Cheesy Potato Casserole
This potato gratin is a classic comfort food. The thinly-sliced, shingled potatoes are meltingly tender, and while there’s certainly plenty of rich and creamy cheese sauce, it’s not so much that it drowns the potatoes. Uncovering the casserole for the final 30 minutes of baking yields a crunchy, cheesy, salty top layer that’s incredibly addictive. Using two types of cheese is also key to this dish: the sharp Cheddar cheese compliments the saltiness of the Parmesan. Serve this casserole as a holiday side dish, or enjoy some with dinner tonight, and eat leftovers for breakfast, topped with a fried egg.
How to Make It
Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium, whisking often, until melted, about 2 minutes. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, until bubbling, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in half-and-half. Increase heat to medium-high, and cook, whisking often, until slightly thickened, 5 to 6 minutes. Whisk in garlic powder, 1½ cups of the white Cheddar, and ¾ cup of the Parmesan until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and set aside.
Lightly grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with butter. Add one layer of potatoes, shingle-style. Sprinkle with a small amount of salt and pepper. Spread about 1 cup of sauce mixture evenly over potatoes. Repeat layers 4 to 5 more times with remaining potatoes, salt, pepper, and sauce mixture, ending with a layer of sauce on top. Sprinkle top with remaining ½ cup Cheddar and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Lightly grease a piece of aluminum foil with butter and place over baking dish. Bake until potatoes are somewhat tender and liquid is bubbling, about 40 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until potatoes are tender and top of the casserole is a deep golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
Remove from oven and let stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Top with chives.
