If you're looking for an easy and delicious side dish for dinner, look no further than au gratin potatoes! This classic potato dish is simple to make and always a hit with family and friends. Plus, it's perfect for any occasion - from weeknight dinners to special occasions. So what are you waiting for? Get started on your au gratin potatoes today!
While my sweet potato gratin and hasselback potatoes is for those looking for a twist, these Classic Homemade Au Gratin Potatoes are one for the record books and you need it in your life STAT.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
I mean, what's not to love about thinly sliced potatoes layered with heavy cream, tons of cheese, herbs, salt and pepper? It's basically the most magical side dish on the planet whether you are making beef tenderloin or a roast chicken. If you want to be doing a stovetop main to coordinate oven time easier, make it with the pan seared salmon. I am NOT to be left alone with this dish. Somehow these Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes always disappear very quickly and I don't want to be held accountable. I'll be making them for Friendsgiving this year and I CANNOT WAIT!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Shredded Gruyere Cheese an absolute must for this classic french dish!!
- Freshly Shredded Parmesan Cheese I like to freshly shred my parmesan cheese as it melted better and it's more flavorful that the pre-shredded kind!
- Crispy Pancetta go ahead and take a helping hand from the store and buy the pre-diced pancetta and then crisp that up. No need to add any extra oil or fat to the pan. As the pancetta starts to cook, it'll release plenty of fat.
- Heavy Cream go for the full fat! You need that thick heavy cream to cook the potatoes in.
- Garlic while maybe not traditional, I love adding garlic to this dish as it just infuses the entire thing with flavor and it's absolutely fantastic.
- Thyme you know me and my fresh herbs - always mandatory.
- Russet Potatoes my favorite kind of potato for a gratin. Just peel them and slice super thin.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper freshly ground
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below.
How to Make Au Gratin Potatoes
Step 1: Combine cheeses and cooked pancetta in a large bowl, making sure the pancetta is drained from any excess fat.
Step 2: Transfer a small handful of the cheese mixture to a separate bowl and set aside.
Step 3: Add cream, garlic, and thyme to the remaining cheese mixture and season with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Add potato slices and toss to combine, making sure the cream mixture coats every potato slice.
Step 5: Take a handful of potatoes, and start to lay them in circles to cover the bottom of the pan. Continue placing the potatoes in the dish until it’s full of potatoes and everything is tightly packed. Pour in any leftover cream mixture from the bowl evenly over potatoes until the mixture comes half-way up the sides of the potatoes.
Step 6: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from the oven, remove foil and continue baking until the top is pale golden brown, about 25-30 minutes more.
Step 7: Once golden, remove from the oven, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and return to the oven. Bake until deep golden brown and crisp on top, about 10-15 minutes longer. Remove from the oven, let rest for a few minutes, and slice and serve.
How to Store Au Gratin Potatoes
You can store leftovers in the fridge for about 4 days. Make sure to warm it through in the oven when its time to eat.
How to Freeze Au Gratin Potatoes
While you can freeze these for about a month, both potatoes and the cream-based sauce may lose some of their texture and flavor. To freeze, use an airtight container to avoid squishing, but you can also use freeze bags carefully. Thaw overnight in fridge and heat it in the oven till its warmed through.
Tips & Tricks
Try using bacon or ham instead of pancetta if you prefer the flavor.
FAQs
How to Prep Classic Au Gratin Potatoes ahead of time?
If you want to prep these ahead of time, go ahead and follow the directions thru the beginning of step 5. After baking for 30 minutes, you can remove and let cool to room temp on the counter. Then cover and refrigerate overnight. Continue to bake the following day when you are ready to serve for the additional 25-30 minutes and make sure they are warmed through.
If you decide to slice potatoes some time ahead, you can soak them in cold water to avoid oxidation. But avoid soaking them for too long - I do about 45 minutes max.
Why do we need to cover the baking dish with a foil at first?
Since the potatoes take some time to cook, covering with a foil first can help prevent over-browning the top. This is why we keep it covered for the first half or so, and then take it off so that it can brown.
Similar Recipes
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Au Gratin Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 ounces shredded Gruyère cheese
- 2 ounces shredded parmesan
- 4 ounces cubed pancetta cooked
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves roughly chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 pounds russet potatoes peeled and sliced ⅛th-inch thick on a mandoline slicer
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Combine cheeses and cooked pancetta in a large bowl, making sure the pancetta is drained from any excess fat. Transfer a small handful of the cheese mixture to a separate bowl and set aside. Add cream, garlic, and thyme to the remaining cheese mixture and season with salt and pepper. Add potato slices and toss to combine, making sure the cream mixture coats every potato slice.
- Spray a medium baking dish or skillet with non-stick cooking spray (around 9 inch round). Take a handful of potatoes, and start to lay them in circles to cover the bottom of the pan. Continue placing the potatoes in the dish until it’s full of potatoes and everything is tightly packed. Pour in the leftover cream from the bowl over the potatoes until the mixture comes half-way up the sides of the potatoes.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from the oven, remove foil and continue baking until the top is pale golden brown, about 25-30 minutes more. Once golden, remove from the oven, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and return to the oven. Bake until deep golden brown and crisp on top, about 10-15 minutes longer. Remove from the oven, let rest for a few minutes, and slice and serve.
I am going to serve this dish with baked ham. Ok to leave out the pancetta?
sure!!
Our favorite Au Gratin Potatoe recipe. We omit the pancetta to make it vegetarian. It is very tasty!
We have these every year on Christmas with beef tenderloin and they are AMAZING! such a crowd pleaser.
We made this for Christmas! So good, will make again:)
These are absolutely incredible! They’re so creamy and the cheese balance is just right. they’re also so easy to make. This recipe is perfect, simple yet effective! Cannot wait to make again!
Help! I would like to make these for our office holiday potluck. We can't use sternos/chafing dishes to reheat items. Could I make these in a crockpot?
Made these for a ladies’ luncheon and they were perfection - rave reviews from all. I followed Gaby’a. Instructions exactly and will be making them every time I need a potato dish!
Amazing! Easy no-fail recipe!
I’m missing a step when ipthe recipe states to mix the potatoes with the cream mixture, place in pan, then add remaining cream mixture. What remaining cream mixture? Recipe states to mix the potatoes with the cream mixture. Does not say to set aside any of that mixture, only the cheese pancetta mix.
it's just the leftover cream mixture that was in the bowl that the potatoes were in
I’m a big fan of dishes like these. However, I must politely disagree with using russets! I think Yukon Golds have a better texture and taste. Personal preference, but please do give it a try and compare and contrast. That’s part of the fun of cooking.
I am here for all the amazing sides!!!!
Making this for my next dinner party. Can I make it ahead the day before? Should I bake and then reheat before serving, or can it be stored in fridge prior to baking?
adding to the post
Do you need to par boil the potatoes?
no need
Made this delicious au gratin for a holiday party. Loved by everyone. Look no further- a perfect recipe!
Do you have make-ahead or even freezer friendly instructions for the au gratin potatoes?