Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyere

Elevate the humble potato with these amazing Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere cheese. Super simple and incredibly delicious!

Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere cheese on a pewter platter.

I’m a fan of potatoes. Honestly, who isn’t? But typically we fall into the rut of baked, mashed, or roasted. They’re quick and easy. As such, we tend to forget what a few simple ingredients can do with the humble potato to make a truly delicious and decadent side dish.

This potatoes au gratin with gruyere cheese dish will make you wonder why you haven’t been doing this more often. The addition of heavy cream, a couple of cheeses, and some hints of fresh thyme turn a potato side into a potato star. This casserole rocks!

How To Make Potatoes Au Gratin

This dish comes together pretty quickly. It’s just a matter of laying your potatoes down in layers and topping each one with the heavy cream mixture, cheddar cheese, and gruyere cheese.

Gruyere is a great cheese for baking. It melts wonderfully and the cheese itself is mild and adds savory notes to dishes. It’s has a distinctive flavor yet is not overpowering.

Ingredients Needed

You will need the following:

  • 2 1/2 pounds of Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes(about 5-6 medium sized)
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons of melted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

It’s important to get everything ready to assemble as you don’t want your sliced potatoes to start oxidizing while you’re preparing everything else.

Start by grating the gruyere and cheddar cheeses and place them into the refrigerator until ready.

In a bowl, add the heavy cream, the minced garlic, and the melted butter and combine well using a whisk. Set aside.

At this point, you will want to begin preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sliced potatoes in water.

Peel the potatoes and using a mandoline or knife, slice potatoes 1/8″ thick and place slices into a large pot or large bowl with cold water. When all the potatoes are sliced, drain them completely and pat dry.

Layer 1/3 of the thinly sliced potatoes in a 9×13 inch casserole dish or similar baking dish.

Sliced raw potatoes with cream sauce on top in a baking dish.

Pour 1/3 of the heavy cream mixture, 1/3 of the salt and pepper and thyme, and 1/3 of each of cheddar and gruyere cheese over the potatoes.

Potatoes au gratin topped with shredded cheddar cheese in white baking dish.

Repeat this process for the second and third layers but on the third layer do not add the shredded cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 75 minutes or until the center potatoes are tender (use a knife to test).

Remove the au gratin potatoes from the oven and remove foil. On the top layer of potatoes add the remaining cheese and return to the oven.

Potatoes au gratin fresh out of the oven.

Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheeses are golden brown and the dish is bubbling.

Potatoes au gratin spooned out of the baking dish.

Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving to allow to set up.

Can I Make Ahead Potatoes Au Gratin?

Sure can! These au gratin potatoes can be prepared (unbaked) up to 24 hours ahead. Let them cool to room temperature, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Remove them from the fridge at least 1 hour before baking as instructed.

Or bake them as directed then allow them to cool. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate. When you’re ready, bake covered (with the foil) at 350 degrees F until heated all the way through (25-30 minutes).

Are There Dairy Free Substitutions for Potatoes Au Gratin?

Unsweetened Almond milk and dairy free cheese are great substitutions.

Conclusion

There are tiny little differences between scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes. So tiny that I would venture to say that some would, and could call these scalloped potatoes as well.

Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere cheese on a pewter platter

Whether scalloped or au gratin … they’re delicious. The tenderness of the potatoes married with the cheeses makes this a hearty, rich potato dish that could be paired with almost anything.

So if you’re looking for a great side dish that comes together pretty quickly, give this one a try. Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere cheese is definitely a step up in elegance from the standard mashed or roasted potatoes.

Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyere Cheese Recipe

Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere cheese on a pewter platter.

Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyere Cheese Recipe

Elevate the humble potato with these amazing Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere cheese. Super simple and incredibly delicious!
4.49 from 29 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: French
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Rest: 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 480kcal
Author: Leigh Harris

Ingredients
 

  • 2 1/2 lbs Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold
  • 1 1/2 cup Heavy cream
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp Butter melted
  • 1 1/2 cup Sharp cheddar cheese grated
  • 1 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese grated
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 1/2 tsp Thyme fresh, or 1/2 tsp dried thyme

Instructions

  • Grate the gruyere and cheddar cheeses and place into the refrigerator until ready.
  • In a bowl, add the heavy cream, the minced garlic, and the melted butter and combine well using a whisk. Set aside
    1 1/2 cup Heavy cream, 2 cloves Garlic, 2 tbsp Butter
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Peel the potatoes and using a mandoline or knife, slice potatoes 1/8″ thick and place slices into a large pot or large bowl with cold water
    2 1/2 lbs Russet potatoes
  • When all the potatoes are sliced, drain them completely and pat dry
  • Layer 1/3 of the thinly sliced potatoes in a 9×13 inch casserole dish or similar baking dish
  • Pour 1/3 of the heavy cream mixture, 1/3 of the salt and pepper and thyme, and 1/3 of each of cheddar and gruyere cheese over the potatoes
    1 1/2 cup Sharp cheddar cheese, 1 tsp Kosher salt, 1/2 tsp Black pepper, 1 1/2 tsp Thyme, 1 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese
  • Repeat this process for the second and third layer but on the third layer do not add the shredded cheese
  • Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 75 minutes or until the center potatoes are tender (use a knife to test)
  • Remove the au gratin potatoes from the oven and remove foil. On the top layer of potatoes add the remaining cheese and return to the oven
  • Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheeses are golden brown and the dish is bubbling
  • Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving to allow to set up
  • Serve. Salt and pepper to taste

Notes

Be sure to let the dish rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken and set as it cools.
Make Ahead – These au gratin potatoes can be prepared (unbaked) up to 24 hours ahead. Let them cool to room temperature,  cover tightly with aluminum foil, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Remove them from the fridge at least 1 hour before baking as instructed.
Storing Leftovers – Let it cool completely, cover tightly with plastic wrap or place in an air-tight container, and refrigerate for up to 4 days. We don’t recommend freezing this dish, the potatoes and sauce change texture and become grainy.
Reheating – Bake covered with aluminum foil at 350 degrees F until heated all the way through 25-30 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 555mg | Potassium: 673mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1210IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 455mg | Iron: 2mg

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7 Comments

  1. This is our all-time favorite potatoes au gratin recipe — absolutely delicious! Question: in your instructions for making ahead, you say this can be made up to 24 hours ahead (unbaked) by bringing to room temp, then covering tightly, then refrigerating. But everything is uncooked/unbaked at this point, so what needs to come to room temp?

    1. This is in reference to the sauce with the melted butter. You don’t want to cover and refrigerate until it cools enough.

    1. Sure can! Bake them as directed then allow them to cool. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate. When you’re ready, bake covered (with the foil) at 350 degrees F until heated all the way through (25-30 minutes).

    1. I haven’t tried it as of yet, but I have read that unsweetened almond milk and dairy free cheese are great substitutes. Let us know what you think if you try it.

  2. This was outstanding! I made it for company last night as part of dinner and everyone loved it. Flavorful, nutty gruyere goodness! Had a filet mignon and spring salad with it. Will definitely make it again5 stars

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