This creamy, cheesy baked potato is layered with garlic and onion. Everyone will be fighting to get the first bite! Make a large batch for your next barbecue to bring out the smiles.

Why We Love This

This simple cheesy baked potato or potato casserole is the side dish we serve at family events and barbecues. This is a great side dish, and almost there are never leftovers.

You can prepare this side dish before guests arrive and let it cook in the background as you do other things. This is our style of cooking!

Save time by using the microwave!

Do you need a potato casserole but want to do it in an hour? While the oven is heating up, place the potato bake on high in the microwave for 10-15 minutes. The potatoes will be softened slightly, allowing you to reduce the cooking time to only 30-45 minutes.

What is Aussie Style Potato Bake?

You’ll find Australian potato casserole or baked at family barbecues, usually alongside freshly grilled lamb chops and snags. This classic potato dish has many variations depending on where you are from.

It’s also known as potatoes dauphinoise. This dish is made of potatoes topped with cheese and breadcrumbs. The potatoes are baked until they turn golden brown. It’s a dish that originated in the Dauphine area of southern France. Potatoes dauphinoise is another name for it.

Scalloped Potatoes may have originated in England. Whatever name you call it, it is still popular in Australia, Europe, and beyond.

What you’ll need

Click here to view the full recipe measurementsPotatoes- The best potatoes to bake have a starchy/floury texture. They will give you a soft, fluffy texture. Desiree, Sebago, or Yukon Gold are great options. We can use any potato we have at home to make this dish. Avoid waxy potatoes, which will take forever to soften in the oven. Substitute with sweet potato.

Cream We use thickened heavy cream or cream to give this dish a creamy texture. Use sour or sour cream if you have no white sauce. You can substitute milk for the traditional potatoes au gratin, but the final surface will be looser.

Cheddar (known in Australia as tasty cheese) is best. It gives the potato bake that golden brown color with a sharp flavor. Add a few handfuls of parmesan if you want to be extra sinful.

Garlic & Onion – We love to use fresh onion and garlic in this recipe. If you don’t want to chop the new stuff, use garlic and onion powder instead.

How to Make Potato Bake

Gather your ingredients first! Please refer to the recipe card for exact measurements.

Heat the oven to 180degC/360degF.

Line and layer half of the potatoes in a large baking dish.

Spread half of the chopped garlic and the onion slices on top. Then sprinkle with a generous amount of salt and pepper. Pour half of the cream evenly over.

Repeat the process, layering all the remaining potatoes. Sprinkle the remaining onion and garlic over the top. Then, top the shredded cheese with the cream. If you wish, add extra salt and pepper.

Bake it for 1 to 1.5 hours. Add a layer of aluminum foil to the top of your oven and quickly browns the cheesy topping. When the potato is soft, remove it from the oven.

Top Tip: When serving this dish alongside a barbecue, if the meat is not quite ready yet, cover it with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out and overcooking. Then turn off the oven or set the setting to “keep warm” and wait until the food is ready.

Wandercook’s Tips

Cover the Tray with Foil –Covering your tray with foil during the first baking stage will help steam the potatoes and soften them more quickly. After that, remove the foil to reveal a cheesy golden-brown top.

Baking DishA sizeable shallow baking dish is best for maximizing your cheese topping.

Double The Recipe -If You’re Feeding a Crowd, Make a Huge Batch!

Use the Mandoline Slicing Machine -This will give you thin, even slices, which will help to cook everything through. You will save a lot of time.

Storage of Leftover baked potato will last in the refrigerator for 3-5 days (although our families are always hungry, there are rarely any leftovers! ).

FAQs

What happens if I use the wrong potatoes? Don’t worry if you used waxy potatoes in place of starchy ones! You will still get a tasty potato bake. It may take longer to achieve the fluffy and soft texture you desire. Cover the top with foil so that it doesn’t brown too quickly. Remove the foil towards the end when the potatoes are almost cooked through.

What can I serve with potato bake? It’s excellent with BBQ sausages, cevapi or steak, and a side salad of cucumber and tomato shop ska. It is delicious with curried sausages.

Can it be frozen? You can freeze the potato bake for up to two weeks. We recommend breaking them up into smaller portions to make it easier to reheat leftovers. Store in an airtight container.

How can I reheat the food? Before reheating:

Allow the potato to bake to reach room temperature.

Allow enough time for the frozen potato bake to defrost and reach temperature on a bench.

Cover with foil, and bake at a low temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.

Use a microwave (in short bursts) to heat through. The texture will not be the same, but the speed is worth it.

What other things could I make with leftovers? It’s easy to adapt leftover potato bake. It can be mashed up to make fried patties or potato pancakes. Use it as a topping for moussaka or shepherd’s pie. Use a piping bag to make duchess potatoes.

Variations

Cheese –Switch half the cheddar cheese with something fancier, like camembert or Gruyere. Add some sharpness to your dish with aged parmesan or cheddar!

Herbs- Sprinkle a few dill leaves, chives, and thyme over the potatoes or through them before baking.

Garnish- Sprinkle thinly sliced spring onions or fried shallots on top.

Additional Flavour VariationsThink of adding extras such as bacon bits, chicken broth, or smoked paprika.

Make It Spicy- Stir in a little cayenne pepper, Tabasco, or Shichimi Togarashi to give the cream a subtle spicy kick.