Scalloped potatoes are a type of casserole combining thin slices of potatoes, cheese, milk or cream, and breadcrumbs, at least in American and Irish versions of the dish. The word scalloped has multiple meanings in cooking, but does not, as one would suspect, have anything to do with the shellfish scallops. Possibly, the word derives from an Old English word, collop, which itself derives from the Old French word, escalope.

Collops did not mean scalloped potatoes, but sliced meats, perhaps prepared as scalloped potatoes are prepared. To confuse matters, some recipes for scalloped potatoes include the addition of ham or bacon. A Yorkshire recipe for collops did rely on the potato, but referred to frying thin slices of potatoes.

The original recipes for scalloped potatoes may have derived from England or the Americas. Since potatoes are native to America, it makes logical sense to attribute the origin of scalloped potatoes to early settlers. However, the recipe may just have easily been developed in England or Ireland.

As prepared by most Americans, scalloped potatoes are layers of thin potato slices, sometimes separated by sprinkles of cheese or melted butter. Once the layering process is finished, milk or cream is added to the dish and the entire dish may be topped with melted cheese or breadcrumbs. Some cooks prefer to boil the potatoes for about five minutes before slicing them and adding them to the dish. Others slice the potatoes raw. The dish works well with standard potatoes, or what we might call baking potatoes.

Scalloped potatoes are generally baked for about an hour in a 350°F (176°C) oven. Baking times vary with the size of the dish. Potatoes should be well cooked but not mushy. Care should be used if scalloped potatoes are prepared in glass baking ware and refrigerated, as moving cold glass into a hot oven can cause the dish to break.

Scalloped potatoes are often prepared for traditional holiday meals, such as at Thanksgiving or Christmas. They can be prepared in advance and then baked when necessary, which can lessen preparation time on the actual holiday.

Multiple variations on the traditional scalloped potatoes exist. Meats can be added to turn a side dish into a main dish. Other vegetables like tomatoes, mushrooms, or onions can spice up scalloped potatoes. Cheese choice depends upon taste. Some prefer American cheese, but fancier recipes may use Swiss, pepper jack, or aged cheddar.

Vegans can still enjoy scalloped potatoes, omitting dairy. Soy or rice milk can be used in place of cow's milk, and tofu cheese is a great alternative to cow or goat cheese. This version may be more appealing to dieters, as omitting high fat cheeses and creams omits the high calorie penalty of consuming this dish.

If one is short on time, there are boxed versions of scalloped potatoes. These tend not to be favored by gourmets, as the potatoes often have a preprocessed taste that some find unpalatable. Made from scratch, scalloped potatoes take about 15-30 minutes preparation and only an hour to cook, so they are not a time consuming dish to make, and a difficult dish to ruin if one watches the clock carefully.