Recipe Makeover: Jamie Oliver's 30-minute scalloped potatoes with onions (2024)

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My version of Jamie Oliver’s scalloped potatoes with onions is one of our family’s favorite side dishes. One we almost didn’t know about it.

I made a discovery.Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals has been on one of our 900 Italian cable channels for quite some time but always dubbed, in Italian. I’d sort of given up on the plucky chef’s show until I checked again on a lark the other night. And cheerio! It was in English (I know, I know. I could watch it in Italian and maybe learn more but after working all day and chasing the little guys by night, the last thing this preggie wants to do at 8pm is study a foreign language. Sad but true.) I’ve seen exactly 1 1/2 episodes now and made my first recipe.

Jamie Oliver’s scalloped potatoes are so good. And refreshingly, I’m not the only one who thought so.

Recipe Makeover: Jamie Oliver's 30-minute scalloped potatoes with onions (1)

Since Jamie Oliver is actually quite famous for taking on the junk food industry, not to mention school lunches, “healthy” recipes aren’t hard to come by here. Both his show and website feature dozens of gorgeous ideas for family meals, all ready within half an hour. And nothing says family friendly like a fast recipe. While his aren’t packed with wheat germ, they’re fresh and delicious dishes designed to introduce rich flavors that everyone can enjoy together. Like me, he wants his kids to eat food, real food and come to love the ritual of the whole thing.

That’s just what we did this weekend, with these scalloped potatoes.

In fact, we even ate out on the terrace for the first time this spring. We kind of had to; it was such a gorgeous day and the food (more on this in upcoming posts) was so tasty that we had to celebrate in the fresh air and sunshine. Plus Phoebe had been begging to eat outside for a couple of weeks and if I’ve learned anything about successfully eating with kids so far, it’s stack the deck in your favor. To the terrace we go…

Foodlets Recipe Makeover: How We Updated Jamie Oliver’s Scalloped Potatoes

With every recipe makeover, our aim is always making fresh food easier or healthier and sometimes cuter. In this case we made a few updates for Jamie Oliver’s Scalloped Potatoes:

  • Use yellow potatoes so you don’t have to peel them. Time saver!
  • Half and half is less expensive than cream and has more uses in the kitchen (like, for coffee.)
  • A dash of purple from a “red” onion makes these potatoes colorful.
  • We originally used Parmesan cheese because cheddar is hard to find in Italy but I’ve made these potatoes with both and they’re gorgeous either way.

Are scalloped potatoes good for babies?

Yes! Estelle has four teeth now and she’s officially out of the purely pureed stage but we still need soft and chewy foods for her. The foodlets version of Jamie Oliver’s scalloped potatoes work perfectly for the littlest diners at the table. Remove the onions from their portions if you think they’ll object and either blend up a batch or just mash them up into small enough pieces for happy gumming.

Tools to make Jamie Oliver’s 30-Minute Scalloped Potatoes

Mandoline slicer. Makes ALL the difference for thin, uniform potatoes. Recipe Makeover: Jamie Oliver's 30-minute scalloped potatoes with onions (7)Oven-safe skillet. Use any pan that can go from the stove to the oven, and has a lid.

Recipe Makeover: Jamie Oliver's 30-minute scalloped potatoes with onions (8)Recipe Makeover: Jamie Oliver's 30-minute scalloped potatoes with onions (9)

Recipe Makeover: Jamie Oliver's 30-minute scalloped potatoes with onions (10)

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Makeover: Jamie Oliver’s 30-minute Parmesan scalloped potatoes with onions

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Feeding a crowd? Double the quantities below.

  • Author: Charity Mathews, founder of Foodlets.com

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 pound yellow potatoes
  • ½ medium red onion, sliced
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup half & half
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Slice the potatoes and onions into thin slices using a mandoline slicer.
  2. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.
  3. Heat a large iron skillet over a medium heat. Melt the butter. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
  4. Add the potatoes.Stack in any shape you like, or just let them fall naturally into the pan.
  5. Add liquid and seasonings. Pour the chicken broth and half & half over the potatoes. Sprinkle with thyme and bay leaf plus salt and pepper.
  6. Top with onions.
  7. Bring to a boil. Cover the pan and cook over a low heat for another 10 minutes.
  8. Sprinkle the cheese on top and place in the oven. Cook until the cheese is bubbling and slightly browned, about 10 minutes. (Tip: Put a baking sheet under your pan in case of a bubble overflow!)

That’s it! You can make the foodlets version of Jamie Oliver’s scalloped potatoes in 30 minutes, for melt-in-your-mouth flavor that works for the whole family. Even kids with only one tooth or two.

Want more ideas for what to cook with these scalloped potatoes?

  • Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
  • 3-Ingredient Grilled Salmon
  • Grilled Chicken Tenders with Homemade BBQ Sauce
  • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Recipe Makeover: Jamie Oliver's 30-minute scalloped potatoes with onions (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between all gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes? ›

Au Gratin potatoes contain cheese, whereas Scalloped Potatoes do not. Scalloped potatoes typically contain cream but can also contain flavorful stock instead of dairy. Try our Classic Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe or Classic Scalloped Potatoes Recipe.

Can you slice potatoes for scalloped potatoes the night before? ›

If raw, once the potato is cut you can store in the refrigerator, covered with water for 12-24 hours. Be sure to keep submerged in water to prevent slices from turning gray or brown.

How to make Main St Bistro scalloped potatoes? ›

Oven cook - From Chilled 1 Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). 2 Remove tray from package and remove film. 3 Place container on baking tray and heat in oven for 20-22 minutes or until bubbly around edges. (Caution: Product and package may be hot.)

Why do my scalloped potatoes taste bland? ›

My scalloped potatoes are bland

They are also in need of serious seasoning to ensure deliciousness. Make sure your sauce is well-seasoned, but also, season each layer of potatoes with salt and pepper before adding the sauce, to make sure they are as flavorful as you want them!

Why are scalloped potatoes called funeral potatoes? ›

Why are they called funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes get their unique name from being a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons (particularly in the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

What is the best choice scalloped potatoes? ›

The best potatoes to use for a homemade scalloped potato recipes like this one are baking/frying potatoes, either russet or Idaho. They have dry, light, and fluffy interiors that hold their shape when cooked. The starch in the potatoes helps to thicken the sauce while the casserole bakes.

Why do my scalloped potatoes always curdle? ›

The curdling is caused by high heat, which is hard to avoid in an oven. So to keep the sauce together, tackle it before the dish goes in the oven. Instead of simply layering grated cheese and milk or cream with the potatoes, you need to make a smooth cheese sauce.

Can scalloped potatoes be made a day ahead and reheated? ›

Prepare the recipe as directed, then let it cool to room temperature. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil, then store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If the recipe has cheese, breadcrumbs, herbs, or any other toppings, reserve it and add it before reheating.

How do you know when scalloped potatoes are done? ›

Pour milk over the top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are fork tender, about 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until cheese is bubbly and begins to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

Can you make Martha Stewart scalloped potatoes ahead of time? ›

Martha makes scalloped potatoes ahead of time by partially cooking them in milk and holding them on the stove.

Do scalloped potatoes reheat well? ›

Like most of my casserole recipes, this recipe for scalloped potatoes reheat well. You can fully bake them a day in advance, then rewarm them prior to serving.

Why did my scalloped potatoes get watery? ›

Watery scalloped potatoes are not good, and is often caused by using the wrong type of potato. This recipe requires starchy potatoes, such as russets or Yukon golds, not waxy potatoes. Another cause is washing or holding the sliced potatoes in water (as outlined in the question above).

Why did my scalloped potatoes turn dark? ›

Almost always there are two reasons the potatoes turned black... exposure to air or oxygen and black spot bruising.

How do you cut potatoes thin for scalloped potatoes? ›

Once you've chosen the right potatoes, grab a sharp chef's knife (or a mandoline, if you have one) and carefully slice them as thinly and evenly as possible—ideally one-fourth to one-eighth-inch thick. Potatoes that are too thick or thin will bake up unevenly, and you want the layers to cook up tender.

How to make Paula Deen's baked potatoes? ›

Rub the skin with vegetable oil. Sprinkle with salt. Pierce the skin of the potato in several places with the tines of a fork. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the sides are soft when pressed.

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