How to Fix Up Instant Scalloped Potatoes
Between work and running kids to and from school and activities, it's tough to get a homemade meal on the dinner table. Using ready-made, instant foods that only require you to add a few basic ingredients will save you time while still avoiding fast food. Instant scalloped potatoes, for example, only require you to add hot water before baking or microwaving. The downside is that the potatoes, like many other instant foods, are often very bland-tasting. You can add herbs and spices, meat, cheese or vegetables to the instant scalloped potatoes to add interest and enhance their flavor. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder or other spices of your choice)
- Dried or fresh herbs (basil, oregano, thyme or other herbs of your choice)
- Hot sauce
- Grated cheese (cheddar, Parmesan or other cheese of your choice)
- Diced meat (cooked ham, chicken or beef)
- Cooked vegetables (Spinach, broccoli or corn)
Instructions
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Add seasonings, spices and sauces to the scalloped potatoes prior to baking them. You can add salt and pepper, some garlic powder and a variety of herbs such as oregano, basil or thyme. Add the spices and herbs to suit your taste preferences and stir them in well. Top with a pat of butter or margarine. If you like heat, try adding a bit of hot sauce to the potatoes.
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Grate fresh cheese and add to the potatoes. Fresh grated cheese will enhance the flavor of the cheese that was included in the boxed mix of scalloped potatoes. Sprinkle the potatoes with a layer of grated cheddar, Parmesan or other cheese of your choice before baking or microwaving, and add an additional light sprinkling of grated cheese to the potatoes immediately upon removing them from the oven. The heat from the potatoes will cause the additional cheese on top to melt.
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Add diced meat. The addition of cooked meat adds protein and flavor to the scalloped potatoes. Add diced ham, leftover chicken breast or even leftover diced steak. Mix the meat into the instant potatoes before heating in the microwave or oven.
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Stir in vegetables. Vegetables make the scallops heartier and add a healthy element. Vegetable stir-in ideas include sauteéd spinach, steamed broccoli florets and steamed corn.
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Tips & Warnings
Make a full meal by adding cheese, vegetables and meat along with the instant potatoes in a casserole dish and bake until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
For cheesy scalloped potatoes with a spicy kick, add grated jalapeño monterrey jack cheese.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
