Stop pretending that mashed potatoes are good. Make these cheesy scalloped potatoes this Thanksgiving instead.

Erin McDowellJan 14, 2024, 11:58 IST

Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, but I much prefer this Half Baked Harvest recipe for cheesy scalloped potatoes with caramelized onions.Erin McDowell/Insider; Robyn Mackenzie/Shutterstock

I grew up eating mashed potatoes yearly on Thanksgiving but secretly preferred scalloped potatoes.
We've made these cheesy scalloped potatoes, and skipped the mashed, for three years now.

I've never been a fan of huge mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving or any other day.

Shirking what many would call a Thanksgiving staple, we've made scalloped potatoes — or potatoes au gratin — for the past three years instead. Thanksgiving purists may not believe me, but the texture and flavor are far superior to even the best mashed potato recipe you can find.

We've followed several different recipes, but a Half Baked Harvest recipe for cheesy scalloped potatoes with caramelized onions has become our go-to on practically every holiday.

Here's how to make it yourself.

I started by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and thinly slicing about six yellow-gold potatoes.

The sliced potatoes.Erin McDowell/Insider

After thinly slicing up a small yellow onion, I added two tablespoons of butter and the onions to a cast-iron pan.

The onions cooking in a pan.Erin McDowell/Insider

After about ten minutes of cooking, and stirring frequently, I added a quarter cup of dry white wine to the pan.

The caramelized onions.Erin McDowell/Insider

Then I tossed in a clove of sliced garlic and a tablespoon of chopped fresh thyme.

The caramelized onions.Erin McDowell/Insider

Next, I greased a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter and set it aside.

The buttered baking dish.Erin McDowell/Insider

I started assembling the scalloped potatoes by pouring a third of the milk mixture into the bottom of the pan.

A thin layer of the milk mixture in the baking dish.Erin McDowell/Insider

I followed the recipe's instructions on how to layer the potatoes, onions, and milk mix.

The layered potatoes, milk mixture, cheese, and caramelized onions in the pan.Erin McDowell/Insider

I covered the dish in foil and cooked it in the oven for two hours.

The scalloped potatoes after two hours in the oven.Erin McDowell/Insider

I finished off the scalloped potatoes by layering about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top and popping it back into the oven.

The scalloped potatoes with a layer of cheddar cheese on top.Erin McDowell/Insider

After another 20 minutes uncovered in the oven, the potatoes had a deep golden crust over the top. I wish you could smell this photo.

The finished scalloped potatoes.Erin McDowell/Insider

These potatoes were a major hit with my roommates, and we all agreed they were better than any mashed potatoes we've ever had.