Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe – The Cookie Rookie®

Once I’m craving consolation that feels slightly fancy, I flip to this simple au gratin potatoes. Tender, thinly sliced potatoes bathe in a silky, tacky cream sauce, then bake to golden, bubbly perfection. Each forkful is wealthy, cozy, and completely satisfying.

I make these potatoes au gratin each vacation season as a result of they strike that excellent steadiness between indulgent and easy. The layers of thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes absorb a wealthy, garlicky cream sauce created from butter, milk, and a mix of cheddar, Gruyere, and Parmesan. The cheeses soften collectively right into a silky sauce that bubbles and browns superbly within the oven. It’s the form of facet dish that feels fancy however couldn’t be easier to tug off.

Ideas for Freshmen

• Slice the potatoes evenly. In case your slices are thicker than about ⅛ inch, the facilities could keep agency whereas the sides soften. To repair this, both slice the potatoes thinner (a mandoline makes this fast and constant) or prolong the coated bake time by 10–quarter-hour. The aim is fork-tender potatoes earlier than you uncover them for browning.
• For those who’re brief on time. Wrap the baking pan (non-metal solely!) in plastic wrap earlier than including the cheese sauce, microwave on excessive for 10 minutes, take away the plastic wrap, add the cheese sauce, and bake as directed for about 40-45 minutes.
• Watch the broil. Broilers fluctuate, so maintain an in depth eye throughout that final minute. Transfer the dish to a decrease oven rack if it’s browning too shortly, or tent loosely with foil for the ultimate jiffy to guard the highest whereas the middle finishes cooking.
• For melty cheese. If the sauce appears to be like oily or clumpy, the warmth was seemingly too excessive. All the time take away the pan from the burner earlier than including cheese, and stir slowly to let it soften evenly. You possibly can even add a splash of milk or cream to convey it again collectively if it begins to separate.

Easy methods to Make Au Gratin Potatoes Step by Step

Layer the potatoes and onions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter. Layer 3 lbs of thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes and half of a thinly sliced yellow onion within the baking dish. Put aside.

Soften the butter: In a medium saucepan, soften 4 tbsp of unsalted butter over medium warmth. Add in 2 cloves minced garlic and prepare dinner till aromatic.

Thicken the roux: Sprinkle over ¼ cup of all-purpose flour and whisk till easy and the flour is golden, about 1 minute.

Skinny the sauce: Slowly pour in 1½ cups complete milk whereas whisking, ensuring to shortly whisk out any lumps. Convey to a simmer.

Add the cheese: Take away from the warmth and whisk in 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp floor black pepper, 1 cup shredded cheddar, and ¾ cup shredded gruyere till melted. Pour over the potatoes.

Bake the Casserole: Cowl with foil and bake for 45-60 minutes, or till the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife within the heart of the baking dish.

Brown the casserole: Take away the foil and sprinkle on the remaining ¾ cup of shredded gruyere and ½ cup grated parmesan cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes till the cheese is melted and bubbly. To brown the cheese, broil for 1-2 minutes. Garnish with herbs and serve.

Variations on Potatoes Au Gratin

• You need to use crimson potatoes rather than Yukon Gold.
• Be happy to modify up the cheese. Another nice cheeses embrace Swiss, fontina, Havarti, gouda, or mozzarella.
• Strive including 6-8 ounces of chopped cooked bacon or ham!
• Strive including 1-2 teaspoons of contemporary herbs to the cheese sauce.
• Strive topping your casserole with breadcrumbs or crumbled Ritz crackers.

Easy methods to Retailer and Reheat

Retailer leftover au gratin potatoes in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven coated with foil for about 20 minutes, or till scorching.

Freeze au gratin potatoes in particular person parts in hermetic containers for as much as 2 weeks. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.

To make forward, assemble (with out remaining cheese on prime), cowl tightly, and refrigerate in a single day. When baking, add an additional 10–quarter-hour below foil earlier than continuing to the cheese stage.

Serving Ideas

Potatoes au gratin are the last word creamy, tacky facet dish for any vacation feast. They’re the form of consolation meals that feels particular sufficient for a celebration, whether or not it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. I particularly love how they pair superbly with nearly any vacation most important dish—from juicy turkey and glazed ham to a sublime beef tenderloin or roast.

Our Au Gratin Potatoes recipe was initially printed 11/20/22. It was retested, reworked, and republished to be higher than ever 11/7/25.