Description
Smothered pork chop scalloped potato casserole brings comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Creamy potatoes and tender pork create a hearty meal that makes weeknight dinners feel like a warm family celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 bone-in pork chops
Starches:
- 6 large potatoes
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Dairy and Seasonings:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with 1 tbsp butter, ensuring complete coverage.
- Grab your mandoline or sharp knife and slice 6 large potatoes into uniform ⅛-inch rounds, keeping slices consistent.
- Chop 1 medium onion into small, even pieces and mince 4 garlic cloves as finely as possible.
- Sprinkle 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, and ½ tsp dried thyme over 4 pork chops, patting seasoning into both sides.
- Melt 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté diced onions until they turn translucent and soft.
- Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds, stirring to prevent burning.
- Dust 2 tbsp flour over the onion mixture, stirring continuously to create a smooth roux.
- Gradually pour 2 cups heavy cream and 1 cup milk into the skillet, whisking constantly until sauce thickens.
- Remove sauce from heat and mix in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese until melted and incorporated.
- Create the first potato layer in your greased dish, covering the bottom with half the potato slices.
- Pour half the cream sauce over potatoes, spreading evenly to coat each slice.
- Carefully arrange 4 seasoned pork chops on top of the potato layer.
- Cover pork chops with remaining potato slices, creating a complete top layer.
- Pour the rest of the cream sauce over potatoes, ensuring thorough coverage.
- Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese and ¼ tsp paprika across the top of the casserole.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 30-35 minutes until potatoes turn golden and pork reaches 145°F internal temperature.
- Allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving, helping sauce set and flavors meld.
Notes
- Use a mandoline for super-thin, even potato slices that cook perfectly and create a beautiful layered texture.
- Check pork chops with a meat thermometer to ensure they reach 145°F for safe, juicy results without overcooking.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half and use reduced-fat cheese to cut down on calories.
- Choose bone-in pork chops for deeper flavor and more tender meat that stays moist during baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hours 15-20 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 700 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 30 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg