What You Should Serve With Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped Potatoes is a reassuringly decadent yet simple dish to create. That luxuriously thick combination of whole milk, Parmesan cheese, and thinly sliced onion comes with a creamy sauce.

Whether you pair it with meat to soak up some of those delicious juices or serve it alongside another side dish for a different texture, it should stand out on your plate.

In this guide, we will detail a range of dishes that you should serve with Scalloped Potatoes. We will also dedicate a section to fish dishes.

1. Meatloaf

Meatloaf is such a versatile dish that it should not be difficult to find a range of side dishes to go with it, one of which should be Scalloped Potatoes.

Grate onion over breadcrumbs then mix it together with your hands while adding ground beef, garlic, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, dried thyme, chopped parsley, beef bouillon cubes, and pepper.

Transfer the mixture to a baking tin, bake, and then brush on a glaze of ketchup, brown sugar, and cider vinegar. Bake some more and then leave to stand before cutting into reassuringly thick slices.

2. Mustard Pork Chops

You only need four ingredients to create a batch of delicious Mustard Pork Chops. Get your oven hot and whisk together Dijon and wholegrain mustard in a bowl with olive oil.

Rub the mixture into both sides of the pork chops then add seasoning and bake them on a baking sheet. Flip them over partway through their time in the oven until they reach your desired doneness. 

3. Barbecue Ribs

Ideally, you should serve Scalloped Potatoes with a main course that comes with a sticky sauce. That could mean Barbecue Ribs and you could create them in your oven rather than on a grill. 

Create the sauce from barbecue sauce mixed with garlic, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and cayenne pepper then set aside.

Prepare your ribs then sprinkle over a meat rub of onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper then bake them.

Spread the sauce over the ribs then ramp up the heat to caramelize the edges. 

4. Sloppy Joes

Another main dish that you can use Scalloped Potatoes to soak up some delicious juices is Sloppy Joes. The main meat dish is simple to prepare, especially if you are used to creating burgers from scratch. 

Brown ground beef with green pepper and onion then drain away the excess liquid.

In a bowl, combine barbecue sauce with ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and brown sugar then stir into the beef mixture.

Simmer until thickened then place between buttered buns. 

5. Roast Chicken

Of course, a side of Scalloped Potatoes goes really well with a roast dinner such as Roast Chicken.

Preheat your oven and prepare the chicken then quarter a lemon before seasoning the chicken with a butter rub followed by a sprinkling of dried rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Insert the lemon pieces and the celery with the remaining butter into the chicken and roast uncovered until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Remove the chicken and baste with droppings, cover it in aluminum foil and allow it to rest for half an hour. 

6. Oven Fried Chicken

You could also fry your chicken in the oven and the crispy textures should work really well with the soft, Scalloped Potatoes.

Start by combining Kosher salt and Greek yogurt in a bowl then spreading it on to coat the chicken drumsticks and leave to marinade for between two and four hours in the refrigerator.

Remove the excess marinade from the drumsticks and coat each one with a mixture of flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Drizzle on some melted butter then bake until golden brown. 

7. Glazed Ham

A Glazed Ham can take center stage on your dining table and Dr. Pepper works really well for a rich glaze.

Bring the Dr. Pepper to a boil with apple cider vinegar, light brown sugar, mustard, and orange juice then simmer until reduced by half.

Coat the ham with around half of the glaze then bake and add the remaining glaze partway through the roasting process and it should be done when the glaze has caramelized. 

8. Sirloin Steak

Undoubtedly, Scalloped Potatoes is a great side dish for Sirloin Steak as both dishes are so rich.

Ensure that your skillet is hot and that the olive oil has warmed up while you combine garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and mustard to coat the steak on both sides.

Season the steaks too and then sear both sides then hold the steak upright to sear the sides too. Turn down the heat and allow the steak to cook to your desired doneness. 

9. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

You should look to add some greens with your main course and Scalloped Potatoes. That should mean some Bacon Wrapped Asparagus which may only take a few minutes in the oven. 

Place the asparagus spears on a prepared baking sheet and drizzle over olive oil with a sprinkle of some seasoning then toss to coat.

Hold the spears in a bundle, wrap around bacon until covered then place seam side down. Bake until the bacon is crisp while the asparagus is still tender. 

10. Garlic Broccolini

There may be garlic in your Scalloped Potatoes but you should certainly use some for Garlic Broccolini.

This batch may only take ten minutes to create and that starts when you trim the Broccolini bunch.

Sauté the Broccolini until the tips of the florets are lightly charred then add red pepper flakes, salt, and garlic to cook until fragrant. Add water and cook until the Broccolini is crisp-tender and serve straight away.

11. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Another crispy vegetarian side dish to go with Scalloped Potatoes is Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Trim the sprouts then place them in a Ziploc bag with olive oil, salt, and pepper to shake until well-coated.

Place the sprouts on a baking sheet flat-side down and roast until the outside is slightly charred though they will remain tender on the inside.

12. Sautéed Spinach

To offset the richness of the Scalloped Potatoes, add some Sautéed Spinach for a splash of green on the table.

This side dish can be created really quickly so heat up olive oil in a pan then sauté onion followed by garlic with butter.

Add some soy sauce then toss the spinach leaves with the onion and serve as soon as the spinach has wilted.

Season to taste and get it on the table. 

Bonus Section: Fish As A Main Course

While scalloped potatoes may be a decadent side dish, the rich flavors go really well with fresh fish. That means you should look towards recipes like Broiled Haddock, Lemon and Dill Salmon, as well as Pan Seared Salmon. 

Broiled Haddock

Haddock may not be the most fashionable of fish to cook but you can create a really tasty main dish to go with your Scalloped Potatoes.

Make sure that the oven is set to broil and arrange your haddock filets on a baking sheet then brush with olive oil and sprinkle on Parmesan cheese with some seasoning.

Leave the filets in the oven until they flake easily then remove them from the oven while you toss diced tomatoes and thinly sliced basil leaves in a bowl with olive oil and more seasoning.

Plate up the haddock filets and top them with the tomato and basil mixture.

Lemon And Dill Salmon

Salmon and Scalloped Potatoes should be a perfect match so create this Lemon and Dill Salmon as the main dish for a gathering.

Pat the salmon filets dry with a paper towel then season on both sides and fry in a hot pan with olive oil skin side down to sear.

Flip over and sear the other side for only a couple of minutes then remove from the heat. To the garlic, add thin slices of lemon and fresh dill sprigs on top.

Pan Seared Salmon

Then there is Pan Seared Salmon which can taste as good as anything you will find in a restaurant.

First, pat dry the salmon filets with a paper towel then add seasoning and freshly squeezed lemon juice to rub in.

Heat olive oil in a hot pan then press the salmon filets flesh side down and sear until golden on both sides.

Add garlic, butter, parsley, lemon slices, and more lemon juice then cook until done and garnish with more butter to serve right away. 

Final Thoughts

For a humble side dish, it is worth noting just how versatile Scalloped Potatoes can be. Whether you pair them up with fish, steak, or a meatloaf, the creamy potatoes are a winner on the dinner table.

You may also want to complement the flavors of the side dish too with some fresh greens or some salty Bacon Wrapped Asparagus. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between Potatoes Served Au Gratin And Scalloped Potatoes?

If there is one fundamental difference between Potatoes Served Au Gratin and Scalloped Potatoes it is that the latter is so much easier to prepare.

Both recipes involve potatoes baked in a sauce of heavy cream and milk though Potatoes Served Au Gratin is more decadent as it uses layers of potatoes and cheese. 

What Is The Best Way To Ensure That Scalloped Potatoes Are Soft?

Using sour cream or something acidic in your Scalloped Potatoes may prevent them from going soft. It may be easier simply to cook the potatoes with milk or heavy cream first to soften them up and then add sour cream.