Scalloped potatoes bring warmth and comfort to any meal, making them an undeniable crowd-pleaser. While it’s true that cream, cheese, and potatoes may not be the quickest option on the menu, their potential for flavor and satisfaction makes them well worth the wait. With the need for a convenient and hands-off approach in mind, we’ve crafted a slow cooker adaptation of this beloved dish. This convenient method yields mouthwateringly rich and velvety potatoes with significantly reduced effort, freeing up your oven for other essential components of your meal. Discover a simple recipe that has become a staple in many kitchens – you’ll adore its ease of use and versatility, making it a go-to choice whenever potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to your meal.
Why Our Recipe
- By using a slow cooker, you can achieve maximum convenience while simultaneously freeing up your oven to accommodate a wide range of other culinary creations.
- The slow cooker consistently produces tender, fall-apart potatoes with unparalleled uniformity, ensuring a flawless outcome each and every time.
- To make ahead or use this recipe for a large meal, consider these tips: The dish can be fully prepared up to two days in advance; simply refrigerate or freeze as needed. For larger gatherings, multiply the recipe accordingly and adjust cooking time based on the number of servings. Additionally, prep work such as chopping vegetables and marinating meats can be done well in advance to reduce overall cooking time on the day of serving.
With their golden-brown scallops and rich flavors, scalloped potatoes often appear intimidatingly gourmet. However, with the help of a slow cooker, these creamy, comforting spuds are surprisingly accessible. With mere minutes of preparation and a handful of effortless ingredients, create a comforting side dish that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredient Notes
- Russet potatoes, being starchy and resilient, prove an ideal choice for hearty dishes that require a firmer texture, as they resist becoming mushy even when cooked for several hours. Slice ingredients evenly for optimal results.
- You can substitute heavy cream or whole milk instead, but the sauce won’t be as rich and indulgent if you opt for half-and-half.
- Use high-quality, freshly shredded Parmesan cheese to unlock its full flavour potential and optimal melting performance.
- : Fresh garlic is best. Measure it with your heart.
- While this ingredient is technically optional, we’re inclined to think that a touch more cheese on top is hardly ever amiss.
Slicing the Potatoes
One of the most daunting tasks when preparing scalloped potatoes lies in the initial cutting process itself – effortlessly slicing the potatoes into uniform, delicate rounds can be a challenge many home cooks face. Given the compact nature of these ingredients, that’s precisely why we recommend processing them in a food processor to achieve the desired texture. Simplifying the process takes mere minutes. While a mandolin can work effectively, caution is advised due to the risk of accidental cuts. If you’re without utensils, a knife is still an option, albeit one that requires more time and effort to prepare the ingredients.
Tips for Big Meals
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Elevate your gatherings with Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes, an ideal choice for hosting large groups of family and friends during special occasions like Sunday dinners, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter celebrations. Here are a few simple ways to make your travel experience even more convenient:
Once cooked, switch the slow cooker to warm mode to maintain the potatoes’ heat until serving time. This thoughtful design ensures that food remains warm and inviting at group gatherings like buffets and family reunions, where diverse dishes must be served consistently throughout the event.
You can prepare the potatoes in advance – peel and slice them a day ahead of time. To maintain their freshness and prevent browning, simply store the sliced fruits or vegetables in a bowl filled with cold water in the refrigerator. You can prepare the entire potato mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight for a convenient and stress-free morning. Ready to cook? Simply transfer all ingredients to the slow cooker.
The slow cooker’s ability to free up precious oven space proves a decisive advantage, particularly during the chaos of holiday gatherings. Starting the dish in the morning allows it to simmer quietly as you attend to other culinary tasks, allowing the flavors to meld together harmoniously. By cooking on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, you can adapt your schedule to suit your needs, whether you’re looking to cook with ease over a longer period or need a quicker solution.
: Hosting a crowd? This recipe can be effortlessly scaled up to serve a larger crowd, simply doubling or tripling the ingredients as needed. Ensure that your slow cooker has sufficient capacity to accommodate any increased bulk or consider utilizing multiple units as necessary.
Make-Ahead Hack
The versatility of a slow cooker lies in its ability to keep food warm and ready to serve for an extended period, allowing you to enjoy a meal at your leisure. If your potatoes are cooked ahead of schedule, they can simply sit at a warm temperature until serving time. With a slow cooker setting of either low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, the potatoes will be cooked to perfection, offering flexibility in your cooking schedule.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Stored in an airtight container, these leftovers will remain fresh for up to three days.
Portion the scalloped potatoes into individual servings, then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet to ensure they don’t stick together. Transfer the frozen portions to an airtight container or resealable freezer bag for optimal storage. Stored at -18°C (0°F) for up to three months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator for at least eight hours or overnight before reheating.
In 30-second increments, heat the mixture on high, constantly stirring between each interval to guarantee thorough and uniform heating.
