Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes
53 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.
Sharon says
Hi, just wondering if you can double the batch and if it would have to be cooked longer? Thank you.
Colleen says
How many servings does this recipe make?
Kathy Harris says
I made these last night, using 1 c. Velveeta and 1 c. sharp cheddar. They were excellent!!
Julie Evink says
Yum! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Gail Latimer says
Can I ask why you can’t keep on the warm setting?
Julie Evink says
You can, but it’s going to cook still to some degree and it’s not going to give the best result if you keep it on there to long.
Vicki says
So, I am driving 45 minutes to my niece’s house for Christmas dinner. Suppose to arrive at 4 and eat 6/6:30. Can I cook halfway at my house, drive, then finish cooking at my niece’s?
Jeanette G says
They aren’t done yet but I had to sample. Oh my delicious!!! My only change was pepper jack cheese because I didn’t have monterrey. This ones a keeper! Thank you!
Julie Evink says
What a delicious way to change them up! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Tanya Moore says
Can you prepare this the night before?
Julie Evink says
Mix it up, store in the refrigerator and then turn on the Crock Pot the next morning? You should be able too!
Linda says
Hi Julie
I am new to your recipes but I was looking for crock pot AuGratins and walla
I want to try them next Easter to make things simpler
Do you see any problems with mixing all together in a bowl and then placing in 9×13 crock pot
Thank you and will be looking for more of your recipes
Michelle Sperr says
Hi Linda! I’m glad to hear that you’re trying the recipe. I do not see any problems mixing it all together in a bowl and then placing it in your crock pot! I hope you LOVE this recipe and many others too!
Mary says
Can this be made with half and half instead of whole milk?
Michelle Sperr says
Hi Mary. I haven’t tired making it with half and half but you could try it! It may change the consistency a little bit but probably would be delicious! Hope you enjoy it!
Susan says
It was amazing and delicious! I recommend stirring during cooking so doesn’t overcook on bottom layer. I’ll definitely make again
Julie says
Wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Savannah says
Been 4 hours still not cooked did exactly what was stated. Unfortunately I think its the crock pot, maybe I should of pre boiled them for a quicker cooking time. I cut them fairly thin too, they taste great. Just not having good luck with Christmas dinner. Thank you for the recipe though!
Julie says
Oh bummer! I’m glad you still enjoyed them!
Beth says
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!
Julie says
Same here, so good! Glad you loved them!
Melissa Howell says
These look so bright and sunny! The only times I’ve tried to make scalloped potatoes, they come out undercooked and gray! But your crock-pot version looks perfect! I’ll have to give them a try!
Julie Evink says
You’ll love them!
Malinda Linnebur says
Can’t go wrong with crockpot versions of the classics!
Julie Evink says
You hit it out of the park!
Danielle Green says
I know husbands out there that would eat scalloped potatoes at every meal if they could – crock pot combined with easy to fix make these wonderful! Thanks!
Julie Evink says
I think mine would for sure!
Greyson Lallement says
we arent traditional anymore, men can be primary cooks as well
i can share lots of tips and tricks
asparagus goes well in scalloped or augratin taters