Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes
51 Comments
Posted: 04/02/25
Updated: 10/25/19
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Make creamy, cheesy Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes with this simple slow cooker recipe! Thinly sliced potatoes are layered with a rich, cheesy sauce and cooked until tender, making the perfect side dish for any meal. This easy recipe is great for holidays, potlucks, or a comforting family dinner. Let your slow cooker do the work while you enjoy a delicious, hassle-free dish!
How many of you like potato au gratin but hate how it takes so long to make in your oven?? It’s taking up precious oven space that needs to be used for other dishes (like the main dish)!
why you’ll love this recipe
- You won’t heat up your house turning on the oven, so you can eat these amazing slow cooker au gratin potatoes in the summer!
- Two types of cheese make this dish so flavorful and creamy, you’ll be going back for seconds.
- Prepare this a day ahead of time to ensure smooth preparations for your big dinner party.
R
This is so easy and fabulous! I love creamy au gratin potatoes and I know they are a side dish but I could eat these as a main dish! YUM!
Ingredients Needed
- Potatoes – Russet potatoes or Yukon gold will taste best for this dish. You can choose whether to peel them or leave the skin on.
- Cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar gives the best flavor while Monterey Jack is so creamy and smooth.
- Butter – Use salted or unsalted butter, but reduce added salt to this dish if you use salted butter.
- All-purpose flour – This will thicken the creamy sauce.
- Onion – Buying frozen diced onion saves time and tears.
- Garlic powder – Boosts the flavor of the overall dish.
- Milk – Whole milk will give you a nice, creamy sauce.
- Salt and pepper – The best seasonings for this dish to elevate the flavor.
helpful tools
How to make crockpot au gratin potatoes
- Slice potatoes to 1/8″ thick and set aside.
- Melt butter over medium-low heat in a saucepan. Whisk in flour to combine before adding milk, garlic, pepper and salt. Stir frequently until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese.
- Place 1/3 of the sliced potatoes into the bottom of well greased slow cooker. Sprinkle with 1/3 chopped onion and pour 1/3 of the cheese sauce mixture overtop. Repeat these layers 2 more times.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours, until potatoes are tender.
- Allow to sit 20 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken.
How to Slice Potatoes
Slice the potatoes 1/8″ thick using a mandoline or food processor to ensure they cook through evenly. When I sliced them 1/4″ thick, I had to cook them longer but keep in mind every slow cooker brand works differently.
Pro Tips
- Don’t use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe. They come with powdery additives and may not melt well.
- Use a mandoline or food processor to slice the potatoes as it makes the job much easier!
- This dish doesn’t do well on the warm setting because the potatoes will continue to cook and turn out too soft.
- Let the potatoes stand for 20 minutes before serving. This will allow for the sauce to thicken a little and it will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Garnish with fresh parsley to add a little color to the dish.
Can I Overcook Potatoes in a Slow Cooker?
Yes, you can overcook potatoes in a slow cooker, making them really mushy. Keep an eye on your potatoes as they cook, and turn the slow cooker off when they are fork tender.
Storage & Reheating
Fridge: Store leftover potatoes in the fridge in an airtight container up to 4 days.
Freezer: If you want to store leftover au gratin potatoes, you can! I recommend freezing in individual portions and thawing overnight in the fridge.
Reheat au gratin potatoes in the microwave or on the stovetop. Cover with a lid to retain moisture.
These easy crockpot potatoes are the ultimate comfort food and are guaranteed to warm you up inside. These are the best au gratin potatoes and they make a perfect weeknight side dish just like our Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Crock Pot Potato Au Gratin Recipe
Make rich and creamy Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes with this easy slow cooker recipe! Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or a comforting family dinner.
Video
servings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes Sliced 1/8" thick
- 1 small onion diced
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Wash OR peel your potatoes. Slice to 1/8" thick, set aside. (I like to leave the peel on my potatoes)
- Generously coat slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add flour and whisk to combine. Whisk in the milk, garlic powder, pepper, and a generous amount of salt. Cook, stirring frequently just until mixture starts to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheeses.
- Place 1/3 of the sliced potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the chopped onion. Pour 1/3 of the cheese sauce over the potatoes and onions. Repeat this 2 more times. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours or until potatoes are tender. Let sit 20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1, Calories: 219kcal (11%), Carbohydrates: 8g (3%), Protein: 9g (18%), Fat: 17g (26%), Saturated Fat: 10g (63%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 49mg (16%), Sodium: 246mg (11%), Potassium: 149mg (4%), Fiber: 0.4g (2%), Sugar: 4g (4%), Vitamin A: 524IU (10%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 286mg (29%), Iron: 0.4mg (2%)
A few other great potato side dish recipes are: Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes, Loaded Hasselback Potatoes, Best Ever Potato Salad, Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole and Roasted Sweet Potatoes. These slow cooker potatoes are life changing, just saying!!
how to serve au gratin potatoes
I grew up eating potato au gratin and scalloped potatoes often. Most of the time it was served on a Sunday along with baked ham, pork loin roast, or chicken breast.
If we had a little bit of leftover ham my mom would make one of my favorites: Ham and potato au gratin.
more easy crock pot side dishes
- This easy Crockpot Stuffing recipe is perfect for any holiday meal, offering a savory blend of bread, herbs, and seasonings, all slow-cooked to create a flavorful side dish.
- For a creamy and comforting dish, this Crock Pot Mac and Cheese recipe features rich, cheesy goodness with perfectly cooked pasta, making it the ideal side or main course.
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Crock Pot Creamed Corn combines sweet corn, creamy cheese, crispy bacon, and zesty ranch seasoning all cooked to perfection.
- Hearty and nutritious, Crock Pot Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole combines fresh cauliflower and broccoli with a creamy sauce, topped with Corn Flakes for a comforting, vegetable-packed dish.
Terri Joy says
Quick question – what size crock pot did you use? THANKS!
Julie Evink says
A 6 quart crock pot!
Lisa says
I cooked my potatoes in hot water for two minutes before putting in crockpot. worked 👍
Brooke Kill says
Awesome! Thanks for sharing Lisa!
Amy says
Can you freeze these?
Julie Evink says
Yes that should work fine!
Christine says
Can this be frozen?
Mary G says
Have been wanting to make Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes.
Took a chance with your recipe Thank you, Julie!
Just right. Couldn’t have turned out better. Great flavor and texture.
Sarah Hill says
Love to hear they turned out great! You’re welcome! Thanks so much for commenting and rating this recipe!
Crazy Country Cracker says
Loved it!
Sarah Hill says
Happy to hear!
Tricia says
I cooked these for 5 hours on high for 3, then medium for 2, and they weren’t done. I then put them in the oven for 45 minutes, 450 degrees and still not done. I had them sliced about 1/8th inch.
Mandy F says
I have no idea what happened. I followed the directions and cooked on high in the crock pot for more than 12 hours and the potatoes were still not done and onions were still crunchy!
Courtney says
12 hours and they still weren’t done? We have never had that issue when testing this recipe.
Dan says
Would be great without the obnoxious ads and the long story before the recipe. Why do people do this?
Courtney says
The ads play a very important role in providing FREE & easy meals. Most ads come with a close option, please utilize it if one pops up while looking through the recipe.
Lisa McDougal says
This is the best recipe I have ever eaten!
Courtney says
So sweet of you to say that!
Peggy Esposito says
I cooked these for over 6 hours and they were still not cooked through…won’t make again.
Mandy says
I only have 1% milk, will that work?
Julie Evink says
That should work, but the sauce might not be as rich or thick!
Janice says
Yummmmmmm
Carolyn says
This recipe was incredible. I know people hate it when you make changes, but I did everything the same but used 2 cups of gruyere and 1/4 cup grated parmesan for the cheeses. I also used heavy cream in place of milk. Loved it! Thank you