If you’re looking for a hearty meal, this Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin is the perfect recipe to try. Packed with hearty Russet potatoes, ground beef, and simple flavors, your family will love this dinner choice.

I love a hearty one-pot meal in the slow cooker like this one and my Crockpot Chicken, Potatoes and Green Beans Recipe or Crcokpot Pot Roast Dinner.

Au gratin potatoes are often confused with scalloped potatoes because they look similar. While scalloped potatoes typically call for a mix of milk and heavy cream, potato au gratin ingredients include lots of shredded cheese between its layers.

For this particular recipe, a combination of ground beef, white onion, and shredded sharp cheese are layered before slowly being cooked to perfection. Who knew you could make potatoes au gratin with ground beef?

Key Ingredients for Beef Au Gratin

You may already have many of these ingredients at home. For full recipe amounts, see the recipe card below the photos.

• Potatoes: The potatoes go in the slow cooker peeled; though I don’t mind skin on for most recipes, this one tastes great without. Be sure the potatoes are thinly sliced.
• Ground Beef: Adding beef to the recipe makes this au gratin potato dish a complete meal.
• Seasonings: These potatoes need heavy seasoning, so I went heavy with salt and pepper and added garlic powder, paprika, and parsley.
• Onion: White onion adds flavor and heartiness to this delicious casserole recipe.
• Beef broth: Evenly poured over all the layers to help everything cook evenly. Chicken broth works in a pinch!
• Cheese: It’s best to use a block of sharp cheddar cheese for shredding as it melts the best in meals like this.

Beef and Potato Au Grain Video

How to Make Potatoes Au Gratin with Beef

Here is how to make this dish in a crockpot:

Step One – Brown ground beef on the stovetop in a large skillet; add salt and pepper to taste.

Step Two – Mix the paprika, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.

Step Three – Peel and slice russet potatoes thinly and lay them on the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Add half of the potatoes to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over half of the onions and half of the seasonings.

Step Four – Add half of the meat.

Step Five – Sprinkle over half of the cheese.

Step Six – Add the remaining potato slices, seasoning, and onion.

Step Seven – Add the remaining beef.

Step Eight – Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and drizzle over the beef broth.

More Ground Beef Crockpot Recipes

John Wayne Casserole and Hamburger Potato Casserole are layered, cheesy dishes made with ground beef, potatoes, and plenty of flavor—perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.

For something more versatile, Slow Cooker Ground Beef is great for prepping meals ahead, while Crockpot Salisbury Steak simmers in rich gravy with onions and mushrooms.

If you’re in the mood for cozy and satisfying, the Best Crockpot Chili is hearty and bold, and Slow Cooker Hamburger Hash is a one-pot mix of beef, potatoes, and veggies.