This Ruth’s Chris-Inspired Potatoes au Gratin is a rich and creamy side dish that’s sure to impress. With layers of tender potatoes, a blend of cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan cheeses, and a hint of garlic and onion, this dish brings the restaurant-quality experience straight to your home. Perfect for any occasion, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Full Recipe: 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter (plus extra for greasing the baking dish)

• ½ white onion, finely minced

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 ½ teaspoons salt

• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• ½ cup chicken stock

• 1 ¼ cups heavy cream (add more if needed)

• 1 ½ lbs russet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/8-inch thick rounds

• 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

• ¾ cup provolone cheese, grated

• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

• Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven:
   Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with butter.

2. Cook the onions and garlic:
   In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, salt, and black pepper, and cook for an additional 30 seconds.

3. Add the liquids and potatoes:
   Pour in the chicken stock and heavy cream, then add the sliced potatoes. Stir gently to combine. Bring the mixture to a low simmer (avoid boiling). Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.

4. Transfer to the baking dish:
   Transfer the creamy potato mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan cheeses.

5. Bake:
   Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.

6. Serve:
   Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, and serve.

Nutritional Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 545 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 35g

• Protein: 12g

• Fat: 41g

• Saturated Fat: 25g

• Cholesterol: 125mg

• Sodium: 1100mg

• Potassium: 970mg

• Fiber: 3g

• Sugar: 4g

A Rich and Creamy Side Dish

Potatoes au Gratin is a classic French dish that has made its way into American cuisine, becoming a staple at many upscale restaurants. The key to this dish is the luxurious, creamy texture achieved through a combination of heavy cream and butter, which coats each slice of tender potato. The rich base provides the perfect canvas for the cheeses, which melt into a golden, bubbly top. Ruth’s Chris-Inspired Potatoes au Gratin takes this classic recipe up a notch by incorporating a blend of three cheeses: cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan.

Each cheese contributes its own unique flavor and texture to the dish. Cheddar brings a sharp, tangy bite that cuts through the richness of the cream, while provolone adds a creamy, mild flavor that helps balance the sharpness. Parmesan lends a nutty, salty depth that enhances the overall flavor profile, giving the dish an extra layer of complexity. This combination of cheeses creates a smooth, velvety sauce that binds the layers of potatoes together and delivers a perfect bite every time.

The Perfect Potato Choice

For this dish, russet potatoes are the ideal choice due to their starchy nature, which allows them to absorb the creamy sauce while maintaining their texture during cooking. Russet potatoes have a high starch content, which helps them hold their shape even after being baked in a rich, creamy sauce. The thinly sliced potatoes cook evenly and become tender without turning mushy, allowing them to absorb all the flavors of the cream and cheeses.

The key to achieving perfectly tender potatoes is slicing them into 1/8-inch thick rounds. This ensures that each piece cooks uniformly, allowing the flavors to meld together while retaining the right amount of firmness. It’s important to slice the potatoes thinly but not too thin, as overly thin slices can break apart during cooking.

The Role of Onions and Garlic

In Ruth’s Chris-Inspired Potatoes au Gratin, the onions and garlic play a crucial role in adding depth and aromatic flavor to the dish. The onions are sautéed until they become soft and translucent, which brings out their natural sweetness. This sweetness provides a balance to the richness of the cream and cheeses, giving the dish a more rounded flavor profile. The garlic is then added to the onions, infusing the dish with its savory aroma. The result is a subtle, but noticeable, flavor that enhances the overall creaminess of the potatoes.

By sautéing the garlic and onions first, you unlock their natural sugars, which caramelize slightly and infuse the cream with their aromatic oils. This method of cooking the aromatics before adding them to the cream ensures that their flavors are deeply embedded in the sauce, which helps elevate the entire dish.

A Luxurious Creamy Sauce

The creamy sauce that coats the potatoes in this dish is the result of combining heavy cream with chicken stock. The heavy cream is the base, giving the dish its smooth and velvety texture, while the chicken stock adds a subtle depth of flavor that balances the richness. As the potatoes simmer in the mixture, they absorb the cream and stock, becoming tender and flavorful. The sauce thickens as it cooks, allowing the potatoes to maintain their creamy consistency without becoming too runny.

The key to a successful creamy sauce is patience. The potatoes need to be simmered in the cream and stock for about 15-20 minutes until they are tender and have absorbed the flavors. This step ensures that the potatoes cook through while allowing the cream to thicken and coat each slice perfectly.

The Cheese Topping

Once the potatoes are cooked and tender, it’s time to add the cheese. The blend of cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan cheeses is sprinkled generously over the potatoes, forming a rich, golden topping as it bakes. The cheese melts into the sauce, creating a bubbly, golden crust that is both satisfying and delicious.

Baking the dish at a high temperature, around 425°F, allows the cheese to melt quickly and evenly, creating a crisp, browned top that contrasts beautifully with the soft, creamy potatoes beneath. This step is essential for creating the signature texture of Potatoes au Gratin—crispy on top, creamy and tender underneath.

Serving and Presentation

Ruth’s Chris-Inspired Potatoes au Gratin is a dish that is as visually appealing as it is delicious. The golden, bubbling cheese topping adds an attractive contrast to the creamy white potatoes, making the dish look as impressive as it tastes. Whether you’re serving it for a special occasion, a holiday dinner, or as a side for a weeknight meal, this dish is sure to steal the show.

To elevate the presentation further, garnish the potatoes with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley. The bright green parsley adds a pop of color that contrasts beautifully with the golden cheese topping and enhances the dish’s visual appeal. The fresh parsley also provides a light, fresh flavor that balances the richness of the potatoes.

Perfect for Any Occasion

Cantonese Beef Chow Fun is a flavorful and versatile dish that can be served for a variety of occasions. Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner, celebrating a special occasion, or preparing a simple weeknight meal, this dish is the perfect side to accompany any main course. It pairs particularly well with roasted meats, steaks, and poultry, adding a creamy and savory element that complements the main dish.

The richness of Ruth’s Chris-Inspired Potatoes au Gratin also makes it an excellent choice for holiday meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. Its luxurious texture and indulgent flavors make it a standout dish that everyone will enjoy.

A Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food

One of the reasons Ruth’s Chris-Inspired Potatoes au Gratin is such a crowd-pleaser is its universal appeal. The creamy texture, savory flavors, and cheesy topping make it a dish that appeals to a wide range of tastes. Whether you’re serving it to picky eaters or food enthusiasts, this dish is sure to satisfy everyone at the table.

Moreover, the ease of preparation makes it a great option for both experienced cooks and beginners. The dish comes together with minimal effort and provides maximum flavor, making it a great choice for anyone looking to create a memorable meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ruth’s Chris-Inspired Potatoes au Gratin is a rich, creamy, and indulgent side dish that brings the restaurant-quality experience straight to your home. With its combination of tender potatoes, a blend of cheeses, and aromatic flavors from garlic and onions, this dish is the ultimate comfort food that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a special dinner or simply want to elevate a weeknight meal, this dish is sure to impress. The creamy texture, golden cheese topping, and savory flavor will make it a standout addition to your meal rotation. With just the right balance of richness and flavor, Ruth’s Chris-Inspired Potatoes au Gratin is a dish that will become a favorite in your kitchen for years to come.