Creamy Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe: A Heavenly Side

Creamy, golden, and utterly irresistible, these cheesy au gratin potatoes will steal the show at any dinner table.

Layers of thinly sliced potatoes nestled with rich, melted cheese create a comfort food masterpiece that speaks directly to the soul.

Sharp cheddar and smooth gruyère mingle beautifully in this classic au gratin potatoes recipe, promising a side dish that’s both elegant and deeply satisfying.

Each forkful delivers a perfect balance of crispy edges and velvety interior, making this dish impossible to resist.

Baked until golden and bubbling, these potatoes transform simple ingredients into a culinary celebration.

You’ll find yourself returning for seconds, eager to savor every decadent bite of this crowd-pleasing sensation.

How to Serve These Potatoes with Confidence

• Rustic Family Platter: Serve this cheesy potato dish alongside roasted chicken or grilled steak for a hearty, comforting meal that brings everyone together at the dinner table.
• Elegant Brunch Companion: Pair these creamy potatoes with a simple green salad and poached eggs for a sophisticated weekend brunch that impresses guests with minimal effort.
• Potluck Superstar: Transport this dish in a covered casserole to community gatherings or holiday parties, where its rich, golden-brown top will be the talk of the event.
• BBQ Side Dish Delight: Complement summer barbecue meats like pulled pork or grilled ribeye with these decadent potatoes for a crowd-pleasing side that screams comfort food.

Keeping Au Gratin Potatoes Fresh and Flavorful

• Smart Batch Preparation: Make a double portion and separate into two dishes – one for immediate serving and another for future meals, storing the second batch in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Cool the potato dish completely before storing in an airtight container, which helps maintain texture and prevents moisture buildup for maximum freshness.
• Freezer-Friendly Tip: Wrap the unbaked casserole tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking for best results.
• Portion Control Hack: Divide the au gratin potatoes into individual serving containers for easy grab-and-go lunches or quick reheating, ensuring convenient meal planning throughout the week.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 372 kcal

Servings: 6

Ingredients List for Au Gratin Potatoes

• Russet Potatoes: Starchy variety perfect for creating a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture with excellent absorption of creamy sauce.
• Yellow Potatoes: Buttery alternative offering a slightly firmer bite and rich, golden undertones.

• Heavy Cream: Ultra-rich base that creates luxurious, smooth sauce with deep, velvety consistency.
• Whole Milk: Adds lighter dimension and helps balance the cream's intensity.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Provides tangy, bold flavor with excellent melting properties and sharp undertones.
• Parmesan Cheese: Brings nutty, salty complexity and helps create golden crispy top layer.

• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that infuses deep, savory notes throughout the dish.
• Salt: Essential for awakening and balancing all other flavor profiles.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle warmth and gentle spiciness to complement creamy elements.
• Thyme: Delicate herb that introduces subtle earthy and slightly minty undertones.
• Butter: Provides rich, silky texture and helps prevent sticking while adding luxurious flavor.

What You’ll Need to Layer Au Gratin Like a Pro

• Large Sharp Knife: Perfect for peeling potatoes cleanly and precisely.
• Mandoline Slicer: Creates uniform, paper-thin potato slices for even cooking and beautiful presentation.
• 9×13-inch Baking Dish: Provides ideal space for layering potatoes and creating a golden, crispy top.
• Cutting Board: Stable surface for slicing potatoes safely.
• Cheese Grater: Helps shred cheese for melting over the potatoes.
• Mixing Bowl: Useful for preparing cheese sauce or mixing ingredients.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities.

Simple Instructions for Rich, Potatoes

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 375°F, getting ready for some potato magic.

• Prepare the Baking Vessel

Grab a 9×13-inch dish and give it a generous coating of butter or nonstick spray to prevent any sticky situations.

• Slice the Potato Canvas

Unleash your inner chef by transforming potatoes into paper-thin rounds. A mandoline is your secret weapon for creating perfectly uniform slices that will melt together beautifully.

• Layer the Potato Masterpiece

Arrange your potato slices in overlapping rows, creating a delicate landscape of starchy goodness. Each slice should gently nestle against its neighbor.

• Create the Creamy Sauce

Whisk together heavy cream, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. This luxurious mixture will transform your potato layers into a dreamy, indulgent dish.

• Pour and Distribute

Gently cascade the cream mixture over the potato layers, ensuring every slice gets a loving splash of creamy goodness. Sprinkle shredded cheese generously across the top.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the dish into the preheated oven and let it bake for about 60-75 minutes. You’re looking for a gorgeous golden-brown top and potatoes that are tender when pierced with a fork.

• Rest and Serve

Allow the dish to rest for 10-15 minutes after removing from the oven. This helps the sauce set and makes serving easier. Scoop out generous portions and enjoy the creamy, cheesy potato paradise you’ve created.

Customizing Your Au Gratin with Cheeses or Spices

• Slicing Perfection: Use a sharp mandoline or food processor for consistently thin potato slices, ensuring even cooking and a beautifully layered texture.
• Cheese Selection Flexibility: Experiment with different cheeses like gruyère, fontina, or sharp cheddar to create unique flavor profiles and match your taste preferences.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Swap regular milk and cheese with plant-based alternatives like coconut milk, nutritional yeast, and vegan cheese to make this dish suitable for lactose-intolerant or vegan diners.
• Herb Infusion Magic: Add fresh thyme, rosemary, or chives between potato layers to introduce extra aromatic depth and elevate the overall taste of the dish.
• Make-Ahead Convenience: Prepare the entire casserole up to a day in advance, cover, and refrigerate, then bake just before serving to save time during meal preparation.

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe

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4.8 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Irresistible creamy au gratin potatoes showcase layers of thinly sliced potatoes melted with rich cheese and cream. Comfort cuisine from France delivers a delectable side dish that will make diners crave more.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 lbs (900 g) russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ½ cup shredded Gruyere or Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup additional shredded cheese
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• ½ cup whole milk
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsps butter
• 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

1. Prepare Oven: Preheat oven to 375F (190C), creating an optimal environment for baking the creamy potato dish.
2. Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray, ensuring no potato layers will stick during cooking.
3. Slice Potatoes: Using a mandoline or sharp knife, thinly and uniformly slice potatoes, removing skins and creating delicate, translucent rounds for layering.
4. Layer and Season: Arrange potato slices in overlapping rows, alternating with salt, pepper, garlic, and grated cheese to distribute flavors throughout the dish.
5. Create Cream Sauce: Whisk cream, garlic, salt, and pepper together until smooth, creating a rich and velvety liquid to saturate the potato layers completely.
6. Assemble and Cover: Pour cream mixture over potatoes, ensuring complete coverage, then sprinkle remaining cheese on top and seal with aluminum foil.
7. Bake and Finish: Place in preheated oven and cook for 45-50 minutes, removing foil during the final 15 minutes to allow the top to turn golden and crispy.
8. Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let stand 10-15 minutes, allowing sauce to set and flavors to meld before presenting this luxurious potato gratin.

Notes

• Slice Potatoes Evenly: Use a mandoline slicer for consistent, thin potato rounds that cook uniformly and create a beautiful layered texture.
• Control Moisture Carefully: Pat potato slices dry before layering to prevent excess water that could make the dish soggy and compromise the creamy consistency.
• Cheese Selection Matters: Choose high-quality melting cheeses like Gruyère or sharp cheddar for maximum flavor and perfect golden-brown top.
• Prevent Burning: Watch closely during the final uncovered baking stage to ensure a golden crust without scorching the potatoes or cheese.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Dinner, Side Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 410
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 17 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg