The best Potatoes Au Gratin recipe has layers of thin potatoes covered in a creamy, homemade cheese sauce. It's a simple classic and impresses any guest.
Want more side dishes? Make Fresh Fruit Salad, Poutine, Quinoa Salad, and Roasted Vegetables!
The best Potatoes Au Gratin
The best Potatoes Au GratinIf I could only pick one potatoes side dish for the holidays, it would be au gratin potatoes every time. It reminds me of delicious homemade mac and cheese, with it's creamy and cheesy sauce–with potatoes instead of pasta–but it can pass for an elegant side dish. It's a classic French recipe that requires basic ingredients everyone has, and it's always a crowd pleaser.
Au Gratin Potatoes vs Scalloped Potatoes:
These two potato dishes are often confused since they are so similar. The biggest difference is that scalloped potatoes are cooked in cream, and au gratin potatoes are baked with cheese. In this recipe, we use a cheese sauce and shredded cheese on top, then bake in the oven until bubbly.
How to make Potatoes Au Gratin:
Make Sauce: For the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan then stir in flour, cooking for a minute or two. Stir in milk, garlic, salt, dried onions, and pepper and bring to a simmer. Whisk until smooth, and once it is slightly thickened, stir in 2 cups of shredded cheese.
Slice Potatoes: Use a mandolin or a sharp knife to slice russet potatoes very thin. You can peel the potatoes or leave it on.
Assemble and Bake: Arrange half of the sliced potatoes in the bottom of a 9×13 dish and pour half the sauce over them. Add another layer of potatoes, then the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 30 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked and the cheese is bubbly.
Serve with ham, rack of lamb, or baked salmon. Make sure to add some homemade rolls and salad too!
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions:
To Store: Stores leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warm.
To Make Ahead: Follow the recipe until the baking step. Cover pan with aluminum foil then refrigerate overnight. Remove from fridge 1 hour before baking as instructed.
Recipe Variations:
- Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes: Coat the bottom of a slow cooker with cooking spray and layer potatoes and cheese sauce. Place lid on top and cook on high for 3 hours, until the potatoes are cooked.
- Ham and Potatoes Au Gratin: Layer 1 ½ cups chopped ham on top of the potatoes then cover with cheese sauce.
What to Serve with Au Gratin Potatoes:
Serve With:
- Beef Tenderloin Roast
- Prime Rib
- Baked Ham
- Rack of Lamb
- Cedar Plank Salmon
- Marinated Flank Steak
- Meatloaf
- Easy Roast Chicken
- Thanksgiving Turkey
- Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Spatchcock Chicken
- Garlic Chicken
- Honey Mustard Chicken
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Recipe
Potatoes Au Gratin
Equipment
- Mandolin optional
Ingredients
- 6 medium Russet potatoes
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
- salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
- 3 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese ,or Gruyere, (or half of each)
Instructions
- Cheese sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in flour until smooth. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly stir in the milk, cream, minced garlic, dried onions, and season with salt and pepper. Whisk sauce on low until smooth and slightly thickened. Reduce heat and stir in 2 cups of shredded cheese until melted and smooth. Taste sauce and add additional salt, pepper, garlic or onion flakes, if desired.
- Prep Potatoes: Peel the potatoes if you'd like. Slice the potatoes into very thin 1/8'' slices.
- Layer: Place half of the sliced potatoes in a lightly greased 9×13 inch casserole dish. Pour half of the cheese sauce over potatoes. Layer the remaining potatoes on top. Spoon the remaining cheese sauce over the potatoes. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Bake: Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking, uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked, cheese is browned, and sauce is bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe December 2013. Updated December 2018, November 2021, September 2022 and November 2024.
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Made exactly as directed and it was delicious! Everyone is a fan. Thanks!
Would it be possible to make this in the microwave since the roast will be in the oven?
If you can put it in the oven with the roast, I’d do that over microwaving OR bake this first and reheat in the microwave or while the roast is resting.
Delicious recipe I halved it because its only my husband and I and it was so good. The only thing that can make it better is gruyere cheese which I will most definitely do next time.
Very delicious, we tweaked the recipe a bit and threw it on the smoker for smoked potato au gratin and it turned out wonderful
Delicious. I only made half the recipe for three people. I made it the night before and cooked halfway without cheese on top. Some of the potatoes turned black and looked gross but I finished cooking and we ate it anyway.
I also used some sautéed onions because I didn’t have onion flakes.
I will make again but cook it all of the way and just reheat the next day.
Had these with ham for Christmas dinner. They were delicious! First time I had ever made potatoes au gratin. This recipe does not disappoint! Thick & rich & creamy! Yum!!
Made these for Christmas Eve dinner with ham and they were delicious and easy to make. I had to increase the cooking time a bit though.
You say it’s 292 calories how much is that for 1/4, 1/2, or a cup?
I only had couple cups of sharp cheese so I added a cup of Philadelphia cream chz onion dip and 1/2 cup of cheese whiz and 1 package of onion soup mix. Amazing Creamy flavor. Baked on 350 for 1 hr.
First time making potatoes au gratin and it definitely won’t be the last. I tried this on a whim and it was the first thing gone. Literally, my family basically licked the pan clean. Delicious!
Don’t the potatoes turn brown if you wait to bake this the next day?
I was so excited to make this for our Christmas day feast. I made two casseroles and had them sit overnight in the fridge to bake on Christmas. I was very disappointed to see that many potatoes had turned gray -very unappetizing to me! I think they tasted ok, though, but not what I anticipated!
I understand this is a problem with potatoes due to their “starch” content and they need to be covered tightly so air doesn’t get to them?
I won’t be making these again 🙁