Creamy Comfort: Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Julia Child’s scalloped potatoes represent the pinnacle of classic French-inspired comfort cuisine.

Layered potato dishes have a magical way of transforming ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary.

Thick, rich cream merges with thinly sliced potatoes, creating a luxurious texture that melts in your mouth.

The golden, crispy top promises a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the silky soft interior.

French culinary techniques elevate this humble side dish into a sophisticated masterpiece that impresses without complicated preparation.

Home cooks can easily recreate this timeless recipe with basic kitchen skills and a few quality ingredients.

Embrace the Classic Elegance of Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes

• Savor Rich Flavor Complexity: Julia Child's scalloped potatoes deliver an incredible depth of taste with layers of Gruyère and Parmesan cheese, creating a luxurious and creamy profile that elevates the humble potato into a gourmet side dish.
• Master Simple Culinary Technique: This recipe offers home cooks an approachable method to create a classic French-inspired dish, requiring minimal technical skills while producing restaurant-quality results with basic kitchen tools like a mandoline or sharp knife.
• Experience Comforting Texture Harmony: Each bite combines velvety smooth potato slices with a golden crispy top, offering a delightful contrast between the tender, cream-infused interior and the beautifully browned surface that creates an irresistible sensory experience.
• Transform Weeknight Dining: Perfect for elegant family dinners or sophisticated gatherings, this dish transforms an ordinary meal into a memorable culinary event, proving that gourmet cooking can be accessible and deliciously simple to prepare.

Essential Ingredients for Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes

• Potatoes: Starchy, waxy potatoes work best for creamy, tender texture. Yukon Gold or Russet varieties are ideal for even cooking.
• Heavy Cream, Whole Milk: Rich dairy base that creates luxurious, smooth sauce and helps potatoes cook evenly.

• Garlic: Adds deep, aromatic flavor to enhance potato dish. Fresh garlic provides best taste.
• Thyme: Classic herb that brings earthy, subtle flavor to the potato mixture.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall taste. Freshly ground pepper recommended.
• Nutmeg: Warm, slightly sweet spice that complements creamy potato dish. Freshly grated nutmeg preferable.

• Gruyère Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Provides rich, nutty flavor and helps create golden, crispy top. Choose high-quality, freshly grated cheeses.
• Unsalted Butter: Used for greasing dish and adding richness to the potato mixture. Room temperature butter works best.

A Complete Guide to Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 350°F. Grab a baking dish (8-inch square works perfectly) and generously coat the inside with creamy butter using a pastry brush or paper towel.

Step 2: Prepare Potato Rounds

Grab your trusty potatoes and peel off the skin. Using a mandoline or super-sharp knife, slice those spuds into delicate 1/8-inch thick rounds. Aim for consistent, elegant slices that will cook evenly.

Step 3: Create Creamy Potato Base

• Heavy cream
• Whole milk
• Unsalted butter
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• Fresh thyme leaves
• 1 salt
• Black pepper
• Pinch of ground nutmeg

Simmer over medium heat, stirring gently. Cook for 5 minutes until potatoes are tender but still maintain their shape.

Step 4: Melt in Cheesy Goodness

• Grated Gruyère cheese
• Grated Parmesan

Fold the cheese in gently until it’s beautifully melted and incorporated.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Transfer the potato mixture into your buttered baking dish. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. You’re looking for a gorgeous golden-brown top and potatoes that are completely tender.

Step 6: Let It Rest and Serve

After removing from the oven, let the scalloped potatoes sit quietly for 10 minutes. This helps the dish set and makes serving easier. Scoop out generous portions and watch your dinner guests swoon!

Pro Hints for Perfecting Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes

• Master Potato Slicing: Grab a sharp knife or mandoline for paper-thin, uniform potato cuts. Consistent thickness guarantees perfect texture and even cooking.
• Flavor-Boosting Pre-Cook: Gently simmer potato slices in cream mixture before baking. This clever technique helps potatoes absorb rich flavors and ensures tender, well-cooked results.
• Strategic Cheese Layering: Create delicious cheese pockets by sprinkling grated cheese between potato layers. Alternating cheese and potatoes maximizes every delectable bite.
• Golden Perfection Baking: Watch your dish carefully to achieve a beautiful golden-brown top. Stop baking when potatoes are tender but not mushy, preserving their delightful texture.
• Resting Magic Technique: Patience transforms your scalloped potatoes from good to extraordinary. Letting the dish rest 10 minutes allows layers to settle and flavors to meld beautifully.

Clever Storage Ideas for Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes

• Freeze: Pack leftover scalloped potatoes in sturdy freezer-safe containers with tight-sealing lids. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and maintain optimal texture. Label containers with date and contents for easy tracking. Potatoes can withstand freezing for up to 3 months without significant flavor or quality loss.
• Refrigerate: Cool dishes completely before storing to prevent bacterial growth. Transfer to shallow, airtight containers that prevent moisture and odor absorption. Position containers in the coldest part of the refrigerator, typically the back shelf. Consume refrigerated scalloped potatoes within 3-4 days for best taste and safety.
• Reheat: Restore crispy edges and creamy center by thawing overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350°F and cover dish with aluminum foil to prevent excessive drying.

Creative Variations for Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes

• Herb Garden Scalloped Potatoes: Enhance the dish by adding a blend of fresh rosemary, sage, and oregano for a vibrant, aromatic flavor profile that brings garden-fresh excitement to the classic recipe.
• Smoky Bacon Infusion: Crisp up diced bacon and layer it between potato slices, adding a rich, smoky dimension that complements the creamy cheese and creates a more indulgent side dish.
• Spicy Jalapeño Kick: Incorporate finely chopped jalapeños and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper to give the scalloped potatoes a zesty, warming heat that transforms the traditional comfort food.
• Mushroom Lovers' Version: Mix in sautéed wild mushrooms like shiitake or porcini between potato layers, introducing an earthy depth and umami richness to the creamy potato casserole.

A Memorable Ending for Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes

Potato perfection reflects Julia Child’s culinary mastery, combining classic French techniques with comforting American warmth.

French cream and nutmeg elevate humble potatoes into an extraordinary side dish that whispers gourmet sophistication.

Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses create a luxurious melted blanket over tender potato rounds, promising rich flavor in each magical bite.

Hearty yet elegant, this recipe connects home cooks with legendary culinary traditions through simple, beautiful ingredients.

Kitchen magic happens when high-quality components meet careful technique, transforming ordinary ingredients into something memorable.

Passionate cooks: dive into this recipe, share your delicious results, spark conversations about classic cuisine, and inspire fellow culinary adventurers with your kitchen creativity.

Julia Child Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

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4.7 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Julia Child’s classic French scalloped potatoes deliver pure comfort on a plate. Layers of thinly sliced potatoes mingle with rich cream, delicate cheese, and aromatic herbs, creating a luxurious side dish you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 medium russet potatoes (about 2 pounds / 907 grams)
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream (355 milliliters)
• ½ cup whole milk (120 milliliters)

Cheese:

• 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese (about 4 ounces / 113 grams)
• ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 ½ ounces / 43 grams)

Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (30 grams), plus more for greasing the baking dish
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F (177°C), then generously coat an 8-inch square baking dish with unsalted butter, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Carefully peel potatoes and create uniform 1/8-inch-thick rounds using a mandoline or precision knife, maintaining consistent thickness for even cooking.
3. Combine sliced potatoes with heavy cream, whole milk, butter, minced garlic, fresh thyme leaves, salt, black pepper, and ground nutmeg in a medium saucepan, creating a rich, aromatic base.
4. Place the saucepan over medium heat, gently stirring the mixture to prevent scorching and allow flavors to meld together, cooking until potatoes become slightly tender but retain their structural integrity, approximately 5-6 minutes.
5. Remove the saucepan from heat and delicately fold in grated Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses, ensuring even distribution and creating a smooth, creamy texture.
6. Transfer the potato and cheese mixture into the prepared buttered baking dish, spreading evenly to create a uniform layer.
7. Position the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, monitoring until the surface develops a golden-brown crust and potatoes become completely tender when pierced with a fork.
8. After removing from the oven, allow the scalloped potatoes to rest for 10-12 minutes, enabling the dish to set and flavors to stabilize before serving.

Notes

• Master the Knife Skills: Precision matters when cutting potatoes into paper-thin, consistent slices that guarantee uniform cooking and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Infuse Creamy Flavors: Gently simmer potato slices in the luxurious cream mixture before baking, allowing them to absorb rich seasonings and become supremely tender.
• Create Cheesy Layers: Strategically stack potato slices with generous cheese sprinklings between each layer, ensuring every bite bursts with intense, melty goodness.
• Watch Baking Carefully: Golden-brown tops and perfectly tender potatoes signal the ideal moment to remove from the oven, preventing dry or mushy results.
• Give Flavors Time: Letting the dish rest transforms individual ingredients into a harmonious, cohesive masterpiece with deeper, more developed taste profiles.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Dinner, Side Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 455 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 370 mg
• Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 21 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg