Healthy Au Gratin Potatoes | Perfect Holiday Side!

This healthy Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes recipe is a clean-eating, savory, and easy upgrade to an old classic. Bake this savory side as a gluten-free accompaniment to your main protein.  Perfect as a holiday side, too!

Okay, friends, let me be the first to introduce you to these next-level au gratin potatoes right here. I wanted to go all out with this au gratin potatoes recipe by adding additional yummy flavors to the cheesy potato goodness. I brought in the big guns: onion, bacon, and mushrooms

Yup.  And it was goooood.

What Are Au Gratin Potatoes?

Here are the three main differences between au gratin and scalloped potatoes:

IS BACON CLEAN-EATING?

Yes, indeed, bacon can be classified as a clean-eating ingredient as long as there are no nitrates (look for celery salt as the preserving agent, for example) and no added sugar. Many pork producers are in-the-know and have begun to make their products gluten-free, without added nitrates, and without MSG.

Of course, eating bacon in moderation is always a wise choice when striving for a healthy lifestyle!

HEALTHY INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS FOR CHEESY AU GRATIN POTATOES

There are easy ingredient substitutes for Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes. I know sometimes there is a need to replace an item because of a health concern or a specific diet. Here is how to do it:

• Gluten-free: Double check the cheese you buy to verify that there are no wheat additives. As for the bacon, make sure there is no malt used in processing.
• Vegan/Non-dairy: Substitute vegan cheese or make a cauliflower “cheese” sauce.  Replace bacon with addiitonal mushrooms.
• Keto: Replace the potatoes with cauliflower for a low-carb, fiber-rich option.
• Paleo: Replace the cheese with coconut cream and almond milk.

Can You Make Ahead Au Gratin Potatoes?

HOW DO I REHEAT CHEESY AU GRATIN POTATOES?

In the unlikely event you have any portions of this delicious baked classic left over, you can go ahead and store right in the same dish. Just be careful to wrap these healthy au gratin potatoes well with saran or foil until you reheat. To warm them up, place in a 350 degree oven, covered with foil. Check it in 20 minutes. If you want to freeze the leftovers, do so in an airtight dish and thaw in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven.

What To Eat With Au Gratin Potatoes

Here’s a list of my favorite recipes to eat with au gratin potatoes:

• Easy Roasted Pork Tenderloin
• Garlic Roasted Pork Chops
• Roasted Chicken
• Honey Mustard Chicken
• Roast Beef
• Pan-Roasted Steak

LOOKING FOR MORE HEALTHY POTATO SIDES?

If you are wondering about healthy potato sides for your next special occasion (or for a weeknight dinner!), look no further. These easy clean-eating dishes are oh, so savory and sure to please every taste:

• Roasted Potato Salad
• Easy Sweet Potato Hash
• Healthier Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes

This tasty side also makes a great side dish for a Christmas ham so keep them in mind during the holidays!

5 from 1 vote

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Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 5 mins

Total Time

1 hr 20 mins

 

Make your own homemade Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes! This potatoes au gratin recipe is an easy, healthy, and flavorful upgrade to an old classic.

Categories: Baking, Side Dish

Difficulty: Easy

Keyword: cheesy au gratin potatoes, healthy au gratin potatoes, potatoes au gratin healthy

Servings: 8

Calories: 221 kcal

Author: Lacey Baier

Ingredients

• 3 medium russet potatoes, sliced between 1/8 and 1/4-inch thick
• 8 cremini mushrooms, fienly diced
• 1/2 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 4 strips nitrate-free bacon, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 3/4 cup PLUS 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place potato slices in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 6 minutes. This will save significant time baking, as it will start to cook the potatoes. If you're wanting to line the potato slices into a neat domino format (as pictured above), do this before heating in the microwave. Lining them up makes for a better presentation, but is not necessary.
3. Over medium-high heat, cook bacon for 3-5 minutes, or until it begins to sweat.

4. Add onion and mushrooms and cook until tender. 

5. Add garlic and cook for one additional minute. Then, remove from heat.

6. In a medium sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Mix in the chickpea flour, garlic powder, and sea salt, stirring constantly. Cook for one minute.

7. Add the almond milk and stir to combine. Continue to cook, stirring very frequently, until mixture has thickened.(To get even thicker, can add 1 tsp. arrowroot starch, though this is not necessary).

8. Add in 3/4 cups of the cheddar cheese, and stir until melted. 

9. Combine the onion-mushroom-bacon mixture with the cheese sauce.
10. If you lined the potato slices like dominos, just pour the cheesy onion contents over the potatoes and then giggle the baking dish some to get it to settle in the crevices. If you'd prefer to just combine it all together and not worry about the slices being in an orderly fashion, just gently toss to combine, making sure to coat the potatoes as evenly as possible, and then pour into the baking dish.

11. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the top.

12. Bake, covered with aluminum foil, for 40-50 minutes, until potatoes are completely tender. Remove aluminum foil and bake, uncovered, for an additional 10-15 minutes until top is golden brown.

Nutrition Facts

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

Amount Per Serving (1 cup)

Calories 221 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 5.1g26%

Cholesterol 24mg8%

Sodium 485.5mg20%

Carbohydrates 19.1g6%

Fiber 2.1g8%

Sugar 1.3g1%

Protein 8.1g16%

Vitamin A 800IU16%

Vitamin C 7.4mg9%

Calcium 280mg28%

Iron 1.1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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