Easy Dutch Oven Potatoes

Steps

1. 1

   Scrub and peel the potatoes. Slice them into even pieces; a food processor, mandoline, hand slicer, or knife may be used. Even slices help the potatoes cook at the same rate.

2. 2

   Prepare a Dutch oven with its lid. The source uses a 10-inch Dutch oven and notes that approximately 15–20 smaller potatoes fit well in that size.

3. 3

   Place a few slices of butter in the bottom of the Dutch oven. If desired, use bacon grease in place of some of the butter for a smoky bacon flavor.

4. 4

   Arrange a layer of sliced potatoes over the butter, covering the bottom as evenly as possible.

5. 5

   Add approximately one-fourth of the sliced onion over the potato layer.

6. 6

   Season the layer with salt and pepper to taste, then sprinkle on about 1/8 teaspoon of seasoning salt.

7. 7

   Repeat the potato, onion, seasoning, and thin butter-sliver layers two or three more times, or until the ingredients are used. The butter should be sliced into thin slivers so it spreads easily between the layers.

8. 8

   Pour about 1/4 cup of apple juice, water, or Sprite into the Dutch oven. Do not add more liquid than specified; the potatoes will release additional moisture as they cook.

9. 9

   Preheat an oven to 350°F (180 °C) (175°C (350 °F)). Place the covered Dutch oven in the oven and cook for about 55 minutes, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife.

   Start 55-minute timer
10. 10

    Keep the Dutch oven covered while cooking. The potatoes will cook down by approximately one-third, so do not overfill the pot.

11. 11

    About 5 minutes before the potatoes are completely done, scatter the grated cheese over the top.

    Start 5-minute timer
12. 12

    Return the covered Dutch oven to the oven and cook for approximately 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are fully tender.

13. 13

    Do not stir the potatoes or add additional liquid. Serve hot directly from the Dutch oven.