Trader Joe’s has a lot of seasonal items which means you only get to try them at certain times of the year. These scalloped potatoes are one of them and will pair well with many of your favorite holiday dishes.
They come in a 17 oz. package and are located in the refrigerated section of the store. The price for the Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes are $5.99. This was price checked at the Chino Hills location located in Southern California.
Overall, we rated this item a 2/5. The lack of flavor leaves more to be desired. However, the preparation of this dish is fast and easy. Either heat it in your oven, or in the microwave for a quick and easy side dish.
Continue reading below for a full breakdown of these scalloped potatoes.
Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes Quick Look
| Where to Find | Refrigerated Section |
| Price | $5.99 |
| Cook Time | 3-4 Minutes (Microwave), 25 Minutes (Oven) |
| Food Allergens | Contains Milk |
| Our Rating : 2/5 | 1- Bad 2- Tolerable 3- Good 4- Love it 5- Must Try It |
What Does Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes Taste Like?
The first bite was rather shocking as there was a strong taste of both onion as well as garlic. Although there is garlic paste as well as leeks listed on the ingredients, it was a very overpowering taste.
The label on the package says four cheese, but the cheese flavor is rather subtle. The potatoes were both tender and very creamy from the cheese, however there should have been a much more pronounced cheese flavor as this is what the dish is all about.
Also, since the potatoes are cooked with the plastic wrap slightly peeled off for ventilation, there is no real crust on the top of the potatoes which are key to excellent scalloped potatoes.
The overall texture of the potatoes was soft and tender, with no crust on the top for the additional texture.
This can probably be fixed by completely removing the plastic for the last few minutes and cooking under a broiler, but we cooked this as labeled.
How Do You Cook Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes?
There are two different ways to prepare the scalloped potatoes. You can either prepare them in the microwave, or in the oven.
If you have a lot of time, then we definitely recommend cooking them in the oven for the best results. If you are short on time or in a hurry, cooking the potatoes in the microwave will be the fastest option.
Oven Instructions
The first step is to preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Next, remove the outer cardboard sleeve and peel back a small corner of the plastic film for ventilation. Place the entire package on a baking sheet and place it into the center of your oven.
Do not place the tray directly on your oven rack. Always use a baking sheet or cookie sheet to safely place and remove the scalloped potatoes tray.
Heat the potatoes for about 25 minutes, or longer, until it is thoroughly heated.
Microwave Instructions
The heating directions for the microwave are for a 1,200 watt powered microwave. If you have a microwave with less wattage, you will need to slightly increase the cooking time.
Remove the scalloped potatoes from the cardboard outer sleeve. Lift open and vent one corner of the plastic film.
Place the container with the potatoes into the microwave and heat it on high for 3-4 minutes. Let it sit in the microwave for an additional 2 minutes while it continues to cook from the accumulated steam inside the packaging.
After the allotted time is up, take the package out of the microwave and serve.
What Goes Well With Scalloped Potatoes?
Scalloped potatoes are a great side dish to many main course meals. Scalloped potatoes are both rich and creamy, which makes them taste great with just about any dish.
Scalloped potatoes go great with ham, salmon, chicken, pork chops, beef, bbq ribs, and so much more. They also go great with many holiday dishes and are among one of the most common side dishes you will run into when looking for different holiday recipes.
We decided to pair our scalloped potatoes with beef milanesas and broccoli. A milanesa is simply a thin piece of beef or chicken that has been breaded and pan fried to perfection. We then top it off with lemon for some additional flavor.
Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes Nutrition Information
Each package of Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes contains 3.5 servings. Each serving size is about 1/2 cup or 140g.
Each 1/2 cup serving provides 170 calories, 8g of total fat, 20g of total carbs, and 5g protein. The sodium content is rather low as well. It only contains 340mg of sodium per serving.
Overall, the nutritional content of these potatoes are balanced quite well, especially if you are watching your caloric intake.
Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes Ingredients
- Cooked Potatoes (potato, water), Water, Heavy Cream, Shredded Cheese Blend (parmesan cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme], Asiago Cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese cultures salt, microbial enzyme], Cellulose Powder [anti-caking agent])
- Pasteurized Milk, Leeks, Cornstarch Olive Oil, Roasted Garlic Puree, Sea Salt, Yeast Extract, Dehydrated Garlic, White Pepper, Nutmeg
Contains Milk
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Scalloped Potatoes?
Scalloped potatoes generally consist of thinly sliced potatoes that are layered in a casserole dish. It is then baked with either milk or heavy cream until the potatoes are tender in consistency.
The cream used on the scalloped potatoes often contain many different types of fresh herbs and seasoning.
Can You Freeze Trader Joe’s Scalloped Potatoes?
Trader Joes Scalloped Potatoes should not be frozen. Although you can freeze them, it is not recommended as this can alter the taste as well as the texture of the potatoes and consistency of the sauce.
This is the primary reason these potatoes are found in the refrigerated section of the store.
How Do You Reheat Scalloped Potatoes Without Drying Them Out?
A good way to keep your scalloped potatoes moist when reheating them is by adding a little bit of milk or water and covering them with a lid or moist paper towel.
Final Thoughts
In the end, we gave the Trader Joe’s Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes a 2/5 rating.
This dish leaves so much to be desired, especially with the name being four cheese. It has an overpowering taste of garlic and leeks, with not much cheese flavor to balance it out. The current cooking directions also doesn’t allow for the potatoes to form a crust which is another downside.
On the plus side, preparation of this side dish can be quick and easy. Simply throw it in the microwave for a quick side dish, or let it slow cook in the oven for a more homestyle taste.