygallo November 27, 2020
Your recipe was SO good! Love the impact of the infused cream. And the peas worked great. I sprinkled them over the onions in each layer .... maybe 1 1/4 cup in total. I think I'd do this with frozen drained spinach or chopped kale too another time. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Katheryn's K. November 27, 2020
So happy you enjoyed it and I'm not surprised the peas tasted delicious, great idea! I would saute fresh spinach or kale and season first before adding to the potatoes, will add more flavour perhaps but up to you. Thanks for leaving this message, very kind of you.
Karen G. December 23, 2019
Has anybody used russet potatoes instead of Yukon gold? Do you think it would be okay? I just bought 6 lbs. for mashed potatoes, but I think this sounds so much better!
Katheryn's K. December 23, 2019
Hi! They may fall apart more easily than the Yukon gold. I would use them but maybe cut a little thicker so they hold up and try not to overcook. I cut these super thin when using yellow potatoes.
Karen G. December 23, 2019
Thank you for your quick response. I’ll definitely try the thicker cut on the russet potatoes.
Olga L. November 23, 2018
This was the 🌟 of dinner yesterday. I made it in individual shallow cast iron skillets, but otherwise mostly stayed with the recipe. I would double the caramelized onion next time. Also, I ran it at 350 cause I don't have double ovens, and it was totally fine - done in about 1 HR 15 min on the lower rack (turkey breast was up top). A friend said that their family does scalloped potatoes for xmas every year and it's the first time he had a version that beats theirs hands down.
Peggy G. February 27, 2018
Top With Caramelized Bacon before baking or halfway thru baking so it does not get too crispy.
Katheryn's K. February 27, 2018
Nice idea!
Busy M. February 13, 2016
Ok this is absolutely phenomenal. Comes together quickly, easily customizable (I used goat milk and manchego for my cow allergic kid, added ham), toss a salad while it bakes and dinner is ready! Totally my go to scalloped potato recipe forevermore.
Katheryn's K. February 13, 2016
Busy Mama thank you so much! I love it when people adjust written recipes to their specifications and likes, I do the same all the time. A recipe is just something to reference as far as I am concerned.
Mae October 26, 2015
The cream sauce is fantastic! I made it with almond milk, followed the instructions on the bottom. I also used more cheese than the recipe calls for, maybe another 1/2 cup. It was just me and my boyfriend, and he doesn't like onions. He told me he likes caramelized onions, but he picked them out of this. I'd give it five stars though!
allans April 8, 2015
Made this for some picky eaters on Easter. Big hit! Everyone had seconds.
shoestringmama December 1, 2014
Made these for Thanksgiving and they were awesome! I should have doubled the recipe as they were that good. I used sweet onions and would double those next time just because they whittled down so much ... but man were these ever good and got rave reviews - thank you for sharing. SO worth making!
sheila M. April 14, 2014
Yes, I know, I google recipes with the onions caramelized to see if anyone had ever done it.
sheila M. April 14, 2014
Great, I was wondering if you could caramelize the onions - it could only improve the flavour. I will double this for Easter. I may also add browned sliced mushrooms.
Katheryn's K. April 14, 2014
Actually the recipe does call for the onions to be caramelized- adding mushrooms might be nice too, I love mushrooms.
Sam S. December 30, 2013
Made this for Christmas dinner and it was a huge hit! Will definitly be adding this recipe to my favorites book! I doubled the recipe so we could have leftovers and it was even better the 2nd time around.
Katheryn's K. December 30, 2013
Thanks Sam, I'm so happy you and your family enjoyed the potatoes! I really appreciate your comments. Happy New Year! Katheryn :))))
Katheryn's K. December 18, 2013
Daniela- there are definitely no eggs in this recipe-it will not turn out with eggs-will curdle -sorry
Beatriz-Translated last paragraph for ligher version is:For a lighter ver­sion, steep gar­lic, pep­per­corns, thyme, and salt in 2 cups of (500 mL) milk. Then make béchamel sauce: In saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons but­ter over medium-low heat. Add 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Cook, stir­ring, for 1 minute. Whisk in strained milk mix­ture, and sim­mer everything for 5 min­utes until slightly thickened. Pour over pota­toes.
Beatriz December 15, 2013
Hope someone could translate into English (sorry).
Step 6. For the ligntest version: Add garlic, peppercorns, thyme and salt "a un plato con uno o dos huevos batidos. Pasar todo por la batidora. Echarlo por encima a la fuente donde están las papas, cebollas y queso. Meterlo al horno, vigilando para que no se queme (puede taparse con papel de aluminio).
Many thanks
Daniela B. December 18, 2013
Traslated:
Step 6. for a lighter version: In a stand mixer or blender place one or two eggs, garlic, freshly ground black pepper, thyme. Pulse to combine. Pour the mixture on the potatoes, onion and cheese. Bake. Cover with foil if it gets too brown on top.