Potatoes Au Gratin are a dinnertime staple around here! Tender potato and onion slices smothered in a quick cheesy sauce and baked until golden.
Au Gratin Potatoes is a family favorite recipe in my home! This side comes together easily and creates a cheesy and creamy dish that is unbelievably yummy!
I love cheese! It is no secret that I can’t resist it! Even better when it’s smothering my fave potatoes! This is the perfect dish to serve next to a perfectly cooked pork tenderloin or even with a delicious Easter Ham!
How to make Potatoes Au Gratin
Potatoes Au Gratin satisfy my need for creamy, cheesy goodness and creates a side dish that your entire family will love! The recipe comes together very easily!
- Thinly slice potatoes and onions (I use a simple inexpensive mandoline, it’s under $20 and saves tons of time).
- Stack the potatoes in little piles and then stand them upright in your casserole dish (instead of laying them flat like a traditional gratin). This is easy to do and makes this potatoes au gratin beautiful! It adds both extra texture and flavor with the crispy edges on the potatoes (and who doesn’t love the crispy yummy cheesy bits)!!
- A simple and silky homemade cheese sauce loaded with flavor smothers these potatoes.
- Bake these Potatoes Au Gratin for about 90 minutes.
While we most often eat these as a side, I sometimes make Potatoes Au Gratin with ham by including slices or diced leftover ham (from our favorite Crock Pot Ham) before baking.
I’ve tested countless varieties to figure out what is the best cheese for potatoes au gratin… and they are cheeses that have lots of flavor. You’ll want to select varieties with a sharper flavor such as a sharp cheddar or gruyere (or swiss) or even sprinkle in some feta. The gruyere cheese I use adds a rich flavor to the Au Gratin Potatoes that truly cannot be matched; if you can get it, I highly recommend that you do! If gruyere isn’t available a mild provolone or swiss can be substituted for a similar flavor!
What is the best type of potato to use for scalloped potatoes?
Using a Red skinned or Yukon gold potato will give the best results in this recipe as these two waxy potatoes can hold their shape well. While russet or all purpose potatoes would taste good, the dish itself can become mushy.
If you’re a little short on time, set the potatoes and onions in the dish as directed and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on full power for about 10 minutes (be careful, it will be hot when removing the plastic wrap). Add the cheese sauce and bake as directed below for about 45-55 minutes. Equally delicious… just a little bit quicker!
You may be wondering, What is the difference between scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes? They’re both very similar containing potatoes (and often onions) baked until tender in a creamy sauce. Au Gratin is defined as covered with breadcrumbs or cheese where as according to the dictionary, scalloped refers to “bake with milk or a sauce”. In the case of this recipe, the difference is the cheese within the sauce. Truthfully, I think the term scalloped potatoes is often still used if there is cheese within the dish!
More Amazing Potato Dishes You’ll Love
Au Gratin Potatoes
Potatoes are a dinnertime staple for good reason! They are versatile and there are so many ways to prepare them! Au Gratin Potatoes is a family favorite recipe in my home! This side comes together easily and creates a cheesy and creamy dish that is unbelievably yummy!
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Preheat oven to 400°F.
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Wash potatoes and slice into ⅛” thin slices. Slice onion as thin as possible.
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Layer potatoes and onions in little stacks. Place stacks upright in a greased casserole dish.
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Melt butter & flour in a sauce pan and cook 2-3 minutes. Add seasonings and milk. Whisk over medium heat until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in cheeses until melted.
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Spoon cheese sauce over potatoes. Cover with foil (sprayed with cooking spray) and bake 60 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20-30 minutes or until lightly browned and potatoes are cooked.
To reduce baking time, wrap casserole dish in plastic wrap before adding the cheese sauce and microwave on full power for about 10 minutes (be careful, it will be hot when removing the plastic wrap). Add the cheese sauce and bake as directed below for about 45-55 minutes. Equally delicious… just a little bit quicker!
Calories: 268, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 38mg, Sodium: 205mg, Potassium: 774mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 475IU, Vitamin C: 13.2mg, Calcium: 278mg, Iron: 1.3mg
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
Keyword gratin potatoes, Potatoes Au Gratin
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Repin this Delicious Casserole
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