Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes is comfort food at its best! It is a great side dish, or main dish if you leftover ham after a holiday dinner.
Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes
This is a no-fuss slow cooker recipe. All of the ingredients can be prepared quickly and easily. If you add ham, you can use any kind of baked ham or spiral ham and it will taste great. You can also use any variety of potatoes. I especially like the use of thyme leaves in this Au Gratin dish. Thyme has a light mint and lemon scent and taste. Just a little bit of thyme goes a long way and really adds a delicious flavor to this dish.
The term “Au Gratin” is French and refers to a dish topped with grated cheese and/or browned bread crumbs. It is difficult to achieve the browned look of au gratin when cooking in a slow cooker, but the taste of the dish is pretty much the same. The potatoes along the sides and bottom of the slow cooker do brown a little as they cook, and gently stirring the potatoes before adding the cheese on top will bring some of the more browned potatoes to the top. Typically, I use ham leftovers in this recipe. Since ham freezes very well, you can freeze leftover ham and save it for recipes like this. The ham can be added frozen to the slow cooker. It will thaw and warm as the potatoes cook.
If you want to make this a vegetarian dish or use it only as a side dish (we love using this as a side dish for Easter dinner), you can substitute mushrooms, carrots, or extra potatoes for the ham. You can also use our Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute in place of the can of cream of mushroom soup in this recipe.
More Crock Pot (Slow Cooker) Recipes
Crock Pot (Slow Cooker) Recipes are the best! It is so great to make dinner ahead of time and have it ready to serve after a busy day. Here are some more of our favorite Crock Pot Recipes.
- Slow Cooker Lasagna – This is the easiest way to make lasagna! You don’t have to boil the noodles ahead of time. They cook in the sauce and come out perfectly every time.
- Slow Cooker Pizza Bake – All of you favorite flavors of pizza in a hearty pasta dish. Make it with your favorite pizza toppings.
- Crock Pot Vegetable Beef Soup – A rich, stew-like soup with ground beef, potatoes, and lots of vegetables.
- Slow Cooker Kalua Pork with Cabbage – This is a Slow Cooker version of a Hawaiian dish often served at Luaus. The pork is tender, juicy, and flavorful.
- Slow Cooker Zesty Italian Shredded Chicken – A few ingredients are added to chicken breasts in the slow cooker to make a creamy, shredded chicken sauce that is delicious served over rice or pasta.
Try another great version of potatoes with these Parmesan Baked Potato Halves. They make a great side dish!
How to make Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes
Ingredients
- 8 potatoes medium-sized, peeled and sliced
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cups cooked ham cubed
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
- 10.25 ounces cream of mushroom soup homemade recipe HERE
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp thyme or more to taste
- ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, layer half of the potatoes, onion, ham, and cheese.
- Repeat layer.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together soup, milk, thyme, and fresh ground pepper.
- Pour over potato layers.
- Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or on LOW for 6-8 hours.
Equipment
- Crock Pot
Jasara says
Ok grandma taught me to bake it but time limits the crock pot meals are easier favorites. Living in Ky I add home made called greens with hint of bacon and diced onion and seasoned salt when cooked for a side to the meal. Family loves it and kids even take seconds on the greens at times.
Dawn says
Absolutely delicious and easy to make
Sommer says
I love a good crockpot recipe and this one is just amazing! These potatoes come out with the best texture and the absolute best flavor!
Jill Baird says
This is on our menu for our Easter Dinner with the fam! I can’t wait!
Judi says
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Looks good! Easier than baking which I have always done! And always have to check and worry if it’s done! Thank You for a great creation!
Julie Blanner says
Love this! It’s such a delicious side dish! It was event great as leftovers the next night.
Krissy Allori says
Oh man! These look so cheesy and delicious. Perfect side dish for any meal.
Nd says
We grew up poor and potatoes were made for every single dinner. I love this dish so much, amazing childhood memories!
Erica Walker says
So happy to hear this recipe brought back happy memories! That is our goal! Thanks for the nice comment 😀
Kristyn says
Yum! I could eat potatoes with everything! These look so cheesy & I love the addition of ham!
Aimee Shugarman says
These sound amazing!!!!
Heather Schumacher says
I subbed the cream of mushroom with cream of bacon. And also used bacon in place of the ham.
Favorite Family Recipes says
Cream of BACON? How have I never heard of this??
erin says
could i use canned potatoes in this recipe?
Favorite Family Recipes says
You probably wouldn’t want to use canned because the canned ones are typically pre-cooked. They will get too soft in the slow cooker with the additional time. You may be better off just baking. Hope this helps!
Emilie says
Hi, i don’t like cream of mushroom, what other type of soup mix would you recommend?
Echo says
This recipe would work with cream of chicken soup or cream of celery. We have a recipe for Cream of Chicken soup works as a great base. See the recipe here: /condensed-cream-of-chicken-substitute/
Jenn says
Are there any other meats that could be used in this dish? We don’t eat pork or beef. Thank you.
Echo says
I have always made this dish with ham, but I don’t see why cooked chicken or turkey wouldn’t work just as well. It would also be delicious as a side dish without any meat at all. You could substitute carrots, mushrooms, more potatoes or another vegetable in place of the ham. Thanks for asking, Jenn!
Suzanne says
Turkey pastrami would be a good substitute
Suzanne says
Turkey pastrami would be a good substitute or turkey ‘ham’ sold at most stores.
Tammie L Cave says
Has anyone tried buttermilk instead of milk?
R.G. says
Doesn’t the milk curdle? Can it be put in at the end?
Echo says
The milk does not curdle. I’ve made this several times and I’ve never had that problem. You may have a problem adding it at the end because when mixed with the soup it gives the potatoes the liquid needed to cook and become soft and tender. If you are concerned about it, a better alternative would be to use water in place of the milk. Thank you for asking!
pam says
WE had this last night and it turned out great, thanks or sharing.
Holly says
I like leaving the potato skins on. As long as you wash the potatoes thoroughly, you’re good to go, it makes for a more nutritional, hearty (and easier) potato casserole! I have also used a bag of ore ida potatoes obrien instead of chopping raw potatoes and onions. It works great if you’re pinched for time as everything is cut up, plus you get chopped green peppers too !! I’ve added sour cream and extra cheese to my casserole as well. Use your imagination as long as the moisture is appropriate to the potato amounts. Enjoy!!