Chef's Best Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe (Pommes de Terre Gratinées) by Chef Gigi

If you're a fan of au gratin potatoes, then you're in for a real treat! You may have had au gratin potatoes before, but we bet you've never had them as good as these. A gratin is a culinary technique in which a casserole recipe is topped with a browned crust. The gratin originated in French cuisine, and is usually prepared in a shallow cooking vessel. The flavors in this potato recipe are rich, creamy and delicious. That's why I think it's the best au gratin potatoes recipe! 

This delicious Pommes de Terre Gratinées (aka potatoes with cheese) side dish recipe is so delicious, you may be spoiled for "regular" au gratin potatoes forever. It takes some time, but this amazing potato casserole recipe is well worth the effort for an incredible dinner. You just can't rush perfection!

Here's what you need to make this tasty gluten-free potato dish: unsalted butter, leeks, potatoes, heavy cream or nut milk, chicken or vegetable stock, garlic cloves, thyme sprigs, a bay leaf, ground nutmeg, white pepper, black pepper and Gruyère cheese. The pancetta (or bacon) is optional.

Serve this low-sodium cheesy potato side dish recipe with your next elegant holiday dinner, or just because. It's perfect for Easter!

Note: 30Seconds is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program and this post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission or fees if you make a purchase via those links.

Cuisine: French
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 70 to 85 minutes
Total Time: 80 to 95 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 fresh leeks, trimmed, sliced down center lengthwise and washed well
• 1 1/2 pounds peeled Yukon gold potatoes
• 1/4 - 1/2 pound pancetta, chopped in medium dice or center cut bacon (optional)
• 1 cup heavy cream or nut milk
• 1/3 cup chicken stock or vegetable stock
• 2 garlic cloves, cleaned and smashed, root ball intact
• 2 thyme sprigs
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated

Helpful Products

• Baking Dish
• Skillet
• Mixing Bowl
• Wooden Spoon
• Cutting Board
• Chef Knife
• Salt and Pepper
• Cheese Grater

Recipe Notes

• You can use pancetta or center cut bacon or neither in this recipe. Use neither if you want this to be vegetarian.
• You can use heavy cream or your favorite nut milk in this recipe. 
• You can use chicken stock or vegetable stock. Use vegetable stock if you want this to be vegetarian.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

Here’s how you make it:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 2-quart gratin dish or a casserole dish by generously rubbing with butter. Place on a lined, high-sided cookie sheet and set aside.
2.  Slice the potatoes into 1/8-inch disks. Toss with salt and pepper. Layer the rounds, slightly overlapping one another, from left to right or in a circle, bottom to top, in the buttered gratin dish.
3. In a small saucepan, cook the pancetta until crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel. Set aside.
4. Cut the cleaned leeks into 1/4-inch strips. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the leeks, a large pinch of salt, and a few grinds of fresh pepper. Add the thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are tender and golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs and scatter the cooked leeks over the sliced potatoes.
5. While the leeks are cooking, heat the cream, the stock with the garlic and bay leaf in an additional saucepan. Simmer for about 5 minutes until flavors are infused in the cream. Add nutmeg and white pepper.
6. Sprinkle half of the pancetta on top of the cooked leeks. Pour the cream over the top. Top with the Gruyère. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Uncover and bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown, an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with the reserved crispy pancetta and garnish with chopped parsley.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 148

Total Fat: 9.2g

Saturated Fat: 5.8g

Cholesterol: 28mg

Sodium: 52mg

Total Carbohydrate: 10.9g

Dietary Fiber: 0.9g

Total Sugars: 1.8g

Protein: 6.8g

Vitamin D: 8mcg

Calcium: 181mg

Iron: 1mg

Potassium: 218mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

Need to convert cooking and baking measurements? Here are some kitchen conversion charts. Here's how to submit your recipes to 30Seconds.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily.