I make these cheesy scalloped potatoes every year on Thanksgiving instead of mashed potatoes. I’ll never go back.
Thanksgiving traditions often revolve around classic dishes, and for many, mashed potatoes are a non-negotiable staple. However, one food enthusiast has taken a bold stance, opting for cheesy scalloped potatoes with caramelized onions instead. This delightful twist on a holiday favorite comes from the popular cooking blog Half Baked Harvest, created by cookbook author Tieghan Gerard. The author shares their personal journey of culinary preference, revealing how they have ditched the traditional mashed potatoes in favor of this rich, flavorful dish for over five years. With the rising costs of hosting Thanksgiving—estimated at $431 this year according to WalletHub—it’s essential to make every dish count, and scalloped potatoes certainly deliver on taste and presentation.
The recipe itself is an inviting blend of creamy and crispy textures. Starting with Yukon Gold potatoes, the process includes thinly slicing the potatoes and caramelizing onions in butter, enhanced by a splash of dry white wine for depth. This mixture is then layered with a creamy concoction of heavy cream, milk, and Gruyere cheese, along with seasonings like cayenne and fresh thyme. The assembly of the dish involves multiple layers of potatoes, onions, and the luscious milk mixture, all baked for two hours before being crowned with cheddar cheese for a golden, crispy finish. The end result is a visually stunning dish with a savory crust that elevates the humble potato to new heights, making it a standout at any Thanksgiving table.
The author’s experience with this recipe has been overwhelmingly positive, with rave reviews from friends and family who agree that these scalloped potatoes surpass traditional mashed potatoes. The combination of flavors—the sweetness of the caramelized onions, the creaminess of the layered potatoes, and the crunch of the cheesy top—creates a harmonious balance that is often missing in more conventional potato dishes. While some may remain steadfast in their love for mashed potatoes, this recipe offers a compelling alternative that could very well become the new Thanksgiving tradition for those willing to embrace it. So, if you’re looking to impress your guests this holiday season, consider trying these cheesy scalloped potatoes; they might just steal the show!
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, but I much prefer this Half Baked Harvest recipe for cheesy scalloped potatoes with caramelized onions.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I grew up eating
mashed potatoes
yearly on
Thanksgiving,
but secretly preferred scalloped potatoes.
We’ve been making these cheesy scalloped potatoes and skipping the mashed potatoes for years now.
The crispy cheese crust and creamy layers of potato make this one of my favorite recipes.
I’ve never been a fan of huge mashed potatoes on
Thanksgiving
or any other day.
Shirking what many would call a Thanksgiving staple, I’ve made scalloped potatoes — or potatoes au gratin — for the past five-plus years instead.
Thanksgiving purists may not believe me, but the texture and flavor are far superior to even the best mashed-potato recipe. Plus, with the average cost of hosting Thanksgiving this year reaching $431, according to a recent
WalletHub
report, I want to make every dish count.
I’ve followed several different recipes, but
Half Baked Harvest
, run by cookbook author Tieghan Gerard, has a recipe for cheesy scalloped potatoes with caramelized onions that has become a go-to on practically every holiday.
Here’s how to make it yourself.
I started by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and thinly slicing about six yellow-gold potatoes.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The recipe recommends either russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, but I opted for Yukon Gold potatoes.
You can find the full Half Baked Harvest recipe and ingredient list
here
.
After thinly slicing a small yellow onion, I added 2 tablespoons of butter and the onions to a cast-iron pan.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I cooked the onions on medium-high heat until they became golden brown and caramelized.
After about 10 minutes of cooking, and stirring frequently, I added a quarter cup of dry white wine to the pan.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The wine helped to speed up the caramelization of the onions, creating a heavenly scent in my kitchen.
Then I tossed in a clove of sliced garlic and a tablespoon of chopped fresh thyme.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I cooked the garlic, thyme, and caramelized onions together for two more minutes before removing the pan from the heat.
Next, I greased a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter and set it aside.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The butter ensures that your scalloped potatoes won’t stick to the pan, of course.
I started assembling the scalloped potatoes by pouring a third of the milk mixture into the bottom of the pan.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The milk mix is made with 2 cups of heavy cream, 1 cup of whole milk, a pinch of cayenne, salt, pepper, and a ¾ cup of shredded Gruyere cheese.
I followed the recipe’s instructions on how to layer the potatoes, onions, and milk mix.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The first layer of potatoes should use up a third of the sliced potatoes, topped with half of the caramelized onions and garlic. Then, I added another third of the milk mixture, followed by another third of the potatoes, and then the remaining onions.
I then placed the remaining potatoes in an even layer and poured the remaining mixture over the top.
I covered the dish in foil and cooked it in the oven for two hours.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
After two hours, the potatoes were almost done cooking and the milk mixture was bubbling.
I finished the scalloped potatoes by layering about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top and popping it back into the oven.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
You can grate your own cheddar or Gruyere cheese for this recipe, or opt for store-bought, already-shredded cheese to make Thanksgiving day easier.
After another 20 minutes uncovered in the oven, the potatoes had developed a deep golden crust on top. I wish you could smell this dish.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I topped the finished scalloped potatoes with another tablespoon of fresh thyme.
These potatoes were a major hit with my roommates, and we all agreed they were better than any mashed potatoes we’ve ever had.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The potatoes had a delicious, savory crust on the top, and the caramelized onions added a lot of dynamic flavor to the dish.
The creamy layers of the potatoes complemented the crispy texture of the crust, creating a perfect balance of texture and flavor — something I’ve never experienced with grainy or bland mashed potatoes that, frankly, resemble baby food.
While I know some will never agree with my hot take that mashed potatoes have no place on the Thanksgiving dinner table, I’m perfectly content as long as I’m eating
these
scalloped potatoes.
Read the original article on
Business Insider
