Potatoes Au Gratin with Bacon and Gruyere Cheese have to be the most decadently delicious, comforting side dish on. the. planet.
Potatoes Au Gratin with tender layers of buttery potatoes, bacon and onions cocooned in melty Gruyere cheese drowned in cream that has been simmered with fresh herbs and then topped with bubbly golden Gruyere cheese. A MUST side dish for Easter! Need I say more?
With Easter less than one month away (can you believe it?!) I thought it was time my Potatoes Au Gratin recipe got a makeover. These cheesy gratin potatoes are always huge hit and pair fabulously with ham, pork, chicken, roast etc. Or just give me the pan and a fork.
This Gratin Potatoes recipe may look and more importantly TASTE gourmet but it is super simple to make – the only thing you need to know how to do is slice potatoes and layer! I also do a few things differently than other recipes to make these the best Potatoes Au Gratin of your life (which I’ll detail below) – or so says Patrick.
According to my very honest critic, Patrick, these Potatoes Au Gratin with Bacon are not “good.”
The are not “so good,” “really good” or “way good.”
They are not “amazing.“
Rather, they are “INSANE!“
And in case you are wondering, when Patrick dubs a recipe, “Insane!” – its a very, very good thing.
A few more readers comments about THIS Potatoes Au Gratin recipe:
- “I made this yesterday as a side dish for Thanksgiving and it was amazing!!! The whole pan was gone. I also made your mini peanut butter pies. I think they are now my favorite dessert!!”
- “I tried this recipe 3 nights ago…..AMAZING….the flavors were awesome together. Thanks…Great Job 😉”
- “I made this for Easter dinner and everyone raved about it and wanted the recipe.”
So in other words, you will want to devour these Au Gratin Potatoes for Easter and all year round! They are a must side for all your holidays, special occasions and company.
The cheesy thin layers of tender potatoes and bacon cocooned with bubbly golden Gruyere cheese. The whole thing – it just gets me. These Gratin Potatoes are so good in fact, I’ve even made a Scalloped Sweet Potato version which is basically identical but with sweet potatoes, also with rave reviews – because I couldn’t get enough.
Scalloped Potatoes vs Au Gratin
When I first posted this Potatoes Au Gratin recipe, I didn’t quite understand the difference between Scalloped Potatoes and Au Gratin Potatoes but there are a few distinct differences.
- Potatoes Au Gratin are generally thinner than the Scalloped Potatoes.
- Potatoes Au Gratin are made with cream instead of milk or condensed soup.
- Potatoes Au Gratin always include cheese, typically Gruyere cheese. Scalloped Potatoes sometimes include cheese.
- Potatoes Au Gratin by definition boast a “Gratin” which by definition means “covered with breadcrumbs or cheese and then baked until a golden,” whereas Scalloped Potatoes, by definition, do not need a Gratin.
So both Potatoes Au Gratin and Scalloped Potatoes consist of sliced potatoes baked in a creamy sauce so the main difference is the Gruyere cheese. And of course, cheeeese makes everything better so we are always going Potatoes Gratin at Carlsbad Cravings.
How Do you Make Au Gratin Potatoes?
I absolutely love Potatoes Au Gratin but none of the recipes I ever tried lived up to my expectations – until I created this Au Gratin Potatoes recipe. As you might have noticed, I usually don’t cook with heavy cream (unless necessary to create the best New England Clam Chowder or special occasion Lemon Garlic Shrimp Fettuccine) and I usually don’t cook with slightly more expensive cheeses, but when you are trying to perfect INSANE Potatoes Au Gratin for special occasions, it’s a time to indulge.
If you are tempted to substitute a different cheese for Gruyere – it just won’t be the same! Gruyere cheese is sweet, slightly salty, creamy, nutty – in short, it belongs in these Au Gratin Potatoes. The Gruyere combined with the simmered herbs are what elevates this Potatoes Gratin recipe from “ordinary” to “insane.”
And what is even better – simmering takes no effort! You simply toss all of the herbs and spices in with the cream and let them simmer while you peel and slice your potatoes. The aromatic onion, garlic and herbs infuse the cream with flavor which in turn will envelop all of our potatoes with flavor in every single mouthful.
Layer your cream, potatoes, onions, bacon and cheese a few times, then dot the potatoes with cubed butter that will melt into every nook and cranny for ultimate decadence -and bake – and in 1 hour you have the most gourmet tasting, insane homemade Au Gratin Potatoes you have ever sunk your teeth into – in your entire life!
And remember “insane” is a very creamy, cheesy, bacony, good thing.
How do I slice potatoes uniformly?
- There are many great tools to help with a large batch of slicing potatoes for a scalloped or au gratin dish. Namely the mandolin is one of the most popular tools out there. For Au gratin dishes, which use thinner slices, you can use a food slicer.
- Or work on your knife cutting skills. It is always hard to cut a moving object, and since potatoes are not flat, they will move. So first, cut a base to make the potatoes lay flat. Then, working from one end of the potato to the other, slice disks the desired width – super thin or thicker
- Use a marked chopping mat as a guide.
- If slicing by hand, just try to create uniform slices as far as thickness goes – about 1/8.” If they are bigger or smaller than 1/8” it doesn’t matter as long as you try and keep them relatively similar in size so they bake in the same amount of time then adjust time accordingly whether they’re thinner or thicker.
Tips to make this Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe
- Simmer your “Spiced Cream” while you slice your potatoes for maximum efficiency.
- For this particular recipe, I actually prefer dried herbs in the Spiced Cream as I think they hold up better to the heat but fresh is till good.
- I like to use large russet potatoes because this requires less slicing and creates a prettier dish.
- Use a slotted spoon when scooping out the potatoes/onions that have been coated in cream. The slotted spoon will allow you to leave most of the cream in the bowl so you can pour it over the potatoes later.
- You are welcome to substitute ham for the bacon to make a hearty meal-in-one.
- We wait to cover our potatoes with cheese until the last 10 minutes or else it will brown to quickly. For ultimate decadence, add more cheese. This crowning layer of Gruyere puts the Gratin in Potatoes Au Gratin.
- Test the potatoes in the CENTER to make sure they are tender. Cooking times will vary depending on multiple factors (specifically the thickness of your potatoes) so if your potatoes aren’t tender then just keep cooking.
- When potatoes are done, broil until golden brown to develop that gorgeous crusty cheese layer.
- These Potatoes Au Gratin can be assembled the day before and covered and refrigerated but are best baked and served the same day.
- I do not recommend freezing these Gratin Potatoes because the texture will become funky.
Can I make Au Gratin Potatoes in advance?
Yes, you can make Au Gratin Potatoes in advance; you have several options. You can prepare a few steps ahead of time, or all. If you are using this dish around the holidays or regular dinner, nighttime is always a precious commodity. One great aspect of this dish is it is so versatile in when and how it is prepared.
- Pre- slice potatoes: Clean, peel and slice potatoes then cover the sliced, raw potatoes completely with cold water and refrigerate use the cut potatoes within 24 hours. Be sure to keep slices covered in water to prevent slices from turning gray or brown. Other helpful tips for keeping cut potatoes from browning are to add a tablespoon of white wine vinegar or concentrated lemon juice to a gallon of water. Drain and layer. Use a mesh colander to help removes excess water. I have also used a salad spinner to drain the water.
- Make and do not bake yet: After assembling up to step 5 in the recipe, I cover the dish really well with foil or saran wrap. I bag the bacon and remaining cheese in a ziplock and tape to the top of the dish. Refrigerate until ready to bake. Let warm up for 30 minutes before baking. Bake within 24 to 48 hours of preparation.
- Make and bake: Make recipe as normal and bake the scalloped potatoes make sure to not overcook and do not forget the foil on top. Let them cool completely to room temperature. Then cover and make sure to get a good seal. Then you can refrigerate for up to 3 days.
How do I Reheat Au Gratin Potatoes?
- Remove your Au Gratin Potatoes from the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before baking. This will help them reheat more evenly.
- Cover your room temperature potatoes with a layer of foil or an oven-safe lid.
- Preheat your oven to 350 F
- Place the dish on the middle rack and cook for 25 to 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165 F with a quick-read thermometer.
LOOKING FOR MORE POTATO RECIPES?
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Company Mashed Potatoes
- Gruyere and Ham Potato Stacks
- Roasted Potatoes with Bacon and Parmesan
- Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup
LOOKING FOR MORE holiday recipes?
- Baked Ham with Apple Cider Maple Glaze
- Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots
- Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan
- Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Brown Butter
- Cranberry Apple, Bacon, Candied Walnut Salad with Apple Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
- Toffee Pecan Caramel Pound Cake
WANT TO TRY THIS POTATOES & AU GRATIN RECIPE?
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Potatoes Au Gratin with Bacon
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds russet potatoes (about 4 medium potatoes)
- 6-8 slices thick cut bacon cooked and chopped
- 2 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese (about 8 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon butter, cut into 8 cubes
Spiced Cream
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 tsp dried)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives or 1 tsp dried
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or ½ tsp. dried
- 1/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoons pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add the “Spiced Cream” ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 5-10 minutes while you grease a 9×13 casserole dish and peel and slice potatoes into ⅛ inch slices. Transfer potatoes to a large bowl.
- Spoon just enough of the herbed cream that has been simmering to cover the bottom of the casserole dish. Pour the remaining herbed cream over the potatoes and gently toss to coat.
- Using a slotted spoon, layer the bottom of the casserole dish with ⅓ of the potato/onion slices (the slotted spoon will allow you to leave most of the cream in the bowl). Lightly season the layer of potatoes with freshly cracked salt and pepper (in addition to salt and pepper listed in ingredients). Layer 1 cup of the cheese, ½ of the bacon then top with ⅓ of remaining cream. Repeat layers.
- Top the casserole with remaining potato/onion slices and pour over remaining cream. Dot the potatoes with cubed butter.
- Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for one hour. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with remaining cheese then continue to bake, uncovered for an additional 10 minutes. Test the potatoes in the center to make sure they are tender. Continue to cook if necessary (will depend on how thin you cut your potatoes). When potatoes are done, broil until golden brown.
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Sandra York says
For the Potatoes au Gratin I parboil the potatoes whole just until you can stick a knife in it part way but still firm and when cooled slice them. I find doing it this way, because baking potatoes raw take a long time and sometimes the potatoes don’t bake soft enough. In my country scallop potatoes is a staple and this is the way we do it by parboiling the potatoes.
Jen says
Thanks for the tip Sandra!
Debbie says
Do you think you could substitute hash browns for the potatoes and make a hashbrown casserole out of this?
Thank you! Love your recipes!!!!
Jen says
Hi Debbie, I’m so happy you love my recipes, thank you! I don’t think I would substitute hash browns as in my experience hash brown casseroles need more “saucy” ingredients and more of it, like sour cream, etc. It might be fine but I hesitate to recommend it without trying it first – sorry!
Kate says
Hi I was planning to make this for a side dish This sunday for easter instead of mash potatoes for a change. However because it occupies the oven for a fair amount of time and I am going to my sister’s house do you think it would be okay to cook it at my house in the afternoon then cover and transport it to here house and simply reheat it in the oven when it time for dinner later that evening? Let me know your suggestions. Thanks so much though it looks awesome!
Jen says
Hi Kate! Yes, I think that would work fine just take care not to overcook it initially so the potatoes don’t get mushy. Or maybe even better to assemble it at your home and cook it at hers if that would work with your timing. Happy Easter!
Kristy says
Love your recipes!!!
I am lactose intolerant and not crazy about that particular cheese… what would you suggest I use?
Jen says
Thank you Kristy! If you are lactose intolerant does that mean you can’t have any cheese?
Amber All says
Hi Jen,
This looks delicious. On the chives…how many tsp for the dried?
Jen says
Great question – 1 teaspoon – I’ll fix that.
Ariel says
If I wanted to double this recipe.. how long do you think I should cook it for?
Jen says
Hi Ariel, I wouldn’t double this potatoes au gratin in one casserole dish or I’m afraid it wouldn’t bake evenly – I’d use two dishes. Enjoy!
Mandy says
Hi Jen!
If I only have milk at home, could I sub that for the cream and add flour until it thickens? If so, how much flour would you add?
Jen says
Hi Mandy, you can make your own heavy cream by whisking 2 cups milk, 1 cup melted butter and 1/3 cup cornstarch. If you want to use less butter, then simply replace it with milk. I hope that helps!
Trisha says
Holy moly, Jen! These potatoes are AMAZING! It is such a luscious and decadent side dish. My husband and I kept “tasting” it, which actually meant that we devoured half the pan even before our guests arrived. No shame. Worth it! This will be my absolute go-to potato recipe from now on. Love love love your food blog!
Jen says
Thanks for your awesome comment Trisha and for making my day! I’m thrilled this Potatoes au Gratin recipe is your new go-to potato favorite!
Gina says
Have you tried this without peeling the potatoes? I love keeping the skin on.
Jen says
Hi Gina, I haven’t personally tried it, but I think you certainly could, it will just be more rustic. I think it just comes down to personal preference.
Gina Mclaughlin says
I was also looking at your scalloped sweet potato recipe & it looks the same except you use sweet potatoes. Both recipes call for 2 lbs, but the sweet potato version says it serves 8 & the potato version says it serves 4. Both recipes say to use a 9 x 13 casserole dish so I’m thinking they both serve 8?
Jen says
Hi Gina, yes they both serve 8. My recipe card plugin is doing funny things, sorry!
Bree M. says
Made these au gratin potatoes for Christmas Eve dinner tonight and they were an absolute hit! This recipe is definitely going to be kept as a permanent recipe in my repertoire. This was, hands down, the best potato dish ive ever had. Thank you so much !!!
Jen says
Thank you for the amazing review Bree, I’m honored these are the best potatoes you’ve ever made! Merry Christmas!
H mom says
In your directions it says
Make and do not bake yet: After assembling up to step 5 in the recipe, I cover the dish really well with foil or saran wrap. I bag the bacon and remaining cheese in a ziplock and tape to the top of the dish.
But when I look at the recipe bacon is included in the center of the dish on step four. So I am not sure what to do with the bacon that I am taping to the top in a Ziploc bag
Jen says
Sorry about that! The packaged bacon is for any you want to use as garnish.
kristi davis says
deelish!! Made for Easter and they were not overly complicated and tasted amazing!
Jen says
I love to hear that Kristi, thank you! Happy Easter!
Paula Lenge says
This is the BEST potato dish I every tasted!!!! However, the pre time was two hours, NOT 15 minutes!!!!
Jen says
Thanks for the stellar review Paula! I’ll update the prep time 😉
Heather Butler says
I have never been a fan of scalloped or au gratin potatoes. I have tried the occasional recipe, never happy.
I had potatoes that I needed to use and searched for potato recipe’s here. I tried this recipe and it was so delicious. My husband loved it and so did my little boys! Thanks for another great recipe!
Jen says
That is amazing Heather, I’m so pleased this recipe passed the test! Thank you!