How To Make the Very Best Cheesy Potatoes
An easy homemade version of the classic comforting side dish, in which tender boiled potatoes are tossed in a creamy cheese sauce and baked until warm and bubbling.
Serves8
Prep20 minutes
Cook1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes
Few can resist the comforting combination of tender potatoes and warm, bubbling cheese — which is why this cheesy potato casserole deserves a spot on everyone’s table this spring. Whether you’re hosting Easter brunch or simply making Sunday dinner for the family, it’s sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike. Here’s how to make it.
What Are Cheesy Potatoes — And What Makes These the Best?
Cheesy potatoes — often called funeral potatoes — are cooked potatoes tossed in a creamy cheese sauce and baked until golden and bubbly. Unlike scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin, in which the potatoes are thinly sliced and shingled, cheesy potato casseroles feature cubed or shredded ‘taters.
The majority of cheesy potato recipes start with a bag of frozen hash brown potatoes and a can of cream of chicken soup. I tried, many times, to make a version of cheesy potatoes using those shortcuts that I would be proud to bring to the table. But none excited me nearly as much as this homemade version.
These cheesy potatoes require a few extra steps — boiling potatoes and making a quick cream of condensed soup from scratch — but the results are well worth it. The potatoes are creamy and tender (but not mushy), the sauce is rich and velvety (but not laden with sodium or preservatives), and the entire thing is so much more flavorful, thanks to sautéed scallions and garlic and lots of freshly ground black pepper.
To dirty as few dishes as possible, get the potatoes boiling right away, then chop the scallions and garlic and grate the cheese as the potatoes are cooking. After you drain the potatoes, cook the sauce in the now-empty pot.
How Do I Make Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup?
To make cream of chicken soup from scratch, you’ll start by making a roux: stirring flour into melted butter over medium heat until thick and fragrant. (In this recipe, scallion whites and garlic are cooked directly in the butter before the flour is added to boost the flavor of the casserole). Then, you’ll whisk in chicken stock (use vegetable stock for a vegetarian casserole) and whole milk and let the mixture simmer until it thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and that’s it!
For cheesy potatoes, the homemade condensed soup acts as the base for our sauce; all that’s left to do is add sour cream and grated cheese.
What’s the Best Topping for Cheesy Potatoes?
Although it’s entirely optional, I love the crunch (and color) that a cornflake topping adds. To make it, you’ll toss together cornflakes, melted butter, scallion greens, and cheese. If you’re in a hurry, you can simply scatter some extra cheese on top of your casserole for an equally delicious result.
Cheesy Potatoes
An easy homemade version of the classic comforting side dish, in which tender boiled potatoes are tossed in a creamy cheese sauce and baked until warm and bubbling.
Prep time 20 minutes
Cook time 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes
Serves 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the potatoes:
- 3 pounds
russet potatoes (about 6 medium), peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (about 8 cups)
- 1 tablespoon
plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 4 tablespoons
unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the baking dish
- 4
medium scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts divided
- 4 cloves
garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup
all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup
low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 cup
whole milk
- 1 cup
sour cream (8 ounces)
- 1/2 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups
grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounces), divided
For the cornflake topping:
- 2 cups
cornflakes cereal, crushed
- 4 tablespoons
unsalted butter, melted
Equipment
9x13-inch baking dish
Large saucepan
Wooden spoon
Whisk
Colander
Measuring cups and spoons
Knife and cutting board
Cheese grater
Instructions
Grease the casserole dish. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter; set aside.
Boil the potatoes. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and add enough cold water just to cover. Add 1 tablespoon of the salt. Cover and bring to a rolling boil over high heat, about 10 minutes. Uncover and continue to boil until the potatoes are tender but not falling apart, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain.
Cook the aromatics. Melt the 4 tablespoons butter in the now-empty pot over medium heat. Add the scallion whites and cook until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
Add the flour. Add the flour and stir until light golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Whisk in broth and milk, then simmer. While whisking constantly, slowly pour in the broth, followed by the milk. Bring to a simmer. Continue to cook, stirring continuously, until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Whisk in the sour cream, cheese, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the sour cream, pepper, 1 1/2 cups of the cheese, and remaining 2 teaspoons salt.
Add the potatoes. Add the drained potatoes and stir to coat. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Make the cornflake topping. Toss together the cornflakes, melted butter, scallion greens, and remaining 1/2 cup cheese in a medium bowl.
Scatter the topping over the potatoes. Scatter the cornflake topping evenly over the potatoes.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes. Bake until the center of the casserole is bubbling and the cheese is melted and beginning to brown in spots, 45 to 50 minutes.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
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