Russet Potatoes Or Yukon Golds For Potatoes Au Gratin
Either potatoes will actually work great for this recipe. We use russet potatoes because they bake very well. Russets also absorb liquid better than their waxy counterparts, so they will soak up all the delicious flavors and still maintain their structure. Both types of potatoes have a high starch content which will help to thicken the sauce.
I would just avoid using something like a waxy red skinned potato because they contain less starch and will likely still be firm even after theyre baked.
How To Make Cheese Sauce For Baked Potatoes
Baked Potatoes with Broccoli and an Amazing Cheese Sauce is the perfect family-friendly meatless main dish. Best recipe for baked potatoes and youll go crazy over the cheese sauce- its incredible! Cheesy baked potatoes are a favorite food of mine and when you try these baked potatoes and cheese with broccoli, youre going to see why! This is possibly the best stuffed baked potato recipe and its an inexpensive dinner that helps to warm up the house on a cold day .
The cheese sauce for this cheesy baked potato is a recipe I received from my mother in law, and it has a special secret ingredient youll want to see! It makes all of the difference!
The Best Cheese For Pommes Aligot
To really understand the Aligot, you have to understand the Aveyron region of France. Situated in the South of France on the LAubrac plateau, Aveyron are known for their cows. Aubrac cows are prized for their dairy. Aubrac milk is exceptionally nutty with a flavor often compared to hazelnut, and is used to make Laguiole cheese traditionally used in Aligot.
While pommes Aligot should really be made with Tomme de Laguiole or Tomme dAuvergne cheese, both of these are hard to find outside of France. So instead, were using a combination of Gruyère for its melty texture and nutty flavor and fresh mozzarella. Ive had the best results with the tiny balls of fresh mozzarella that you can often find in the deli department of the grocery store.
Buy the best-quality cheese you can afford and be sure to stay away from the pre-shredded cheeses for this dish.
Read more:A Cheesy Twist on Mashed Potatoes: Pommes Aligot
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Lightening Up The Dish
The version my mom makes omits the cream of chicken and cracker topping , but I love the extra creaminess it adds and the crunchy topping. So I go all out for the holidays. Feel free to omit as well if youd like, they are still super yummy )
- Omit the cream of chicken soup
- Omit the Ritz/butter topping
- Use less cheese
Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake
This Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake is true to its name easy and creamy and cheesy! Made with cubes of potato which are cooked with the sauce so theres no need to par boil the potatoes or make the sauce separately. Plus, its a whole lot faster to chop potatoes than slice them thinly and you get more sauce in every bite!
Easy Creamy Cheesy Potato Bake. Hows that for a tongue twister, eh? Try saying that 3 times real fast . I keep getting myself confused, and Ive probably gotten it wrong a few times in this post even though Ive gone back to check several times!
When you think of potato bakes, you probably think of sliced potatoes. Otherwise known as Potato Gratin, Potato Dauphinoise and Scalloped Potatoes to those in the States. And heres my recipe for Potato Dauphinoise, if thats what youre after. But hear me out on this chunky style before you go running off!
Not only is this easier and faster to put together i.e. no need to thinly slice mounds of potato then layer them in the baking dish with this chunky style creamy potato bake, you get soft pieces of potato bathed in creamy cheesy sauce. Whereas with potato gratin, the sliced potatoes tends to be packed more closely together so theres less creamy cheesy goodness with every bite. Some might even say its packed too densely for their taste .
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Potatoes Make Fantastic Side Dishes Here Are More For You To Check Out:
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes & Cranberries
- How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon Maple Butter Sauce
- Loaded Baked Potato Rounds
- Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
- Roasted Ranch Potatoes & Carrots
Baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese sauce is an amazing side dish to compliment any meal but you can just as easily consider them a meal on their own. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and cheese you cant go wrong with these on your plate!
How To Make Baked Cheesy Potatoes :
Peel, cube & then boil the potatoes until they’re just cooked. Drain them well, then add them to a 9×13 baking dish. In a bowl, mix together the cheesy sauce ingredients, then pour it over the potatoes and toss gently to combine. Spread the potatoes out in an even layer, then top them with the remaining cheeses and bake uncovered until hot and bubbly . Let ’em sit for a few minutes prior to serving.
Love cheddar? Try my Cheeseburger Soup.
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How To Make Baked Potatoes With Broccoli And Cheese Sauce
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and place a piece of foil on the lower rack of your oven to catch drips.
Scrub each potato clean and place them on a towel to dry.
Pierce each for several times with the prongs of a fork, I usually do 2 on each side, making 4 total.
Brush each potato with olive oil and shake a little Kosher salt over the top.
Bake the potatoes for an hour, or longer check with a fork for the desired doneness after an hour.
While the potatoes are baking, making the cheese sauce.
What To Pair With Cheesy Potatoes
This is one of our favorite side dishes, both for the holidays and for everyday dinners. For casual meals at home, pair cheesy potato casserole with Mini Meatloaf, Slow Cooker Shredded Beef, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs,Air Fryer Pork Chops or Skillet Pork Chops with Tomato Pan Sauce .
We like to serve the cheesy potatoes with a simple garden salad, Garlic Green Beans, or Balsamic Grilled Vegetables.
For the holidays, pair cheesy potato casserole with Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, Easy Prime Rib Roast, or Orange Glazed Ham.
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How To Make Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
I love this recipe because its super easy and tastes better than any cheesy potato casserole Ive ever had. That could be due to the massive amounts of fresh Cheddar cheese in the rich, creamy sauce, but who knows?
Hey These Are Au Gratin Potatoes
Technically, that is correct. Scalloped Potatoes are made with a creamy sauce while au gratin potatoes are covered with cheese. However, since we kind of combine these two methods, I feel confident calling them Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. Plus, thats what Grandma always called them, and we dont mess with Grandma!
This Easy Scalloped Potatoes recipe was a hit at my dinner party, and theyre sure to be a hit at yours. They are delicious with ham, turkey or even as a fancy side for your favorite steak. They also pair well with a beautiful London Broil.
Here are some more delicious potato recipes to check out:
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How To Make Cheesy Potatoes Casserole
This old-fashioned potato dish is so delicious. I love the crunchy topping of corn flakes coated with melted butter the best. It just adds a special touch of goodness that a lot of recipes dont include.
Do yourself a favor and dont leave off this buttery topping. Its what makes this dish over the top good!
Theres just something about it that reminds me of being little. My grandmother used to add them to the top of her casseroles all the time and when I add crushed up cornflakes to the top of my dishes, it takes me back instantly.
A Quick & Easy Way To Bake Chopped Potatoes In The Oven
I didnt plan these potatoes for the blog, but they turned out so dang good I had to snap a few last minute pics to share. I mean, how can you go wrong with potatoes and cheese? But, I discovered the key to making them absolutely amazing! Bake them for half of the time covered with foil, and then uncover for the last half of baking so that they are perfectly tender but yet a little crispy on the outside.
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Should Baked Potatoes Be Wrapped In Foil
Wrapping a baked potato in foil to cook will steam the potato in order to cook it which will give a boiled taste as opposed to the flavor created when unwrapped. Not only that but keeping your potatoes unwrapped when baking will result in a nicer and slightly crisped skin.
You can wrap your potatoes in foil to keep them warm after baking though! Perfect for baking large amounts or making them in advance.
The Difference Between Scalloped Potatoes And Au Gratin Potatoes
Why is there so much confusion about scalloped potatoes versus Au Gratin Potatoes? Well, they are very similar. So, we are calling our dish cheesy scalloped potatoes, and let me explain why we can do that. We are basically combining the best parts of both dishes.
A traditional scalloped potato dish consists of sliced potatoes layered in a casserole dish and baked with heavy cream and lots of herbs. A traditional Au Gratin Potato dish, on the other hand, has grated cheese sprinkled between the layers, resulting in a cheesy, more decadent dish. In both dishes, the potatoes are cut into rounds, but the potatoes used in scalloped potatoes are often cut a bit thicker than those in au gratin potatoes.
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Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
My grandma was known for her comfort food cooking. From authentic German Spaetzle and Hungarian dishes to American classics like these Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, each recipe she cooked was her pride and joy.
In our family she was known for certain dishes, like her Shortcut German Potato Salad and her Zucchini Bread, among others. She never had to follow a recipe she knew each one like the back of her hand. Which of course leaves us trying to recreate the flavors she made. Thankfully we cooked with her enough that we are usually successful.
I remember the first time I cooked this Scalloped Potatoes recipe on my own. It was for a Christmas party that I was hosting at my home, and it was the first Christmas since my grandma had passed away. My boss was bringing the ham, so I knew I had to make my grandmas cheesy potatoes recipe. I did and they tasted just like herswhich of course made me cry as I ate them!
To Make Homemade Cheesy Potatoes You Will Need:
- russet potatoes
- kosher salt and black pepper
I swear Im so hyped that Im having cheesy potatoes on a Monday!
Start by filling a large pot 2/3 of the way full with cold water. Roughly peel 3 pounds of russet potatoes. I like to leave some of the skin on to really drive the hey guys, these homemade cheesy potatoes are made from scratch appearance.
Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are just tender. The potatoes should still have a little resistance when you try to pierce them with a fork and will finish cooking in the oven. When the timer *dings* remove the pot off of the burner and pour the potatoes into colander that is set into a sink and let them cool a little.
Not pictured is the huge mess from the over boil. Ugh! Every. Single. Time.
In a 10-inch skillet melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter and a pinch of kosher salt. Once melted, add in a 1/2 cup diced yellow onion and cook until softened. Once soft add in the minced clove of garlic and cook for a minute or two.
Next sprinkle the 4 tablespoons of all purpose flour over top, stir it into the butter and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
While stirring, pour in a 1/2 cup of both low-sodium chicken broth and whole milk. Stir, stir, stir.
Once the mixture is creamy and thick, remove it from the burner.
Then add in a cup of cold sour cream and stir until incorporated.
The cold sour cream will bring the broth/onion mixtures temperature down so when you add it to the bowl it wont instantly melt the cheese.
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How To Store Potatoes Au Gratin
- To store: simply store these au gratin potatoes in the refrigerator in individual, airtight containers or covering the entire pan and placing it in the refrigerator. Theyll stay good for up to 5 days.
- To reheat: reheat individual portions in the microwave or place the pan back in the oven until heated through.
The Best Potato For Pommes Aligot
French potatoes, much like French cheese, wine, and bread, are prized for their flavor. Early growing spring varieties are loved for their thin skin and fine texture. While French potato varieties are easily grown in your home garden and likely readily available from your local farmers markets, youll have trouble finding these early growers into the fall. For pommes Aligot were using Yukon Gold potatoes for their delicate texture and creamy, buttery flavor.
Peel, chop, and boil the potatoes as you would any potatoes for mashing, until tender. Instead of mashing with a hand-held potato masher, process the potato into a smooth purée quickly and efficiently in a few quick pulses of the food processor.
Have a ricer or food mill? Either of these tools would be ideal for puréeing the potatoes to light and airy perfection.
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Cheesy Garlic Butter Potatoes
In order for the potatoes to be smashable, they need to be very tender. When boiling, go a little bit longer than you think you need. In the oven they’ll get nice and crispy on the outside, and that textural difference will blow you away. Here, we used mozzarella, but our Brie Smashed Potatoes use the same technique and are worth checking out too.
grated Parmesan
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Can Au Gratin Potatoes Be Made Ahead Of Time
You can absolutely make these cheesy au gratin potatoes up to three days ahead of time! Simply pour the sauce over the potatoes as directed, then cover the pan with foil and instead of baking, place in the fridge until ready to bake. Please note that they may take a bit longer to bake, likely an additional 15-20 minutes, as the sauce will be cold.
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Tips And Tricks For Potatoes Au Gratin Success
- The heavy cream should coat all the potatoes evenly to ensure they dont dry out.
- Covering this dish in foil in beginning of the baking process will allow the potatoes to soften without drying the dish out. Once the potatoes get to a good point, uncovering them will allow the top of the gratin to brown and crisp up, while allowing some of the excess liquid to thicken and evaporate.
- Keeping the slices as uniform in thickness as possible will greatly help even cooking throughout the gratin.
- Using a mandoline will not only ensure even thickness, but will also reduce the prep time. If you dont have a a very sharp knife is the next best thing we recommend.
- I dont recommend soaking the potatoes in water ahead of time for our potatoes au gratin . Soaking them will cause them to lose some of their starch, which helps to keep this dish creamy. The dish will still get a nice, crisp top without soaking the potatoes.
