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Home » Recipes » Potato Side Dishes

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe

Published: Dec 28, 2021 Modified: May 4, 2022 by Isabel

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My creamy Au Gratin Potatoes recipe is a holiday game-changer! Filled with creamy garlic potatoes and topped with a cheesy crust, this is an amazing potato bake with so much flavor. Prep in just 10 minutes, bake, and serve. It's even gluten-free!

Potatoes au gratin in a cast iron skillet
Jump to:
  • Best Au Gratin Potatoes
  • FAQ
  • How to Slice Potatoes for Au Gratin
  • Recommended Tools
  • Ingredient Substitutes
  • How to Make Potatoes Au Gratin
  • Recipe Tips
  • Make-Ahead Instructions
  • Storing Instructions
  • Reheating Instructions
  • Best Potato Recipes
  • 📌 Pin it for later!
  • Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe

Best Au Gratin Potatoes

Out of all of the holiday recipes I love to serve every year, au gratin potatoes has to be one of my family's top favorites. There is nothing like a dish of herby, garlicky sliced potatoes in a cheesy, creamy sauce, baked to perfection in a skillet. This is the best recipe for au gratin potatoes ever!

Potatoes au gratin are for more than just the holiday season, too. You can make them for special occasions or as a side dish for weekday meals, and everyone at the table will love the treat. My family asks me for these fairly often, and once you try them, you will know why.

You can make these potatoes au gratin in just one pan following my recipe. Plus, they're gluten-free!

Serve up this delicious scalloped potato gratin with classic holiday dishes like turkey, roast beef, and ham, or as a side dish for weekday dinners like steak and roast chicken. It's easy to make ahead of time and the leftovers heat up beautifully.

A cast iron skillet of au gratin potatoes with a spoon

FAQ

What is difference between scalloped and au gratin potatoes?

The difference between au gratin and scalloped potatoes is the inclusion of cheese. Au gratin potatoes include grated cheese between the layers of potatoes, which makes for a richer and creamier dish. Scalloped potatoes may or may not include cheese. However, the recipes are so similar, you will often hear scalloped potatoes referred to as potatoes au gratin, and vice versa.

What is the best cheese for au gratin potatoes?

The best cheese for au gratin potatoes is gruyere. Gruyere melts well and is richly flavorful and creamy. If using a substitute, use swiss or cheddar cheese instead of gruyere. These cheeses also work well for making a creamy potato au gratin.

Should you peel potatoes for au gratin?

Although this recipe for potatoes au gratin calls for peeling the potatoes, it is not necessary to peel them. If you would rather leave the skin on, you can. Just make sure to wash your potatoes before slicing them.

What potatoes are the best for au gratin potatoes?

Yukon gold potatoes work the best for au gratin potatoes. They are buttery and soft and hold up well to baking in a dish like this. If you need a substitute, use russet potatoes, but Yukon gold really are the best.

What's the difference between potato gratin and dauphinoise?

Just like scalloped potatoes, potatoes dauphinoise and au gratin potatoes have more in common than not. Dauphinoise potatoes are a potato casserole dish consisting of thinly sliced potatoes with a flavored cream sauce and cheese. The primary difference is the inclusion of breadcrumbs in au gratin potatoes.

How to Slice Potatoes for Au Gratin

There are two ways you can easily slice potatoes for au gratin:

  1. Use a food processor with the slicing attachment
  2. Use a mandoline to quickly thinly slice the potatoes

If you don't have a food processor or a mandoline, use a sharp knife to cut the potatoes into thin, even slices. Although we peel the potatoes for this recipe, it is not necessary. You can peel them or leave them unpeeled.

Recommended Tools

Along with a food processor or mandoline, I also recommend:

  • A garlic press with silicone peeler: This is a life-changing device that makes it so easy to peel and smash your garlic.
  • Herb scissors for cutting fresh herbs like thyme. They are such a time saver!

Ingredient Substitutes

  • Gruyere cheese: Use cheddar or swiss
  • Yukon gold potatoes: Use russet potatoes
  • Fresh thyme (optional): Use ¼ teaspoon dried thyme

How to Make Potatoes Au Gratin

  1. Heat your oven to 350°F. Thinly slice your potatoes and place them in cold water for 5 minutes. Toss them in the water to clean them, then drain the water and set aside. Melt butter in a hot oven-safe skillet. I use a 10-inch cast iron skillet with 2-inch sides; this works best. When the butter melts, remove the skillet from the heat and add freshly minced garlic. Stir the garlic to coat it with the butter.
    Garlic in a cast iron skillet
  2. Spread half your sliced potatoes on the bottom of the skillet. Top with heavy whipping cream, Gruyere cheese, salt, pepper, half of your cubed butter, and thyme (if using).
    Cheese, cream, and potatoes in a cast iron skillet
  3. For the next layer, add the remaining potatoes, cream, salt, pepper, butter, and thyme. Finish up by topping with the leftover Gruyere cheese.
    Potatoes au gratin ready to bake in a cast iron skillet
  4. Cover with aluminum foil or the pan lid (if it is oven-safe) and bake for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the foil or lid and check the tenderness of the potatoes using a fork. Once tender but still a bit firm, remove the foil completely and bake another 15-20 minutes until the top has a golden brown crust. Let the dish rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Tips

  • The potatoes should be fork-tender with a little firmness to them. You can bake them for longer if you would like them softer.
  • I use a cast iron skillet for this recipe. You can use a foil pan or a baking dish if you prefer. To use a foil pan, prepare the butter and garlic in a skillet, then add them to the foil pan and layer the ingredients. Bake as instructed.

Make-Ahead Instructions

You can make potatoes au gratin up to 3 days ahead of time. Simply prepare as instructed, wrap with foil, and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Because they will be cold, you will need to bake them for 15-20 minutes longer.

Storing Instructions

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also tightly cover the entire pan and store that way.

Reheating Instructions

To reheat potatoes au gratin, microwave individual portions or place the entire pan back into the oven at the original baking temperature until heated through, about 15 minutes or so (use a thermometer to check).

Best Potato Recipes

  • Au Gratin Potatoes
  • Easy Scalloped Potatoes
  • Riced Potatoes
  • Papas con Chorizo
  • Grilled Potatoes
  • Roasted Small Potatoes

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Potatoes au gratin in a cast iron skillet

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe

Isabel Laessig
Learn how to make au gratin potatoes in a few simple steps! Prep takes 10 minutes, then bake and serve. Rich, decadent, and gluten-free!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 40 mins
Total Time 1 hr 50 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, French
Servings 10
Calories 517 kcal

Equipment

  • Cast iron skillet
  • Sharp knife
  • Aluminum foil

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes peeled and sliced thinly
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic freshly minced
  • 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
  • ½ pound Gruyere cheese shredded about 1½ cups
  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter cut into little cubes
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves optional
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Heat your oven to 350°F. Thinly slice your potatoes and place them in cold water for 5 minutes. Toss them in the water to clean them, then drain the water and set aside. Melt butter in a hot oven-safe skillet. I use a 10-inch cast iron skillet with 2-inch sides; this works best. When the butter melts, remove the skillet from the heat and add freshly minced garlic. Stir the garlic to coat it with the butter.
    2 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes, 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 Tablespoon garlic
    Garlic in a cast iron skillet
  • Spread half your sliced potatoes on the bottom of the skillet. ¾ cup heavy whipping cream, ¾ cup Gruyere cheese, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, half of the cubed butter, and 1 teaspoon thyme (if using).
    2 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes, 1½ cups heavy whipping cream, ½ pound Gruyere cheese shredded, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    Cheese, cream, and potatoes in a cast iron skillet
  • For the next layer, add the remaining potatoes, cream, salt, pepper, butter, and thyme. Finish up by topping with the remaining Gruyere cheese.
    2 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes, 1½ cups heavy whipping cream, ½ pound Gruyere cheese shredded, 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
    Potatoes au gratin ready to bake in a cast iron skillet
  • Cover with aluminum foil or the pan lid (if it is oven-safe) and bake for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the foil or lid and check the tenderness of the potatoes using a fork. Once tender but still a bit firm, remove the foil completely and bake another 15-20 minutes until the top has a golden brown crust. Let the dish rest for 10 minutes before serving.
    A cast iron skillet of au gratin potatoes with a spoon

Nutrition

Calories: 517kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 16gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 553mgPotassium: 699mgFiber: 3gVitamin A: 1500IUVitamin C: 18.8mgCalcium: 471mgIron: 5.1mg
Keyword au gratin potatoes, potato gratin, potatoes au gratin
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About Isabel

Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and hosts Family Foodie Friday on WTSP's Great Day Tampa Bay along with other television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

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