Name: Creamy au Gratin Potatoes
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Ingredients: 4 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced; 1 medium onion, sliced into rings; salt and ground black pepper to taste; 3 tablespoons butter; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 2 cups milk; 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

1 hr 30 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs

Servings:

4

Jump to Nutrition Facts

There's nothing like au gratin potatoes to take any meal over the top. The creamy, decadent, and oh-so satisfying recipe is sure to please everyone at your table.

Au Gratin Potatoes Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this top-rated au gratin potatoes recipe:

Potatoes: This recipe starts with thinly sliced Russet potatoes. You can substitute Yukon gold, if you like.
Onion: Slice one onion into rings to layer with the potatoes.
Seasonings: These creamy au gratin potatoes are simply seasoned with just salt and pepper.
Butter and flour: The cheese sauce starts with a roux made with butter and all-purpose flour.
Milk: Make sure you slowly whisk in the milk to create the creamiest consistency.
Cheese: Because isn't everything better with shredded Cheddar?

How to Make Au Gratin Potatoes

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make these creamy potatoes au gratin:

Assemble the casserole: Layer half of the potatoes in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Season. Layer onion slices over top, then top with remaining potatoes. Season again.
Make the sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan. Gradually whisk in flour and salt and cook for about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened. Stir in the cheese.
Bake the casserole: Pour the sauce over the potatoes. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is bubbling.

Au Gratin vs. Scalloped Potatoes

Au gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes are both creamy, rich, and starchy side dishes. But they're not quite the same thing: Au gratin potatoes are usually sliced slightly thinner than their scalloped counterparts. Also, scalloped potatoes traditionally don't include cheese (but more modern recipes can incorporate cheese into the mix).

Overhead view of a white oval casserole dish of creamy au gratin potatoes — Allrecipes Magazine

How to Serve Au Gratin Potatoes

Some reviewers say they like to serve these au gratin potatoes alone as a complete meal (and there's certainly nothing wrong with that). Of course, it makes a great side dish for so many of your favorite meals — and it would be a great addition to any holiday table. Explore these recipe collections for mouthwatering pairing inspiration:

How to Store Au Gratin Potatoes

Store your leftover potatoes au gratin in a shallow, airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat, covered with foil, in an oven preheated to 375 degrees F until heated through and bubbly.

Can You Freeze Au Gratin Potatoes?

We don't recommend freezing au gratin potatoes, as it's extremely dairy-rich. Dairy products, like milk and cheese, tend to separate during the freezing and thawing process.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"This was great," raves Amanda T. "Used Vidalia onions since they're in season and it turned out perfect! Will make it once a week."

"Fantastic," according to Dianna P. "The entire family enjoyed it and asked for it to be a regular! I doubled the recipe and added leftover diced ham. No other substitutions needed!"

"We LOVE this recipe," says becs. "I microwaved the potatoes to cut down on oven time, added some garlic and Cajun seasoning (we like some kick) and it was awesome! I have used this sauce for mac and cheese and it was great!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

4 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, sliced into rings
salt and ground black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a 1-quart casserole dish.
Layer 1/2 of the potatoes in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish; season with salt and pepper. Layer onion slices over top, then top with with remaining potatoes. Season again with salt and pepper.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Gradually whisk in flour and salt and cook, whisking constantly until raw flour flavor has cooked off, about 1 minute. Gradually add milk, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking well after each addition to incorporate; the gradual addition and whisking of milk will help avoid lumps in your sauce.
Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in cheese all at once; continue stirring until melted, 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese sauce over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender and sauce is bubbly, about 1 ½ hours.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Recipe Tip

For best results, slice the potatoes into 1/4-inch (or thinner) slices. Use a mandolin if you have one.

Experiment with different cheeses for variety.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

499	Calories
25g	Fat
49g	Carbs
20g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 499
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 25g	33%
Saturated Fat 16g	80%
Cholesterol 77mg	26%
Sodium 683mg	30%
Total Carbohydrate 49g	18%
Dietary Fiber 4g	16%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 19mg	93%
Calcium 484mg	37%
Iron 3mg	14%
Potassium 1184mg	25%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.