Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes are thinly sliced and layered with loads of cheese, then baked till perfectly browned on top and creamy in the middle.

Potatoes for Thanksgiving

There are just a few more days until Thanksgiving, do you have your menu finalized? If you are still on the fence, I strongly urge you to try out these delicious potatoes. This Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes recipe is a must-have for Thanksgiving. They are creamy, cheesy and a great hearty side dish that goes with just about everything.

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

I love Au Gratin Potatoes because they are a perfect complement to ham, turkey or even beef. They are pretty simple to put together and the end result is a show stopper. The potatoes are sliced thin and baked in layers of sauce and cheese so they get super creamy in the middle. When these potatoes bake, the top gets perfectly browned and comes together to get the ultimate combination of textures.

Au Gratin Potatoes vs. Scalloped Potatoes

So what's the difference between Au Gratin Potatoes and Scalloped Potatoes? It's the cheese! Au Gratin potatoes have cheese layered throughout the potatoes, while scalloped potatoes are baked in a cream or milk sauce. Since au gratin potatoes contain the extra layers of cheese, the end result is a super decadent dish. I like to use a combination of both half and half and whole milk. It's not too heavy or thick and gives the perfect consistency to the sauce.

How to Make Au Gratin Potatoes

There are three components to making au gratin potatoes:

• Potatoes
• Sauce
• Cheese

I like making the sauce first before slicing the potatoes. If you leave sliced potatoes out for too long, they start to oxidize and turn black. You do not want black potatoes. Once you make your sauce, it's potato slicing time. Slice your potatoes with a sharp knife, or a mandolin. The mandolin is a little bit easier to use and makes all of your slices even. No matter what you use, BE CAREFUL, you don't want to lose a finger. Next, layer the potatoes with your cheddar cheese and then pour the sauce over everything. Lastly, top everything with more cheese and you're ready to bake! The potatoes are done when they are fork-tender and browned on top. Don't forget to let them sit for 15 minutes before serving. It gives the sauce a chance to thicken up a bit and stick to the potatoes.

Print

Need more side dishes for Thanksgiving? Here are a few of my favs:

• Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes
• Herb Roasted Thick Sliced Potatoes
• Cornbread Stuffing with Chicken Apple Sausage
• Maple Roasted Acorn Squash