Au Gratin Potatoes Favorite Family Recipes

Au Gratin Potatoes

Potatoes Au Gratin is one of our family’s very favorite potato dishes. Since many of us hail from the great state of Idaho, we know a thing or two about potatoes. We take our spuds seriously around here. Au Gratin potatoes are simple to make and deliciously rich and so creamy. We love serving them with Easter ham dinner, roast chicken, meatloaf, pot roast or salmon. Just about any meat dish just tastes better with these potatoes served alongside. Leave your diet at the door for just a minute and enjoy a heaping helping of these cheesy potatoes; you will not regret a single bite!

Ingredients

Yukon Gold Potatoes – See below for why we use Yukon Golds in this potatoes au gratin recipe. You can also use russet potatoes. Garlic – One clove of fresh garlic gives this dish so much flavor. Butter – The butter helps the potatoes and sauce not stick to the sides of the pan.Milk & Heavy Cream – Milk and cream warmed together make a creamy, rich cheese sauce for the potatoes to sit in. Gruyere Cheese – See below for why we use gruyere cheese. You can use cheddar cheese if you don’t have gruyere, but I would recommend sharp cheddar.

Method

Different Names for Au Gratin Potatoes

These Potatoes Au Gratin are also called scalloped potatoes or Dauphinoise (dah-feen-was) potatoes. This dish originally comes from the Dauphine region in southeast France. My family has always called them Au Gratin potatoes, but my husband grew up eating “scalloped”. It took us having quite a little argument to realize we were talking about the exact same recipe! No matter what you call them, these potatoes are sure to disappear quickly at your next gathering.

Best Potatoes to Use for this Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe

The best potatoes to use for the dish are gold potatoes. They are smooth and creamy in texture and have a sweet flavor. The inside of the potato is a golden color – thus the name “Yukon Gold.” But if you have russets on hand, by all means, use them! They are flaky and light and can make delicious au gratin potatoes.

What is Gruyere Cheese?

I tried a variety of cheese in this dish that I have never tried before – Gruyere cheese. The semi-soft cheese is especially flavorful and rich. You can find Gruyere cheese in the specialty cheese section in your local grocery store. I found it near the Swiss cheeses. Gruyere cheese is slightly salty and has a creamy, nutty flavor. It is known as being one of the finest cheeses for baking. It melts beautifully and turns a golden brown when baked on top of a casserole or dish in the oven.

Tips for Perfect Au Gratin Potatoes

A helpful tip for baking these in the oven is to place the casserole dish on a rimmed cookie sheet lined with foil. This will help with clean up if the potatoes boil over while cooking, or if it tips when putting it into or pulling it out of the oven.Slice potatoes between ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Any thinner and the potatoes will be too crisp. Thicker slices won’t cook as evenly.Layer potatoes by overlapping the slices slightly. This will help keep the sauce in place so it won’t all seep to the bottom.Add more cheese like cheddar to the Gruyere mixture for even more cheesy flavor.For a slow cooker option, see our recipe for Slow Cooker Au Gratin Potatoes.

What To Serve with Au Gratin Potatoes

Add a serving of these cheesy, creamy au gratin potatoes to any of these dishes and you’ll have a stunning meal everyone will love!

Honey Baked Ham (Copycat recipe)Sunday Pot Roast (Instant Pot Recipe)Rosemary Tri-Tip RoastLemon Pepper ChickenRoast Turkey BreastClaim Jumper Meatloaf (copycat)

Au Gratin Potatoes Favorite Family Recipes