Cheesy Baked Homemade Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• 4 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced (or crispy fried onions)
• 3 pounds red potatoes, thinly sliced with a mandoline
• 2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• Fresh parsley, chopped

1. 1

   Place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a large baking dish using cooking spray or 1 teaspoon of your butter.

2. 2

   In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Once it’s melted, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, or until the garlic is fragrant.

3. 3

   Add in the cream, milk, thyme, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and bring everything to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the ingredients simmer for 10 minutes.

4. 4

   Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the Gruyère cheese and sharp cheddar shredded cheese, stirring until it is mostly melted and smooth.

5. 5

   Sprinkle about ⅔ of the sliced onions (or crispy fried onions) in a single layer in your baking dish. Top the onions with ⅓ of your cheese sauce. Arrange half of your potato slices in a layer on top of the cheese sauce. Sprinkle the remaining onions over the potatoes and then top with another ⅓ of your cheese sauce. Top the cheese sauce with your remaining potatoes followed by your remaining cheese sauce in an even layer. Gently tap the baking dish on the counter to allow the sauce to settle.

6. 6

   Cover the dish with foil and bake everything for 45 minutes.

7. 7

   Uncover the dish and sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top. Continue baking the dish for 15–20 more minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown. (You may also opt to finish the dish by placing breadcrumbs on top and cooking it under your broiler.)

8. 8

   Allow the dish to sit for 10 minutes undisturbed, then garnish it with chopped parsley just before you serve it.

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