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    TaraTeaspoon » Course » Side Dishes

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    Published: by

    Stunning Cheese and Herb Potato Gratin

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe Jump to Comments
    stunning cheese and herb potato gratin in cast iron pan

    This Gruyere potatoes au gratin is simple enough to make for a weeknight dinner but elegant enough for any holiday meal. Sweet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, cheese, and lots of herbs come together to make a delicious side dish.

    This recipe is from the cookbook Live Life Deliciously: Recipes for Busy Weeknights and Leisurely Weekends.

    Gruyere potatoes au gratin with two kinds of potatoes
    Jump to:
    • Easy, Cheesy au Gratin Potatoes
    • Ingredients in Gruyere Potatoes au Gratin
    • How to Make Gruyere Potatoes au Gratin
    • What to Serve with Potatoes Au Gratin
    • Tips for the Best Potatoes au Gratin
    • More Easy Potato Side Dishes:
    • Cheese And Herb Potato Gratin Recipe

    Easy, Cheesy au Gratin Potatoes

    Does making a potato gratin intimidate you? Well, it shouldn't! This dish looks so impressive but is actually SO simple to put together.

    I've turned everything you know about potato gratin ON ITS SIDE!

    Instead of layering the potatoes and cheese flat in a casserole dish, I've turned the thin slices of potato on their side and nestled them into the baking pan. It's easy enough and takes zero extra time!

    When you bring this dish to your next social gathering, your friends and family will think that you spent all day on this Gruyere potatoes au gratin.

    Potatoes au Gratin vs. Scalloped Potatoes

    I'm going to be honest, I've never met a potato baked in cream and cheese I didn't like, so what you want to call it is up to you! However, technically there is a difference between scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin.

    The main differentiator between scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin is cheese. Potatoes au gratin uses grated cheese, usually a Gruyere or cheddar. Scalloped potatoes are cooked in only heavy cream or milk.

    Listen, in all my days I've never eaten scalloped potatoes that didn't have cheese. I think the American set loves a good cheese addition, so the lines have been blurred. Again, I'm not complaining.

    More differences technically include the fact that scalloped potato slices tend to be thicker than au gratin. In my cheesy au gratin potatoes, that is definitely the case; my slices are super thin.

    Au gratin means: covered with bread crumbs or grated cheese and browned (like you would under a broiler). The French prefix "au" is often left off as a dish then becomes referred to as A Gratin.

    A thought on the origin of the name scalloped potatoes is that it came from an older English word, “collops”, meaning, among other things, slices of meat. It is also closely related to the French word, escalope.

    Ingredients in Gruyere Potatoes au Gratin

    The best potatoes for gratin are sweet potatoes and Yukon Golds. Sweet potatoes make this dish so flavorful and even more beautiful. I LOVE the way the alternating colors look. Plus, the different flavors make every bite of this gratin interesting.

    Besides the two types of potatoes, you're also going to need a variety of dried herbs and spices — garlic, parsley, thyme, sage, and rosemary — as well as a little whole milk and chicken broth.

    To add some flavor, add ½ cup thinly sliced yellow onion and a nutty cheese like Gruyere. I prefer using Gruyere to make potatoes au gratin, but sharp white cheddar works too.

    How to Make Gruyere Potatoes au Gratin

    If you think making a savory and sweet potato gratin is difficult, think again! This is such an easy recipe, but the slicing and assembling of the potatoes does require some patience.

    1. Peel both kinds of potatoes, and cut into very thin slices.
    2. In a large bowl, gently toss potatoes with salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, cheese, and onion.
    3. Working with a small handful of potatoes at a time, gently line up coated slices in a 2-quart baking dish.
    4. Pour milk and broth over potatoes.
    5. Cover pan with foil and seal around edges.
    6. Bake 50 minutes and remove foil. Continue to bake until potatoes are tender and top is golden.
    Overhead view of Gruyere potatoes au gratin in a cast iron skillet

    Can Fresh Herbs Be Used Instead?

    Yes! This recipe is a great way to use the fresh herbs you have leftover from a holiday meal or the last bits after a week of cooking.

    I use fresh herbs in the spring and summer when they are plentiful and cheap. I’ll use my spice cupboard in the winter months. Use double the amount of fresh as you would dry.

    What to Serve with Potatoes Au Gratin

    These easy au gratin potatoes pair perfectly with your favorite Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter recipes! Here are some dishes you can serve with the Gruyere potatoes au gratin:

    • Brown Sugar Ham
    • Roast Leg of Lamb
    • Beef Tenderloin
    • Prime Rib
    • Honey Rosemary Chicken

    Tips for the Best Potatoes au Gratin

    To make this quick and easy potato gratin recipe even faster, use a mandoline to thinly slice the potatoes. If you don't have a mandoline, consider getting one. This Stainless Steel Mandoline on Amazon is a great one.

    With a mandoline, you don't have to fiddle with a big knife and a little potato. All you have to do is run it across the blade and voila! Perfectly sliced potatoes.

    You can make this recipe without one, but your slices will be uneven and it will take you FOREVER to cut all the slices.

    More Easy Potato Side Dishes:

    I absolutely love side dishes. Honestly, I think they're usually the best part of the meal. Especially if they're carb-loaded and full of flavor!

    I have so many delicious potato side dish recipes on my blog to choose from.

    • Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
    • Baked Sweet Potato Cubes with Cinnamon Meringue
    • Shortcut Cheesy Potato Casserole
    • Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Herbed Potato Flatbread
    sweet potato and yukon gold gratin

    Cheese And Herb Potato Gratin Recipe

    Tara Teaspoon
    Sweet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, cheese, and lots of herbs come together to make a delicious side dish.
    4.41 from 22 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, French
    Servings 8 to 10
    Calories 302 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 medium sweet potatoes
    • 6 small Yukon gold potatoes
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1½ teaspoon dried parsley
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    • ½ teaspoon ground sage
    • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
    • 8 ounces Gruyère or sharp white cheddar grated (2 cups)
    • ½ cup thinly sliced yellow onion chopped
    • ½ cup whole milk or half-and-half
    • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375°F. Peel potatoes, and, using a mandolin or vegetable slicer, cut into very thin slices. In a large bowl, gently toss potatoes with salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, cheese, and onion, until everything is evenly mixed. Be careful not to break the thin potato slices.
    • Working with a small handful of potatoes at a time, gently line up coated slices in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or 2-quart baking dish. Pour milk and broth over potatoes. Cover pan with foil and seal around edges.
    • Bake 50 minutes and remove foil. Continue to bake until potatoes are tender and top is golden, 15 to 20 minutes more. You can test the potatoes with a knife to see if they are tender throughout. Cool slightly and serve hot.

    Notes

    This recipe is a great way to use the fresh herbs you have leftover from a holiday meal or the last bits after a week of cooking. I use fresh herbs in the spring and summer when they are plentiful and cheap. I'll use my spice cupboard in the winter months. Use double the amount of fresh as you would dry.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 12gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 532mgPotassium: 897mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 12332IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 264mgIron: 2mg
    Want to watch videos to show you how to cook?Check out our Youtube and try this recipe and more.

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    Tara in kitchen making salad

    About Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.

    Find out more!

    Photography by Ty Mecham.

    « Santa Face Sugar Cookies
    Mac and Cheese with Ham and Pearl Onions »

    Filed Under: Christmas, Christmas Side Dishes, Easter, Gluten-Free, Party Foods, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Side Dishes Tagged With: cheese, gratin, herbs, potatoes, scalloped potatoes, Side Dish

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Megan Palmer says

      December 31, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      When I saw you make this on Instagram TV it gave m the courage to try it. It was delicious.

      Reply
    2. Mia says

      January 01, 2021 at 8:42 pm

      This is one of my favorite recipes in your new cookbook! Thanks for making everything so appetizing as well as tasty!

      Reply
    3. Julie says

      January 05, 2022 at 8:49 pm

      My boyfriend and I were bringing a potato dish for a potluck dinner over the holidays and I suggested we try this since cheese and potatoes are the perfect match, but also the presentation is so beautiful. Well the dish was a hit and we received tons of compliments. Thanks for making us look so good Tara!

      Reply
      • Tara Teaspoon says

        January 07, 2022 at 10:23 am

        Ohh I love when there’s success and food joy! Thanks for sharing. Glad you liked it. Tara

        Reply
    4. sue says

      June 16, 2022 at 5:56 pm

      Hi Tara,
      This looks amazing - can any part of this gratin be made ahead?

      Reply

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