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Classic Potatoes Au Gratin

Published: Feb 21, 2018 · Modified: Dec 1, 2022 by Steven Pennington · This post may contain affiliate links.

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The almighty humble potato. Today we will transform potatoes into a stunning dish called Potatoes Au Gratin; the French call this dish a few different names, which depend on which region the dish originates. 

There are many variants of the name of the dish, including Pommes de Terre Dauphinoise, Potatoes à la Dauphinoise & Gratin de Pommes à la Dauphinoise.

Classic potatoes au gratin
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⬇️ Table of Contents
  • Potatoes Au Gratin
  • Perfect Potato To Use
  • Potatoes To Avoid
  • How To Make Potatoes Au Gratin
  • Video
  • How To Make The Bechamel Sauce
  • Building The Potato Au Gratin
  • 📖 Recipe Card

Potatoes Au Gratin

Today's recipe is all about tradition and the traditional preparation of Potatoes Au

Today's recipe is all about tradition and the traditional preparation of Potatoes Au Gratin. This recipe could be looked at as a simple dish, yet also elegant with great depth of flavor that comes from a traditional Bechamel being prepared in the classic French way.

Often a Bechamel sauce is referred to as a "White Sauce," and they would be correct. But remember, a White Sauce is not a Bechamel. For a White sauce to become a Bechamel, certain steps and flavorings must be used to become traditional Bechamel Sauce.

What Does "Au Gratin" Mean?

Answer: To grate, usually with breadcrumbs or grated cheese. Classicly using Gruyere cheese.

Did you know there are over 200 varieties of potatoes?

Perfect Potato To Use

The first item on the list is selecting the correct type of potato. Not any potato will do the job. We explain your choices below.

Russet potatoes
First off, we have the Idaho Russet Potato

Russet Potatoes

The russet potato is one of the most popular in America, and for a good reason. They have a neutral flavor that doesn't overwhelm your dish like other potatoes sometimes can. They have a neutral potato flavor and a fluffy, creamy, and soft texture and are best for baking, mashing, and making French fries.

Yukon gold potatoes

Yukon Gold Potatoes

These fluffy little guys are also known as "Chef White" potatoes and have a light and airy texture with a sweet flavor. They're perfect for boiling or baking and stand up well against other cooking methods like pan-roasting & grilling.

Potatoes To Avoid

Red Bliss: Waxy Potato

Red bliss — waxy

The red potato has bright skin and white flesh. It's slightly bitter to eat, but it can be used in many different recipes for soup or stew because of its firm texture that doesn't fall apart when cooked at high temperatures like other types might do so quickly because of their moisture content.

Idaho russet potato

Potatoes have abundant nutritional value, including a high level of macronutrients, vitamins & minerals. One of the potato's greatest nutritional offerings is its carbohydrate content.

Potatoes contain both simple and complex carbohydrates and a substantial amount of dietary fiber. Most of the carbohydrates in potatoes are complex carbohydrates called starch. Potatoes also contain simple sugars, with glucose being the most prevalent.

How To Make Potatoes Au Gratin

First thing, Peel and slice your Russet potatoes. The reason we start with the potatoes is "Timing." When working in the kitchen, timing is everything. This is a skill where many cooks struggle. 

At Butter-N-Thyme, "timing" is a focal point in our lessons. Sure we teach you how to make the recipes in the articles, but underneath, the goal is to empower our readers with solid culinary information and training, skills, tips & tricks.

Be sure to wash off the potatoes before peeling. I only cut off some of the outside peel in the photo below. This helps with the presentation. If you peel the potatoes, your dish could appear plain to some degree, with a lot of white space, but that also could be a good thing. Just something to consider. Plus, the potato skins are where most of the health benefits come from.

Use a standard peeler to create the striped potato cuts. Just peel down the length of the potato and alternate.

Sliced russet potato

Chef Tip: Potatoes oxidize and turn color when left exposed to air. Place the sliced potatoes in a bowl filled with water until you're ready to build the casserole.

The Bechamel Sauce

I believe this step is sometimes overlooked in the way of importance. Potatoes Au Gratin is a classic preparation of potatoes sliced thinly and covered in a creamy traditional Bechamel sauce. The bechamel sauce is the key to this amazingly simple yet elegant potato dish.


Here's our article outlining everything you could need to know about making a proper Bechamel Sauce. I would like for you to watch the video as well. You'll be able to see the movement/motions that go into making a classic French sauce and, even more critical, the timing.
Sauce making is all the "timing."

Video

Great! We now know everything that it takes to make a traditional Bechamel sauce. If you haven't experienced this sauce made the Classic French way, you will be pleasantly surprised. The flavoring takes the sauce up a notch.

How To Make The Bechamel Sauce

The first thing is "Mise en Place" (MEEZ ahn plahs) . 

Prepping all the ingredients before beginning. If you wait to measure while making the sauce your "Timing" will not be perfect. Always measure and weigh out your ingredient before starting cooking.

Steps

Add 4 tablespoons of butter and melt. Then add 3 tablespoons of flour. We are making a Roux.

By definition, a Roux is equal parts fat and flour. When making a bechamel sauce, use a little less flour. The fat in the milk is the reason. This also allows for a longer time for the sauce to tighten up/thicken while the flavors develop.

Making a roux adding flour and butter and cooking out flour over medium high heat
Cook Out The Flour - Exposing The Flour To The Butter Over Heat Will Help Prevent Graininess In The Sauce By Moistening The Flour

While stirring, add in ⅓ of the Milk over medium-high heat.

Once the sauce thickens, add the remaining milk, and keep stirring.

Whole milk measured out to 2 cups ¼ in pyrex cup

Bring the sauce up to a soft bowl. Do not scald the milk.

Adding milk and bringing to a soft boil

Using a micro planer, shave in fresh nutmeg, around ⅛ tsp.

Grating nutmeg into bechamel sauce

Prepare The Onion

When you're prepping the Potatoes, Prep the Onion then. Do not wait.

Cut the onion in half and remove the peel. Take 7 Cloves and remove the tops, the small ball that is attached. The flavor profile from the tops is too strong of a flavor. (I learned that one in culinary school, and it holds true.)

Placing cloves in half onion for bechamel sauce

Next, place the onion in the sauce and cover to infuse flavor. The “Timing” is right after you finish stirring in the second edition of Milk and reach a soft boil. Turn off the heat before adding the Onion, then cover and wait around 5 minutes.

Take a taste. If you’re happy great. If not, allow more time to impart flavor. If the sauce tries to thicken too much, add a little bit more milk to thin the sauce out. Season with salt to taste. add a small pinch.

Place onion in bechamel sauce to flavor the sauce

Building The Potato Au Gratin

First, cover the bottom of the casserole dish with Bechamel sauce, then add a small layer of cheese.

Adding bechamel and cheese to bottom of casserole dish

Next, add two layers of sliced potatoes in a shingled pattern.

Laying out the potatoes in a shingled pattern

Add Salt and Pepper and cover with a layer of Cheese and Bechamel sauce.

Adding bechamel sauce to the first layers of potatoes

Keep repeating the process till you've reached the level you'd like for your casserole dish. Remember, don't overfill with bechamel sauce. That would affect your presentation.

Cover with remaining bechamel sauce

Place on a cookie sheet. The casserole could bubble over. Another reason to not overfill with Bechamel sauce.

Potatoes au gratin on cookie sheet ready to bake

Bake for 45 minutes to one hour. Test with a fork for doneness.

Bake on cookie sheet for one hour

When you've reached the correct doneness, turn on the broiler and brown the top of the Au Gratin.

Crack the oven door and keep an eye on it.

Wallah & Bon Appetit!

Post To Check Out

How Sweet Potatoes Are Grown 🥔 Step-by-Step Guide

What Are the Best Potatoes for Mashing? 

Types of Sweet Potatoes | A to Z | Photos

What Are The Best Potatoes For Making Chips | Solved

What Peppers Are In Sriracha Sauce?

Can I Make This Dish Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can make Potatoes Au Gratin ahead of time by baking it until it is almost fully cooked, then storing it in the fridge. When you are ready to serve it, pop it in the oven to heat up and finish cooking.

What Other Types of Toppings Can I Use?

Any type of crunchy topping would work great with Potatoes Au Gratin, such as panko bread crumbs, crispy fried onions, or toasted nuts. You could also top it off with a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

Can I Use Sweet Potatoes Instead of Regular Potatoes?

Yes, you can use sweet potatoes for Potatoes Au Gratin. Just make sure to slice them very thin so that they cook evenly. You may need to reduce the cooking time slightly as well.

📖 Recipe Card

Baked potatoes au gratin on white plate with sliced green onion

Classic Potatoes Au Gratin

Steven Pennington
Creamy cheesy potato recipe that everyone loves
5 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 6 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 6 mins
Course Casserole
Cuisine French
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 343 kcal

Suggested Equipment

Casserole Dish

Ingredients
  

Bechamel Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
  • 4 Tablespoons High-Quality Butter
  • 2 ½ Cups Whole Milk / Plus more to help control the thickness
  • 7 Cloves
  • ⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg
  • ½ large Onion
  • ½ teaspoon Thyme
  • ½ teaspoon Minced Garlic

Potatoes Au Gratin Ingredients

  • 4 large Russet Potatoes
  • 1 ¼ cups Gruyere Cheese or Swiss /shredded
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper
  • ½ larger Onion - Julianne Cut / Julianne cut onion, long thin slices.

Instructions
 

  • The Bechamel Roux: First melt butter over medium-high heat, then add the ½ teaspoon of minced garlic and cook in the butter.
    Then add the flour and coat the flour in the butter.
    "Cook-Out" the raw flour. Allow the flour to absorb the butter. This will help ensure the bechamel sauce will not be grainy.
  • Next, add in ⅓ of the milk and stir constantly. The sauce will try to thicken instantly. Add the remaining milk at this point, little by little. Keep stirring.
    All flour hydrates a little differently, meaning you many need more milk at this point. Add enough milk the sauce is a little bit loose.
    Allow the milk to come to a soft boil. (Soft boil means the bubbles are breaking the surface, but not a full boil)
  • Once at a soft boil, turn off the heat and move the pot to another burner that is off.
    The sauce will thicken off the heat. If the sauce gets too thick for your purposes add a little more milk to thin out the sauce.
    Add the salt and pepper, then Nutmeg, to taste. Stir and incorporate.
  • Onion Prep: Slice the onion in half, then press 9 to12 cloves into the exterior of the onion. Add the onion to the sauce with the clove side down.
    Placing cloves in half onion for bechamel sauce
  • Cover the pot for a few minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
  • Prepping the potatoes: First, wash the potatoes well under cold water.
    Using a mandolin or sharp knife, make thin slices. The thickness choice is up to you. I suggest ¼ to ⅛ inch slices.
    Remember the potato skin is where most of the health benefits reside. I took a peeler and removed only part of the skins. Make stripes going down the length of the potato. This helps with the presentation.
  • Building the casserole: First, cover the bottom of your casserole dish with bechamel sauce. Using glass-bakeware is suggested for even cooking. The bechamel sauce acts to protect the potatoes from burning and sticking.
    Next, add two layers of potatoes. Lay the potatoes out with the second layer slightly covering the last potato. Shingle pattern.
    Then add a layer of cheese and follow covering with Bechamel sauce. Add more cheese next. Cut an onion julienne cut (long strips) adds more flavor and texture.
    Repeat the process till you've filled your casserole dish to the desired level.
    Add the remaining bechamel sauce on top to protect the potatoes. Don't drown the potatoes in sauce, helps with presentation. Cover with more cheese and place on a cookie sheet to prevent bubbling over.

Baking

  • Preheat Oven 375 (could do 400) both work
  • Cook for 45 to one hour. All ovens are different and the depth of everyone's cookware will be different.
  • Test for doneness. Poke with a fork. If soft enough, turn on the broiler to brown the top. Be sure to keep an eye on this process as the potatoes au gratin could burn. Crack the oven door so you can see what's happening.
  • Allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

History of Potatoes Au Gratin

The Potato au Gratin goes back to 1894 when it was popularized in France by the French Chef Louis Diat at the New York Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Louis Diat is recorded as having said that he created the dish after eating something similar at a dinner party in Paris.

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 13gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 598mgPotassium: 910mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 503IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 326mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Classic Potatoes Au Gratin, How To Make Potatoes Au Gratin
Try This Recipe, You'll Love It. Pin it!Mention @ButterNThyme or tag #butternthyme!

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  1. Anonymous

    September 11, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks so much for this classic french au gratin potatoes. I was not sure how to
    downsize my professional cookbook I received in culinary school, so this is perfect.
    I had other recipes but wanted the professional one and the video was so helpful.

    Reply
    • Steven Pennington

      September 13, 2020 at 4:34 pm

      Most welcome. Very tasty dish indeed...

      Reply
  2. Jennifer

    February 12, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    Thank you so much! Is there an amount of julienned onion for original recipe above? Not listed on ingredients or in directions. Appreciate the tips!

    Reply
    • Steven Pennington

      February 12, 2020 at 8:13 pm

      Thanks for looking out there. I have made the corrections to the recipe card. Please enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Jennifer

    February 12, 2020 at 3:56 am

    I’m going to be tripling this recipe for serving a large group (20x12x3 tray) and I don’t understand the comment above about dicing the onion. From the recipe and video you’re just using it whole with the cloves in the sauce, then removing. Please advise? And any tips for a larger batch, like should 3 onion halves be put in sauce with the cloves? Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Steven Pennington

      February 12, 2020 at 4:28 am

      Jennifer scaling up recipes for large groups can be challenging. Here are a few tips I offer.
      First, never just double/triple the amount of salt in a recipe. Taste with less salt, then adjust.
      The onion, for large batches like your making I would do a julienne slice on the onion to help with the overall texture. Use whole onion pieces for the bechamel, then use the julienne slices in the baked casserole. #extratexture #casserole
      To help with clarity, (ONION)
      Cutting the onion, make long cuts along the natural lines of the onion, (Make the cuts from root to tip, but cut off the tip and root before the cuts)
      Extra tip: making the bechamel sauce, pre-warm your milk/ heavy cream/ half&half)
      I hope this helps.
      If you need any other help, just ask.
      Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        February 12, 2020 at 7:50 pm

        Thank you so much! Is there an amount of onion (julienne slices) to add to the casserole? Not listed in ingredients or directions above. Thank you for the tips! I imagine the baking time will be significantly longer as well.

      • Steven Pennington

        February 12, 2020 at 8:14 pm

        Sorry about that. I have made the corrections to the recipe card.

  4. Susan Wilson

    December 24, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    Chef,

    Please elaborate about the onion. Should it be diced very very small--i.e. food chopper?

    Reply
    • Steven Pennington

      December 24, 2019 at 8:02 pm

      I would say that comes down to preference. I like to go with a small dice. Small enough so everyone doesn't get a large piece of onion. Food chopper would work, food processor, no. Enjoy 🙂

      Reply
  5. Indira

    November 27, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    5 stars
    Recipe steps easy to follow with handy tips
    Colourful bright attractive photos
    Food facts very helpful
    Many thanks Chef P
    From a simple homecook

    Reply
  6. Rebecca

    December 25, 2018 at 3:35 am

    I was looking for an au gratin recipe because I cannot find one of my two favorite cookbooks when I came across this site...wonderful, I will be saving this to favorites! I was looking for a basic roux to remind me how to start my cheese sauce for au gratin potatoes. I like the step by step and the explanations of what you were taught and why something should or should not be used....thank you!

    Reply
    • Steven Pennington

      December 25, 2018 at 4:24 am

      Rebecca, thank you for the comment, I appreciate it. I hope you enjoy the content. If you ever have any questions, here to help.
      Hope you decide to follow me...
      All the best, Chef Pennington.

      Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel - Thank You
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