Recipe: Crockpot Au Gratin Potatoes

This recipe for Crockpot Au Gratin Potatoes is quick to set-up... you can make a great big pot...  perfect for holidays when oven space is at a premium.. perfect t bring along to that covered dish supper.. perfect for a buffet.. the crock pot keeps it warm.... an all around perfect dish!

TIPS

The kind of potatoes you use will make a difference in the time it takes to cook...  Russets will take longer than white or Yukon Gold potatoes.

I listed the bacon as a range of slices.. if you like bacon.. use it all.. if you're only okay with it.. then use less.

Definitely use the garlic salt on your potatoes otherwise the dish can be bland.

The sauce is made from scratch.. but well worth it... it only takes a few minutes to make it.. I swear in under 10 minutes.

I used 5 good sized potatoes... not super large.. not too small...  they were medium/large sized.  There is a bit of leeway with the quantity...so don't fret too much about the quantity.. 

I always make the bacon in the oven.. if you've never tried it.. definitely try it.. Click here for the instructions.

This will serve 8.

Try this for your next get together... everyone loves potatoes and cheese.. throw bacon in there and they will scrape the pot clean!

Recipe:  Crockpot Au Gratin Potatoes

All you need:

5 good sized (medium/large potatoes), sliced 1/4 inch thick

3-5 strips bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled

1/2 cup onion, finely diced

4 tablespoons butter

2 cups skim milk, warmed

1/2 cup fat free half and half, warmed

1/4 cup flour

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

Butter flavored cooking oil spray

All you have to do:

Spray the crock pot with cooking oil spray.  Set aside.

In a small skillet heat about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease over medium high heat.

Add the onion and cook until soft.. about 5 minutes.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the flour and mix well... cook for about 3 minutes.. do not let it brown.  Remove from the heat.

Heat the milk and half and half in the microwave to take the chill off.  Add the milk to the flour/butter mixture slowly, whisking as you add it.  Whisk until smooth and mixture starts to thicken.  Add the shredded cheese and whisk until the cheddar cheese is melted.  Add the white pepper and whisk to mix.   Remove from the heat.

Ladle 1 large ladle of sauce and spread on the bottom of the crockpot.

Lay one layer of potatoes on top of the sauce... sprinkle the potatoes with garlic salt. Sprinkle with some bacon crumbles and sautéed onions.  Ladle more sauce over the potatoes.  Remember a little goes a long way.. the heat of the crockpot will spread the sauce.

Repeat until all the potatoes, onions and bacon have been layered with sauce.

Pour any remaining sauce over the top.  Cover and set the crockpot on low and cook for 6-8 hours to until potatoes are cooked.   Every crockpot is different.. mine heats up very slowly.. if yours heats up fast.. then you will probably need less time.