Easy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe
User Reviews
5
Easy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe
Description
This recipe begins by preparing a cheese sauce with butter, flour, garlic, milk, and cream, thickened and seasoned with fresh thyme, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Half of the blended cheddar and Gruyere cheeses are stirred into the sauce until melted, ensuring a smooth, flavorful base. Thinly sliced russet potatoes are layered alternately with the sauce in a greased baking dish, with salt sprinkled between layers to bring out the potato's flavor.
After layering all potatoes and sauce, the dish is topped with remaining cheese and baked covered, then uncovered to achieve a golden, bubbling crust. The result is tender slices of potatoes enveloped in a creamy, cheesy sauce with subtle herbal and nutty notes from thyme and nutmeg.
This dish serves well as a hearty side for a variety of main courses and can be adapted with additions such as diced ham or onions for extra flavor. Using russet or other starchy potatoes ensures a soft texture and creamy mouthfeel. Selecting quality cheeses impacts the final flavor and richness.
Onions can be added thinly sliced for extra flavor. Fresh thyme brings delicate herbal aromas but can be substituted with parsley, chives, or rosemary. Using heavy cream rather than half-and-half or milk is important for the sauce's richness. The recipe can be customized by including diced ham for a more substantial entrée.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter salted
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- 1 cup milk whole
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ teaspoons thyme minced fresh leaves or ½ teaspoon dried
- kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
- ½ cup cheddar cheese grated
- ½ cup gruyere cheese grated
- 2 ½ lbs. russet potato about 5 medium, peeled and sliced 1/8-inch thick
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish; set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and garlic; cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk and cream; cook, whisking, until thickened, another 2 minutes or so. Add the thyme, salt, pepper, nutmeg, half of the cheddar and half of the Gruyere. Whisk for about 1 more minute, making sure that all of the cheese is melted. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
- Arrange half of the potatoes in the prepared baking dish. Season with a little bit of salt. Pour half of the sauce over top. Arrange the remaining potatoes on top, season with another pinch of salt, and pour the remaining sauce over all. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and bake for 50-60 minutes (or until the potatoes are just about tender), then uncover and bake until browned on top, an additional 15-20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then serve.
Notes
- Using russet potatoes or other starchy varieties like Yukon Gold gives the creamiest texture and best result.
- Adding finely diced or thinly sliced onions between potato layers can add mild sweetness and flavor.
- Incorporate diced ham between layers to turn this sidedish into a more filling entrée.
- Heavy cream is essential for the sauce’s richness; avoid substituting with half-and-half or only milk.
- Fresh thyme adds savory herbal notes but can be replaced with herbs like parsley, chives, or rosemary.
- For cheese, prefer high-quality cheddar and Gruyere; if Gruyere is unavailable, Swiss cheese or extra sharp cheddar can be used instead.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 344 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/8 of the recipe | |
| Calories | 344kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 30g | 10% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 72mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 141mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 672mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 768IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 208mg | 21% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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