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Cheesy potato gratin in a black skillet, topped with golden-brown cheese, displayed on a woven mat.

Potatoes Au Gratin

Whether you’re looking for a dish to serve at family gatherings or a hearty addition to weeknight dinners, these creamy au gratin potatoes are guaranteed to be a hit. Let’s dive into what makes this dish so special and why it’s worth the extra time.
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: French
Keyword: au gratin, potatoes, scalloped potatoes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 570kcal
Author: Lola Jay

Ingredients

Cream Sauce

  • 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 2 sprigs rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf

Potatoes

  • 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano hand-grated
  • 2.5 lbs russet potatoes peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups Gruyere cheese hand-grated
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prepare the Cream Sauce

  • In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant.
    Stirring garlic in a hot black pot on a stovetop with a wooden spoon, preparing for a savory recipe.
  • Add the heavy whipping cream, milk, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Season with salt and black pepper.
    Creamy herb-infused milk in a pot on a stovetop, featuring thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Perfect for soups or sauces.
  • Let the mixture simmer gently for 5-7 minutes, allowing the herbs to infuse the cream. Remove from heat, discard the herbs, and set the sauce aside.
    Pot of milk boiling on a stovetop, creating steam, viewed from above.

Slice the Potatoes

  • Peel and thinly slice the russet potatoes into even rounds, about ⅛-inch thick, using a mandoline or sharp knife.
    Hand holding a thinly sliced potato above a glass bowl on a wooden counter, close-up.

Layer the Potatoes and Cream Sauce

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F. I made mine in a cast iron pan.
    Hand adjusting oven temperature dial to 160 degrees, focusing on precise cooking settings at home.
  • Arrange a layer of potato slices at the bottom of the pan or casserole dish, slightly overlapping.
    Pouring dosa batter onto a hot skillet for cooking, on a wooden table background.
  • Pour a small amount of the cream sauce over the potatoes, then sprinkle with ⅓ of the salt and pepper, and with ⅓ of the Gruyere cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano.
    Hands arranging sliced potatoes in a cast iron skillet with cream, preparing potato gratin on a wooden table.
  • Repeat the layering process but skip the cheese with the final layer. You'll add the final layer once the dish has cooked.
    Sliced potatoes being arranged in a cast iron skillet for a delicious gratin recipe.

Bake the Potatoes

  • Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
    Woman in red sweater prepares food in cozy kitchen with poinsettia plants.
  • Remove the foil and top with the remaining cheese. Broil for 3 minutes or until nice and golden.
    Hand adding cheese to creamy potato gratin in a cast iron skillet on wooden surface.

Let Rest and Serve

  • Allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes before serving to ensure the layers set properly.
    Cheesy baked casserole in a skillet on a wooden table with floral oven mitts. Perfect comfort food recipe!
  • Serve warm with a slotted spoon to keep the layers intact.
    Delicious cheesy lasagna slice being served with a spatula from a cast iron skillet.

Video

Notes

These nutrition values are only estimates.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 570kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 825mg | Potassium: 892mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1428IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 515mg | Iron: 2mg