Cheesy potatoes casserole (au gratin)
This cheesy potatoes casserole makes a wonderful side dish for dinner, along with optional ingredients to make it a one-dish meal.
Ingredients
 | 5-6 medium-sized potatoes – you can use any type of potatoes such as yukon gold potatoes or russet potatoes. |
 | 1.5 cups of grated cheese – cheddar, gruyère, mozzarella, or emmental cheese. |
 | (Optional) 1/2 cup of finely chopped white onions |
 | (Optional) 2 cups of smoked ham (500 g) of Smoked ham. You can also add bacon, just ensure that it is lightly cooked before placing in the casserole. |
 | (Optional) 1 cup of rinsed fresh spinach – fresh baby spinach or regular spinach. |
Spices and sauce ingredients:
 | 1 cup of heavy cream or crème fraîche. An alternative would be 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 cup of philadelphia cream cheese. |
 | 1 teaspoon of crushed garlic powder or flakes |
 | a few leaves of parsley or chives |
 | 1/2 teaspoon of finely grated nutmeg |
 | 3 tablespoons of butter |
 | Salt and pepper |
How to make this cheesy potatoes gratin
- Wash, peel, and slice the potatoes into thin rounds.
- Grease the casserole dish and layer the potato slices evenly.
- Add any optional ingredients (such as smoked ham or onions) between the layers.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 25 minutes.
- Mix the crème fraîche (or heavy cream), butter, garlic, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a bowl while the potatoes cook.
- Pour the cream mixture evenly over the partially baked potatoes.
- Sprinkle grated cheese on top.
- Garnish with a few parsley leaves.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 25 minutes at 200°C (400°F), until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is lightly browned.
- Serve warm.
There is nothing better than a hearty cheesy potato casserole recipe when you need some family-friendly comfort food. This cheesy potato casserole is a variation of scalloped potatoes, taking it to the next level.
From the French recipe called gratin potatoes, this recipe includes a lovely creamy sauce like in scalloped potatoes, but adds a delicious crust of grated cheese resulting in a cheesy, more decadent dish.
You can also top it off with breadcrumbs, put small bits of ham, fresh spinach, or onions in it, to make it a full meal in itself. A quick and easy one-dish meal made in the oven for easy clean-up.
Cooking tips
- As an alternative to heavy cream, you can use 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 cup of Philadelphia cream cheese.
- Add the cheese at the 1/2 way point of the cooking process so that the cheese does not burn.
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Cheesy potato casserole (au gratin)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5-6 medium-sized potatoes
- 1 cup of crème fraîche or heavy cream (Alternative: 1/2 cup of milk with 2 tablespoons of philadelphia cream cheese)
- 1.5 cups of grated cheese such as gruyére, emmental, or cheddar
- 1/2 teaspoon of finely grated nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- a few leaves of parsley or chives
Optional
- 2 cups of smoked ham (500 g)
- 1/2 cup of finely chopped onions
- 1 cup of rinsed fresh spinach
Instructions
- Wash and peel the potatoes and chop into thin round slices.
- Grease the casserole dish and layer the sliced potatoes across.
- Add any optional ingredients (smoked ham, onions, etc) in between the potato slices.
- Cook in preheated oven for 25 minutes at 400F° ( 200C°).
- While waiting, mix the crème fraîche (heavy cream), butter, garlic, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Once the 25 minutes of cooking is done, add the mixture over the top of the potatoes in the casserole.
- Sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
- Add a few leaves of parsley on top for decoration.
- Continue cooking in oven for 25 minutes at 400F° ( 200C°) until potatoes and cheese are lightly browned.
- Serve while warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Please note: We are not certified nutritionists and these estimates written and produced for entertainment purposes only.
What to serve with it?
If you are serving a cheesy potatoes casserole as a side dish, you can serve it alongside oven-roasted pork, lamb or chicken. And if I am in a rush, just smoked ham works alongside, if I don’t have time to cook meat.
For a quick dinner, you can however also serve it with just some bread (a baguette) and a salad with balsamic vinaigrette.
How to store it?
I have kept this cheesy potato casserole overnight in the fridge, but that is about the extent of it. Add more heavy cream and cheese if the cheesy potatoes look dried out.
I wouldn’t really recommend freezing it however, because the cheese sauce will not survive well.
