Creamy au Gratin Potatoes

These au gratin potatoes are my husband's favorite — he considers it a special occasion every time I make them! The creamy cheese sauce and tender potatoes in this classic French dish combine to make a deliciously addictive experience. Serve potatoes au gratin with a roast pork loin or beef tenderloin, alongside a green salad and some French bread. Experiment with different cheeses for variety.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr
• Calories: 499 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 medium onion, sliced into rings
• 4 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a 1-quart casserole dish.

Step 2

Layer 1/2 of the potatoes in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish; season with salt and pepper. Layer onion slices over top, then top with with remaining potatoes. Season again with salt and pepper.

Step 3

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Gradually whisk in flour and salt and cook, whisking constantly until raw flour flavor has cooked off, about 1 minute. Gradually add milk, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking well after each addition to incorporate; the gradual addition and whisking of milk will help avoid lumps in your sauce.

Step 4

Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in cheese all at once; continue stirring until melted, 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese sauce over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender and sauce is bubbly, about 1 1/2 hours.