This Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake is true to its name – easy and creamy and cheesy! Made with cubes of potato which are cooked with the sauce so there’s no need to par boil the potatoes or make the sauce separately. Plus, it’s a whole lot faster to chop potatoes than slice them thinly – and you get more sauce in every bite!
Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake. How’s that for a tongue twister, eh? Try saying that 3 times real fast (even harder, after a couple of glasses of wine).
I keep getting myself confused, and I’ve probably gotten it wrong a few times in this post even though I’ve gone back to check several times!
When you think of potato bakes, you probably think of sliced potatoes. Otherwise known as Potato Gratin, Potato Dauphinoise and Scalloped Potatoes to those in the States. And here’s my recipe (well, Julia Child’s!) for Potato Dauphinoise, if that’s what you’re after. But hear me out on this chunky style before you go running off!
Not only is this easier and faster to put together – i.e. no need to thinly slice mounds of potato then layer them in the baking dish – with this “chunky style” creamy potato bake, you get soft pieces of potato bathed in creamy cheesy sauce. Whereas with potato gratin, the sliced potatoes tends to be packed more closely together so there’s less creamy cheesy goodness with every bite. Some might even say it’s packed too densely for their taste (gasp!).
I wasn’t actually planning to share this recipe. A couple of weeks ago, I had an Easter Taste Testing Lunch at my place, primarily to get feedback on the Salmon Gravlax that I shared last week (resounding success! Almost unanimously Top Pick of the Day). I called upon a group of my mother’s golfing friends who are always willing and able taste testers. Ahhh the luxury of retirement. A leisurely game of golf then a 3 course lunch!
I enjoy these Taste Testing sessions because they bring both years of years of experience and complete honesty to the table. No one holds back providing very constructive feedback, as well as useful suggestions. Suffice to say a number of recipes have never made this blog because of the feedback from this group of Taste Testers! 😂
Anyway, I made this Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake (well, my mother did, under my instruction) because I had so many other things to prepare, I wanted to put something together quickly. And it was a topic of hot discussion that it was an afterthought-side-dish that I really didn’t think was that special but everyone loved it! So I had to share it!
I’m not going to lie to you. This ain’t the healthiest recipe on this blog. It’s basically made up of all things that are the first to go when trying to be “healthy” – potatoes, cream and cheese.
And that, my friends, is why it is so darn good. OK, so it’s not the sort of thing I’d make on for a usual midweek meal. But weekends and feasting occasions? Heck yes! Especially when I want to steal the show. 😉 – Nagi x
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Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake
Ingredients
- 1.25kg/ 2.5lb potatoes (any, other than waxy potatoes, see Note 1)
- 2/3 cup (160 ml) milk (full or low fat)
- 3/4 cup (185 ml) thickened cream (heavy cream) (heavy cream)
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise , preferably whole egg (or 1/4 cup cream) (Note 2)
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves , plus more for garnish (or 1 tsp dried)
- 2 large garlic cloves , minced
- 3/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper
- 2 cups (200g) shredded cheese , for mixing (Note 3)
- 1 cup (100g) shredded mozzarella cheese (or sub with another cheese, Note 3)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F (all types).
- Peel and cut the potatoes into 1 3/4 cm / 2/3″ cubes. Place in a large bowl.
- Add all remaining ingredients except mozzarella. Mix.
- Pour into a 3 litre / quart baking dish (mine is 22cm / 9″ square x 6 cm / 2.3″ high).
- Cover with foil. Bake 60 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove foil, sprinkle over mozzarella cheese. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is golden.
- Rest for 5 – 10 minutes before serving, garnished with extra theme leaves if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake recipe video! Maybe have a napkin handy? 😉
LIFE OF DOZER
Snap photo of dish, then swing camera 30 cm / 1 foot to the left and photograph Dozer. Efficiency of motion. 🙌🏼
Hi Nagi, I am making a number of your delicious recipes and freezing them as we have guests for New Year and I don’t want to be navigating recipes after a couple of wines! So Nagi, would this recipe freeze OK?
If you bake it first it should freeze ok although the texture of the sauce might change a bit. N x
I am a bit lazy! I also cook for only 2. I dice & boil the potatoes until just under cooked. Add to remaining ingredients. Reduces baking time to 30 minutes.
Another one of your fantastic recipes Nagi. Thanks again
Great tip Hilary! N x
How many servings does this make? It’s just two of us and I’d like to scale the recipe. Thanks!
This makes about 6-8 servings. Thank you! N x
My husband and I loved this recipe. I’ve always put ham or bacon in potato bake so I added some lightly fried diced bacon too. Very rich, very tasty. Thank you!
I cooked this tonight for my family and they loved it !!
Once out of the oven, it looked like the picture. It was perfect and tasted like it too. Thankyou Nagi. Yet again – beautiful.
Could you use truffle mayo instead of normal mayo?
Sure could Emma, what a great idea! N x
Can l make it in the morning,put in fridge then bake it later in the day.
Hi Barbara, unfortunately you can’t as the potatoes go grey – I have the recommended bake ahead option in the recipe notes though 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi, would substituting custard for the milk and cream work? in the easy cheesy creamy potato bake
No sorry Red, that won’t work in this recipe! N x
Thanks for that
If I boiled the potatoes and added them to the cream mixture then put it under the griller, do you think that would work?
So yummy!!! So easy!!! The family just loved it!!!
Made exactly as written and it’s absolutely delicious! I am in heaven! Thank you!
WOW. Added one extra teaspoon of fresh thyme than recipe called for as I love the flavor and had a ton from my herb box. Will be making many times again!
This is an absolutely fantastic potato dish. I served it with a ham joint, it went down a storm. Thanks once again Nagi
Wow wow wow…absolutely delicious. Definitely adding this to my ever growing RTE lost of meals. How can a potato bake smell like it has bacon in it when its cooking yet its as vegetarianas they come.!! Yummo
The recipe doesn’t say how many ppl it serves.
Ah I just noticed it says 10 serves near nutritional info.
I so love the potato bake recipe,,.. I was stunned when I got back home from the supermarket I’d forgotten the potato bake mix packet so it reeled itself out that I didn’t need it this was from scratch..Lol
Lucky I had herbs and others at home…..
Hi Nagi, thank you so much for this recipe, I’m going to give it a shot tonight. Have you ever tried making potato bake with the skins on? This is my first time making one and I was just wondering if it would be fine with the skins on. Wishing you and Dozer a lovely holidays x
Hi Andy….I made it with about 3/4 skins on and it was excellent. I did use Yukon/gold potatos. I’m making again tonight! Thanks, Nagi.
Can I prep this in the morning & leave in bowl in fridge until ready to cook later that day.
Hi Sue – unfortunately not as the potatoes go brown/grey. I have the make ahead directions in the notes though 🙂 N x
Help! Do you mix shredded cheese together or use just one type for the inside??
I have been making potato Bake for 50 years but this is the best and from here on, the only.