Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

These vegan scalloped potatoes are rich, creamy, and oozing with cheesy flavor! Thinly sliced potatoes are layered with a velvety cream sauce and shredded vegan cheese and baked until golden brown and bubbly. This dairy-free version of a classic comfort food is perfect for the holidays or any festive occasion!

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Texture perfection: The thinly sliced potatoes turn ultra-tender in the oven, which contrasts perfectly with the rich sauce and slightly crispy topping.
• No dairy necessary: This easy vegan scalloped potatoes recipe offers the richness and comfort you expect from scalloped potatoes without any need for dairy.
• Versatile: Yes, this dish is great for holiday feasts, but it’s also simple enough to make for family dinners or a weeknight meal.
• Easy to customize: We’ve kept the add-ins to a minimum, but you can customize the herbs and spices, add nutritional yeast to the sauce, and choose your favorite vegan cheese to make this recipe your own.

If you love comforting potato dishes like vegan scalloped potatoes, check out our vegan sweet potato casserole, vegan mashed sweet potatoes, red skin mashed potatoes, and vegan stewed potatoes.

🥔 What are scalloped potatoes?

Although largely unknown, scalloped potatoes are believed to have originated in England, with the term ‘scallop’ referring to how the potatoes are sliced. This dish consists of thinly sliced potatoes layered in a casserole dish with a savory cream sauce. 

The potatoes are infused with the aromatic sauce during the baking process, transforming into a deliciously tender texture. Each bite is ultra-creamy and comforting, but this dish is loaded with butter and cream.

Enter vegan scalloped potatoes.

🌱 The best vegan scalloped potatoes

Vegan scalloped potatoes are our take on this traditional dish, offering all the same comfort and richness without any need for dairy products.

The creamy texture is achieved with soy milk and vegan butter, while the flavor is enriched with sautéed onions and garlic. We like to add a sprinkle of vegan cheese, which technically makes this recipe more like potatoes au gratin, but who cares what it’s called (shhhh, no one will know)!

Serve vegan scalloped potatoes at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or any family gathering and no one will be able to tell it’s completely dairy-free. Seriously, it’s a great dish to introduce to friends and family who are new to vegan cuisine because it’s both familiar and insanely delicious!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Potatoes: Our favorite varieties to use are Yukon Gold or plain ol’ white potatoes since you don’t have to peel them (easier for everyone!), but you can also use peeled Russet potatoes or red potatoes if you prefer.
• Vegan butter: Forms the base of the cream sauce, adding a rich, indulgent flavor. If you don’t have vegan butter, swap in an equivalent amount of olive oil.
• Onion: White or yellow onions work best for this sauce, but red onions will do the trick in a pinch. Alternatively, you can use shallots for a milder onion flavor.
• Garlic: Adds a distinctively savory, full-bodied taste. Fresh garlic is preferred here, but garlic powder can work if that’s all you have. Use a ¼ teaspoon for every clove.
• All-purpose flour: Used to thicken the sauce. If you’re sensitive to gluten or have allergies, all-purpose flour can be replaced with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
• Soy milk: Makes up the bulk of the sauce, offering a creamy, silky-smooth consistency. Cashew or oat milk are the next best options, followed by almond.
• Vegetable broth: Enhances the savory flavor of the sauce. Use either vegetable broth, vegetable stock powder, or vegetable bouillon with added water.
• Salt & pepper: Be generous with the seasonings since potatoes can handle a lot! Use sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper for the best results.
• Vegan cheese: We add a layer on top for the perfect finishing touch. Feel free to use cheddar, mozzarella, or any of your other favorite vegan cheese varieties.
• Fresh herbs: For a pop of color and herbaceous flavor at the end. Parsley, chives, and dill are all great options.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make vegan scalloped potatoes

Step 1: Prepare the potatoes

Always wash the potatoes thoroughly before slicing them. We prefer to leave ours unpeeled, but you can also peel them at this time. Using a mandolin or a sharp chef’s knife, make uniformly thin slices (or as uniform as possible).

Transfer the potatoes to a mixing bowl, then cover it with a damp towel to prevent the slices from browning while you prepare the sauce.

Step 2: Sauté the aromatics

Sauté the onions in vegan butter until they’re translucent for the perfect level of sweetness. Then, add the minced garlic and give it a good stir. Sprinkle all-purpose flour on top of the aromatics, then stir everything until the flour is thoroughly incorporated.

Step 3: Form the sauce

Slowly add the soy milk and broth while whisking to prevent flour lumps from forming, then simmer the sauce for a few minutes to thicken it. Lastly, season the sauce with salt and pepper.

Step 4: Layer the dish

Create a layer of potato slices on the bottom of a 9×9 baking pan, then top them with about a third of the sauce and spread it around evenly. Add another layer of potatoes followed by more sauce, and then a third layer of potatoes and more sauce.

Sprinkle the top with shredded vegan cheese. You can also layer some vegan cheese throughout the dish, reserving some for the top. It’s up to you!

Step 5: Bake the potatoes

Before baking, cover the pan with foil to keep the moisture in. Bake these vegan scalloped potatoes for 45 minutes, then uncover the pan for another 15 minutes to get a crispy, cheesy top.

For an extra golden top, broil the dish for a few extra minutes at the end. Let them cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving with fresh herbs. Happy eating!

If you have questions about this vegan scalloped potatoes recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🥗 What to serve with vegan scalloped potatoes

For a complete holiday spread, serve your vegan scalloped potatoes with dishes like these:

• Salads: A fresh apple walnut salad, kale Caesar salad, or coleslaw.
• Mains: Try tofu steaks, cauliflower steaks, vegan chicken or vegan fried chicken, vegan pot pie, vegan meatloaf, or tempeh slices.
• Other vegetable sides: Pair it with air fryer green beans, air fryer eggplant, air fryer Brussels sprouts, or potatoes and green beans.

🌡️ Storage & reheating

If you end up with leftover vegan scalloped potatoes, here’s what to do:

• Fridge: Once cooled, store leftovers in the baking pan with a cover or transfer them to an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
• Freezer: For longer periods, you can freeze vegan scalloped potatoes. Let the dish cool, then transfer everything to a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months.
• Reheating: If frozen, let the potatoes thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat your vegan scalloped potatoes, covered, in the oven at 350F until hot and bubbly. Microwaving works in a pinch but will make the potatoes more dry and chewy.
• Prep ahead: You can prepare the cream sauce and slice the potatoes 1-2 days in advance. Store the potatoes submerged in water and the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready.

♻️ Variations

• Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce.
• Herb infused: Mix in rosemary, thyme, or oregano for an aromatic twist.
• Gluten-free: Use gluten-free flour and ensure your vegan cheese is gluten-free.
• Cashews: While we prefer our vegan scalloped potatoes without cashews, you can soak and blend cashews with the aromatics for another gluten-free option.
• Crunchy top: Add a layer of breadcrumbs on top for an au gratin-style dish.
• Garlic: Add roasted garlic cloves in between layers for extra garlicky flavors.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Even slices: Ensure the potatoes are cut to an even size for uniform cooking. If you have one on hand, use a mandoline to get the job done faster!
• Make a roux: The roux (vegan butter and flour) creates the foundation for a thick and delicious sauce. Don’t skip this step!
• Layering: Ensure each potato layer is evenly coated with the cream sauce before starting the next layer.
• Seasoning: Season the potatoes with salt and pepper between layers for a more flavorful vegan scalloped potatoes recipe.
• Cheese choice: Opt for a vegan cheese that melts well. These are the 5 vegan cheeses that melt like real cheese, according to Vegan Foundry.
• Bake with foil: Initially covering the dish with foil creates steam, helping the potatoes cook faster.
• Resting time: Let the dish sit for a few minutes after baking so it has time to set.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More side dishes

If you enjoyed this easy vegan scalloped potatoes recipe, you might also like these other side dishes:

• Vegan Cornbread: Sweet, savory, tender, and perfectly moist.
• Vegan Biscuits: Perfect for breakfast sandwiches and soaking up vegan gravy.
• Vegan Potato Soup: Hearty and satisfying chunky potato soup.
• Vegan Mashed Potatoes: Made with 5 ingredients and ready in 25 minutes!
• Vegan Potato Salad: A delicious and dairy-free twist on a classic!