How to Make Fabulous Potatoes Au Gratin

The term "au gratin" is French and literally means "with the burnt scrapings from the pan," according to Merriam-Webster. That might not sound appetizing, but when done right, potatoes au gratin are a delicious side dish.

Things You'll Need

• 48 ounces frozen hash brown potatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cans (10.75 ounces each) cheese soup
• 2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup green onions, chopped
• 2 cups sour cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan.

3. Mix the cheese soup, cheddar cheese, green onions and sour cream in a large mixing bowl. Add black pepper, garlic or other spices, to taste.

   The cheese soup can be substituted with cream of chicken soup, cream of jalapeno soup, or one can of jalapeno soup and one can of cheese soup to spice things up a little. You also can try another cheese, such as Mexican four cheese, to add variety.

4. Flake the partially thawed potatoes into the mix, stirring in small amounts at a time. This will help keep your arm from getting tired and your mix from spilling.

5. Pour the mixture into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.

6. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• The cheese soup can be substituted with cream of chicken soup, cream of jalapeno soup, or mix one can jalapeno soup with one can cheese soup to spice things up a little.

• You can substitute cheddar cheese with Mexican 4 Cheese.

• It is best to get already grated cheese as a time saver.

• The pan will be hot when removing from the oven so please use pot holders to avoid burning yourself.

• Place hot pan on a safe surface away from children's reach.

References

• Merriam-Webster: Au Gratin