Cheesy potatoes are the best way to use leftover potatoes.
If you have never had cheesy potatoes, this article is to show how much you are missing on these cream-filled cheesy bad boys.
Cheesy potatoes are sometimes referred to as funeral potatoes because they are frequently served at funerals. This is because they are easy to cook up for many people.
You’ll often see cheese potatoes served with steamed broccoli, salad, green beans, and soups. Cheese potatoes go with many things, but in the end, preference matters the most.
This article outlined the main dishes, side dishes, and vegetables with cheesy potatoes.
What are cheesy potatoes?
Cheesy potatoes are made from a recipe where the primary ingredient is potatoes combined with cheese.
One of the most popular forms of cheesy potatoes is a casserole, which can range from an au gratin dish to hash brown potatoes with cheese.
Cheesy potatoes are a comfort food whose texture is often warm and fluffy. Well-prepared cheesy potatoes taste cheesy and creamy.
Cheesy potatoes are usually cooked in two stages. In the first stage, the potatoes are cooked till they become tender. Then in the second stage, they are baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce till the top becomes golden brown.
Scalloped potatoes and cheesy potatoes are siblings who look different. Cheesy potatoes are made with thicker cheese sauce and diced potatoes, while scalloped potatoes are not.
Salads, pork, chicken, soups, ham, green beans, and beef are some dishes that go well with cheesy potatoes.
What goes with cheesy potatoes?
Potatoes are pretty diverse when it comes to pairing them with other foods. Cheesy potatoes can go with:
- green beans,
- ham,
- beef,
- salads,
- chicken,
- steamed broccoli,
- corn,
- garlic bread,
- grilled mushrooms,
- cauliflower and cheese,
- baked pork chops,
- roasted Brussel sprouts,
- leg of lamb,
- bacon-wrapped shrimp.
What main dishes go well with cheesy potatoes?
Here are three main-course meals that go well with cheesy potatoes.
Baked pork tenderloin
Baked pork tenderloin is robustly flavored with a crispy outer texture and juicy inside. Its rounded flavor and contrasting texture go well with cheesy potatoes.
Rosemary chicken
The rich and complex flavor of rosemary chicken makes it a perfect pair with cheesy potatoes.
Depending on the recipe, the unique flavors of the rosemary, chicken, and garlic mix well to form the burst of flavor of rosemary chicken.
Meatloaf
A simple meatloaf recipe will go well with cheesy potatoes. Its juicy texture and delicious meaty flavor will go well with cheesy potatoes.
What side dishes go with cheesy potatoes?
Here are some easy-to-make side dishes that go with cheesy potatoes.
Bacon-wrapped shrimps
Bacon-wrapped shrimps make an excellent side dish for cheesy potatoes. You should consider bacon-wrapped shrimps if you want a crispy, juicy side dish to pair with cheesy potatoes.
Garlic bread
Garlic bread alongside cheesy potatoes makes for a delicious and filling dish. The garlicky and nutty flavors in garlic bread might be the added tang you need to spice up your bowl of cheesy potatoes. You can make garlic bread at home or buy it from your neighborhood grocery store.
Sweet corn
You should consider pairing cheesy potatoes with sweet corn if you have a sweet tooth. Sweet corn adds a sweet undertone to the creamy potatoes. Here’s a sweet corn recipe we recommend.
What vegetables go with cheesy potatoes?
Vegetables are a nutritious and tasty way to add color and flavor to cheesy potatoes.
Vegetables go well with cheesy potatoes when prepared correctly. Here are six vegetable-based dishes that go with cheesy potatoes.
Roasted vegetables
Roasted vegetables add a fresh burst of flavor to cheesy potatoes.
The best types of vegetables for roasted vegetables are carrots, mushrooms, butternut squash, onions, zucchini, bell peppers, and broccoli florets.
Kale salad
This rainbow-looking vegetable side dish tastes as good as it looks.
Kale salad is an excellent option to pair with cheesy potatoes if you’re on a weight-loss journey.
Steamed broccoli
Although not a familiar favorite, steamed broccoli is a lovely way to balance the flavor of cheesy potatoes. Steamed broccoli often features three contrasting tastes; earthy, sweet, and bitter.
Quinoa salad
You’ll enjoy quinoa salad with cheesy potatoes if you like sweet and savory. Quinoa salad has a mild, somewhat nutty flavor but is mainly sweet and delicious.
Green beans
Green beans naturally do not have a distinct taste, but with an exciting green beans recipe, you can change the trajectory of your tray of cheesy potatoes.
Roasted Brussels sprouts
Pairing cheesy potatoes with the right Roasted Brussels sprouts recipe will forever change the way you enjoy cheesy potatoes. This is because roasted Brussels sprouts have a mildly sweet and nutty flavor and a tender yet crispy texture.
Read also: What Internal Temperature Must Vegetables Reach While Cooking?
What are the best potatoes for cheesy potatoes?
Two kinds of potatoes have proven to be the best for cheesy potatoes; Russets and Yukon gold.
Yukon gold
Yukon gold is a chef’s favorite. It is perfect for cheesy potatoes.
Yukon gold potatoes are dense, slightly starchy, and thin-skinned, producing a sumptuous, buttery potato flavor.
Russets
Russets, also called Idaho potatoes, are often big with dusty peel.
Russets have a dry, starchy, and fluffy texture. So if you’re enthusiastic about lightweight and soft casseroles, russets are the better option as long as you don’t mind their crumbly texture.
Yukon gold is better for a denser texture and rich buttery potato flavor.
However, if you’d prefer a fluffier texture and a mild potato flavor, russets are an excellent choice. Nevertheless, if you would rather have the best of both worlds, you can use a mixture of both potatoes.
Cheddar cheese is the best cheese for cheesy potatoes, but it isn’t the only decent choice. Other good cheese options include mozzarella, gruyere, marble, Swiss, Havarti, and Tex-Mex.
How to store and reheat cheesy potatoes
How to store cheesy potatoes in the fridge
- Place the cheesy potatoes in an aluminum foil pan or baking dish and cover them tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
- Date the package with a pen and masking tape, and store it in the fridge for up to three or five days.
How to store cheesy potatoes in the freezer
- Put the cheesy potatoes in an aluminum foil pan or baking dish and tightly wrap them with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
- Use a pen and masking tape to date the packaging and store it in the freezer for up to four months. Ensure your freezer is set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to reheat cheesy potatoes in the oven
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the potatoes in an oven-safe container and put a layer of foil over the potatoes.
- Put the dish in the middle rack of the oven and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
How to reheat cheesy potatoes in the microwave
- Place the potatoes in a microwave-safe container and cover them with microwave-safe plastic wrap. (Leave a corner open to allow steam to escape the container.)
- Cook on high for six minutes (cook for three minutes twice at thirty-second intervals).
- Cook until the internal temperature reads 169 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read also: How to Melt Queso Fresco
What is the difference between scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes?
There are three key differences between au gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes, and we will explain them in detail.
- The Au gratin potatoes recipe requires bread crumbs. Au gratin potato recipes often call for a mixture of bread crumbs and cheese to attain a crispy crust, while scalloped potatoes do not.
- Scalloped potatoes are sliced thicker, and au gratin potatoes are sliced thinner. This is so that cheese can soak into the potatoes properly.
- Scalloped potatoes don’t require cheese. Although newer recipes might include cheese, original scalloped potato recipes do not use cheese. Many call for cream sauce instead.
However, Au gratin potatoes always call for sprinkled cheese between each potato layer and the topmost potato layer.
Which is better, scalloped potatoes or au gratin potatoes?
They’re equally delicious. No one is better than the other.
Scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes are similar foods with varying strengths and weaknesses. If you do not want both worlds, it’ll be best to make your choice using their strengths.
When it comes to flavor, au gratin potatoes taste cheesier, while scalloped potatoes might have a creamy taste.
Texture-wise, au gratin potatoes have a crispier crust due to the cheese and breadcrumbs mixture.
Scalloped potatoes, on the other hand, often have a fluffier crust.