Cheddar Ranch Au Gratin Potatoes
Thinly sliced potatoes are paired with a creamy cheesy ranch sauce in the perfect Cheddar Ranch Au Gratin Potatoes recipe!
Cheesy Potato Casserole
What is more satisfying than a rich Cheesy Potato Casserole? Nothing! These Au Gratin Potatoes are the perfect side dish or recipe to carry to a potluck. I promise there will be no leftovers! What sets this easy potato recipe apart from others is the addition of Ranch seasoning. It’s no secret that potatoes, cheese and ranch are an unstoppable combo. It is especially amazing in this casserole!
You can make this a complete recipe by adding ham, this happens to be a great way to use up leftover Sunday ham! Or chopped bacon and green onions makes this dish extra special!
Ingredients in Au Gratin Potatoes
As always, this is a quick overview of the ingredients you will need for this recipe. To get the complete recipe just keep scrolling. Potatoes au gratin require fewer ingredients than you’d think! Here’s all you’ll need to make this cheesy potato recipe:
- Potatoes: Yukon Gold, Idaho or Russet potatoes, the key is to very thinly slice them. I use a madoline slicer to make them perfectly uniform.
- Butter: salted or unsalted
- Shallot and Garlic: finely chopped
- Milk and Heavy cream: using both gives the best creamy texture.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Ranch seasoning
How to Make Au Gratin Potatoes
This is a really easy homemade au gratin potatoes recipe. Here are the basic steps to making it:
- First, make your cheesy sauce in a deep skillet or sauce pan. Melt the butter, then sauté shallot and garlic until fragrant. Stir in milk, heavy cream, shredded cheddar, and Ranch seasoning. Bring the mixture to a simmer (stirring occasionally) until it has thickened into a beautiful, smooth sauce.
- In a greased baking dish, evenly layer the thinly sliced potatoes and top with the cheddar sauce. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil, add the shredded cheddar cheese and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is golden and the potatoes are fork tender.
- Important! Allow the dish to rest at least 10 minutes so that the sauce can thicken.
What Are the Best Potatoes for Au Gratin Potatoes?
Russet, Idaho and Yukon Gold potatoes are excellent options for Au Gratin or Scalloped Potatoes. The key to a successful dish
Can I Prep This Dish in Advance?
Yes! You can assemble the cheesy ranch potatoes in advance, wrap it in plastic wrap, and then chill up to 24 hours before baking. Note that the potatoes may oxidize in the fridge, but once baked they should look fine.
Tips for the Best Au Gratin Potatoes
- Very thinly sliced potatoes! This is the absolute most important
- This recipe can easily be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Note that the cooking time may vary slightly based on the thickness of your potatoes. To check the potatoes, stick with a fork or knife to test for tenderness.
More Potato Side Dishes:
- Mom’s Mashed Potatoes
- One-Pan Chipotle Fingerling PotatoesÂ
- Rosemary Garlic Sweet Potato Wedges
- Crock Pot Cheesy Potatoes
- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
- Spicy Ranch Potatoes
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Ranch Au Gratin Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and very thinly sliced
For the Cheese Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 shallot
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 1 ounce Ranch seasoning packet
Topping
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray an 11 x 7-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a deep skillet or sauce pan combine the butter over medium heat, add the shallot and garlic and sauté until fragarant. Stir in the milk, heavy cream, cheeses, and Ranch seasoning.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. When the mixture has thickened remove from the heat and set aside.
- Layer the thinly sliced potatoes in a greased casserole dish. Pour the cheddar sauce over the potatoes and tilt back and forth so it is evenly distributed. Cover the dish with foil and bake 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and add the remaining cheese. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender and the cheese is golden.
- Allow the dish to rest at least 10 minutes before serving.
These potatoes look fantastic, Annie! I love how easy they are to whip up with just a few ingredients. And the cheddar and ranch flavors go together so well! Sounds delish!
Yes! Sometimes I get a bit carried away with flavor combos but you can’t beat a simple classic like this!
I am the same way though I need to start playing that game more to up my creativity! I love what you did with this game. These potatoes look like perfection!
Thanks girl! 🙂
Ranch in scalloped potatoes totally makes sense! Can’t wait to see what the random ingredients from your fridge inspire next 😉
Thanks Ashley!! Me either! 🙂
I love this dish! It’s so creative. I love playing that game, too. My husband and I buy each other secret ingredients and then challenge each other. Makes an in-house date night so much better!
How fun Mir! I love that idea! That sounds like the perfect date night to me!
Can I just say you took my love of potatoes to a new level! Cheddar and ranch sound ridiculously good together. My family would flip over this!
Isn’t it great?! So many good things in this dish! If only I would have added bacon 😉
I am very impressed! This dish is a yummy combination of flavors! I’m in!
Thanks Annie! 🙂
I am a huge fan of au gratin potatoes but I haven’t made them in the longest time. I definitely need to try this recipe. Love the creamy cheddar ranch flavor!
I don’t make them often either Ashley! But my husband LOVES them! I need to do it more often for sure!
Hello! Another ranch recipe makes me so happy! I love how creative you are with your leftover ingredients. I need to try to do that myself. I always have so many random things in my pantry.
Yes! I didn’t really think about the fact I was doing two ranch in a row until after I published, but that is okay! Who doesn’t like ranch?! 🙂
Love that you used up what ingredients you have to come up with these new dishes. These potatoes look so delicious and I love the cheddar and ranch flavors in here!
Thanks Kelly! I love a good classic combo!
looks like some delicious comfort food!
Thanks Caralyn! 🙂
You’re inspiring me to be a little more creative with creating a dish with stuff we have on hand. I’m kind of the world’s worst at that right now! I love these potatoes, they look incredible! Ranch + cheddar on potatoes sounds like an insanely delicious combination.
Thanks Danielle! It is actually kind of fun! Sometimes, as food bloggers, I think we have SO MANY ideas we just can’t keep it all straight! It is kind of refreshing to have some limitations to the creativity!
I love that you’re doing that. I have been on a mission to use up ingredients in my pantry as well and really focus of meal prep this year. These are delicious potatoes and Kurt would love them.
Thanks Kathy! I am so bad about not really looking at what I already have on hand before I go to the store, so eventually I end up with 15 cans of black beans or something like that! I am hoping this helps me break some of my bad habits!
These potatoes look great Annie! I love how easy they are, and with so few ingredients!
Au gratin potatoes are one of my favorites and I love how you kicked up the classic with ranch and cheddar! This is so going on my menu!
Sometimes the most creative meals come out of just using what I have on hand…. no planning, no last minute runs to the store. It ensures nothing goes to waste either..
Pure comfort food, Annie! Love the addition of sour cream and ranch in this warming dish! Beautiful styling and colors too!! Thank you for sharing your recipe, Annie!
I love au gratin potatoes, and adding ranch is a brilliant idea!!
Love these potatoes!! I think the packet of ranch takes them over the top! Yum!
Potatoes are my favorite side dish and these look wonderful!
You are one smart cookie! The combination sounds perfect!
Thanks Ginny!!
These look delicious! So rich and creamy…there’s nothing like au gratin potatoes!
Thanks Bri! I agree! Potatoes and cheese are really hard to beat!
It’s like your very own “Chopped” challenge! And it’s definitely a great practice in using up all the food in your house so nothing goes to waste. I love the idea of these ranch and cheddar au gratin potatoes!
Yes it is Natalie!! 🙂 I have gotten bad about not using all of my ingredients and letting things go bad, I am trying so hard to do better!!
Oh Crab Alfredo and these potatoes sound delicioussss!
Thanks Meg! 🙂
I love when my husband says “We have no food in the house!” and I pull off and awesome meal! These potatoes sound SO yummy! You really can’t go wrong with cheese and potatoes!! 🙂
Thanks Jess!
Looks great. But what gluten free ranch seasoning did you use? I didn’t know there was GF ranch seasoning available. Would love to try these.
Hi Linda! The Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning mix are labeled gluten free. However, their “dip” mixes are not gluten free. I use their salad dressing mix and it is always great! 🙂 However I have made a homemade version before using this recipe and it was good too! I hope you enjoy! We love this recipe!
Thank you thank you. You made my day!