Every time we post this Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes video, the comments go wild. Did we call it by the wrong name? Isn’t this recipe really au gratin because it contains cheese? Here’s the whole spud story!
What Is the Difference Between Scalloped Potatoes and Au Gratin Potatoes?
It boils down to whether you’re using cheese or not. Like many culinary terms, the phrase au gratin derives from a French word that means something similar to “scrapings.” According to the Oxford Companion to Food, gratin simply refers to a crisply baked top. That crusty top is often achieved by grated cheese and/or breadcrumbs.
But scalloped potatoes, on the other hand, are a bit more mysterious. Were the potatoes originally cooked in scallop shells? Perhaps the thickly-sliced potatoes simply resembled sea scallops as they cooked. No matter where the word came from, most people seem to agree that a scalloped dish involves a vegetable cooked in cream with a bread crumb topping. Whether or not it has cheese is up for debate.
To Cheese or Not To Cheese
Because Americans love to put cheese on everything, the dishes have essentially become interchangeable. So, really, either dish could have a cheesy bread crumb topping! Still, the modern, acceptable difference between the two is that au gratin potatoes have cheese whereas scalloped potatoes are simply potatoes cooked in cream.
To make things more complicated, Julia Child’s famous Scalloped Potatoes recipe is translated from a French recipe called Gratin Dauphinois. It contains cheese but no breadcrumbs! So, maybe the difference between the two is simply a case of mistaken identity.
For the sake of argument, we’ll summarize it in this way:
Scalloped Potatoes
- Thinly sliced potatoes cooked in a casserole dish
- Always cooked in a cream sauce
- Sometimes contains cheese
- Almost always contain a breadcrumb topping
Here’s our recipe for Never-Fail Scalloped Potatoes.
Au Gratin Potatoes
- Thinly sliced potatoes cooked in a casserole dish
- Often cooked in a cream sauce
- Always cooked with cheese
- Sometimes contain a breadcrumb topping
You have to try our Simple Au Gratin Potatoes.
It doesn’t matter what you call this dish—it’s one of the ultimate comfort foods!
More of Our Cheese and Potato Recipes
Take the chill off any blustery day and make something special to accompany meaty entrees. These creamy homemade scalloped potatoes stick-to-the-ribs and are sure to be a favorite. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
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Our garden is a big inspiration when I'm cooking. This recipe turns produce from my husband's potato patch into a side dish we want to eat at every meal. —Lori Daniels, Beverly, West Virginia
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This recipe has evolved over the past eight years. After I added the thyme, ham and sour cream, my husband declared, “This is it!” I like to serve this rich, saucy entree with a salad and homemade French bread. —Hope Toole, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
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The combination of ham and cheese creates a wonderfully smoky flavor. I also love that I can cook an entire meal—vegetable and all—in one standout dish. —Denell Syslo, Fullerton, Nebraska
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My family was tired of my traditional scalloped potatoes. So when I came across this recipe featuring a pesto and sun-dried tomato sauce, I knew I had to try it. I'm so glad I did, and so is my family! —Jamie Milligan, Kimberley, British Columbia
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My family loves this creamy and colorful recipe for cheesy potatoes. It has both sweet and white potatoes, lots of rich, buttery flavor and a pretty, golden-crumb topping. —Carolyn Putnam, Norwalk, Ohio
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I'm a home health nurse and got this recipe from one of my elderly clients, who had used it for years. Now, it's one of my family's favorites. It will never curdle, thanks to the secret ingredient of powdered nondairy creamer. —Kathy M Johnson, Lake City, South Dakota
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Mom's friend gave her this recipe years ago, and she shared it with me. When we have leftover ham to use up, it's the most-requested recipe at my house. —Kelly Graham, St. Thomas, Ontario
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Mom always managed to put a delicious hearty meal on the table for us and for our farmhands. This all-in-one comforting pork chops recipe reminds me of home. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
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For old-fashioned flavor, try these scalloped potatoes. They cook up tender, creamy and comforting and chopped ham adds a hearty touch. —Elaine Kane, Keizer, Oregon
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This dish is a crowd-pleaser with its creamy sauce, chunks of ham and potato slices. I always enjoyed it when Mother made it. I added the parsley and the thyme, and now my husband and five children request it. —Wendy Rhoades, Yacolt, Washington
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I adapted an oven recipe to cook itself while I’m away. It’s ready to serve when I get home, making it a real winner in my book! —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California
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Try as I might, I can never follow a recipe exactly, so here's what I came up with when I made a family friend's scalloped potatoes in my own kitchen. They’re so awesome, you just keep going back for more. —Susan Simons, Eatonville, Washington
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When I bake this for my family, any leftovers are always gone by morning. In the night, people sneak downstairs for a little snack! Stir in broccoli, asparagus or peas if you've got 'em. —Colleen Trenholm, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
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Creamy, cheesy and easy to make, this casserole is the definition of comfort food. This makes two casseroles, so it's great for a crowd; it freezes nicely, too. —Salina Bontrager, Kalona, Iowa
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What makes this the best out of all the scalloped potatoes recipes out there? I slice them extra thin and toss them in a rich, creamy cheese sauce. Then, to make them the best ever, I sprinkle homemade bread crumbs on top—they get nice and crispy in the oven. Make room for these at all your family get-togethers. —Aria Thornton, Taste of Home Prep Cook
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Potatoes and mushrooms make a one-dish meal I love – it’s the calories you have to watch. Swap out dairy products with lower fat options. —Courtney Stultz, Columbus, Kansas
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I love sweet potatoes and scalloped potatoes, so I decided why not make scalloped sweet potatoes This is a great recipe to change up your holiday table.—Yvonne Starlin, Hermitage, Tennessee
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The post What’s the Difference Between Au Gratin and Scalloped Potatoes? appeared first on Taste of Home.
Lindsay D. Mattison
