Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin


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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.

cooked beef and potatoes in a crockpot.

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.

ingredients for potato gratin on table.
  • 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

Variations

You can change this recipe up! Here are my approved adaptions.

  • Use any potatoes (red, gold, or white potatoes). Just be sure they are thinly sliced. You can even use sweet potatoes for an entirely different meal.
  • You can leave the skin on the potatoes if desired; it’s a personal preference.
  • Brown one package (12-16 ounces) of bacon, crumble and use it in place of the beef in this recipe. You can also use ground turkey.
  • Use swiss cheese for a totally different flavored meal.

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.

close up of beef and potatoes on a spatula.

How to Serve Beef and Potato Au Gratin

Here is how I serve this easy ground beef dinner:

  • Since this is a one-pot meal, you can serve it as-is by scooping a nice serving into a bowl.
  • You can’t go wrong with sour cream and extra cheese for additional tasty topping suggestions. Hot sauce and green onion are great additions as well.
  • This is a proper comfort food, so garlic bread, garlic sticks, or homemade rolls also complement this casserole perfectly.
overhead shot of beef gratin in slow cooker and on plates.
close up of beef and potatoes on a spatula.

Slow Cooker Beef and Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe

4.44 from 66 votes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6
Crockpot Beef and Potato Au Gratin features layers of seasoned ground beef, sliced potatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese for a hearty, all-in-one slow cooker meal.
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How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 lb. ground beef, plus a touch of salt and pepper to season
  • 3 lbs. peeled russet potatoes, sliced a ¼ inch thick (about 7 cups total after being sliced)
  • 1 cup thinly sliced white onion
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. parsley
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp. pepper
  • 3 cups shredded sharp cheese
  • ½ cup beef broth, or chicken broth

Instructions 

  • Brown the ground beef on the stove top, drain fat. Add a touch of salt and pepper to season.
  • In a small bowl combine the paprika, garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Add half of the potatoes in the slow cooker. Sprinkle over half of the onions, half of the seasonings, half of the meat, and half of the cheese. Repeat the layers again.
  • Drizzle over the broth evenly over the layers.
  • Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Do not open the lid during the cooking time or the potatoes will not get soft.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Sarah’s Notes

Variations:
  • Use any potatoes (red, gold, or white potatoes). Just be sure they are thinly sliced. You can even use sweet potatoes for an entirely different meal.
  • You can leave the skin on the potatoes if desired; it’s a personal preference.
  • Brown one package (12-16 ounces) of bacon, crumble and use it in place of the beef in this recipe. You can also use ground turkey.
  • Use swiss cheese for a totally different flavored meal.
Serving Suggestions:
  • Since this is a one-pot meal, you can serve it as-is by scooping a nice serving into a bowl.
  • You can’t go wrong with sour cream and extra cheese for additional tasty topping suggestions. Hot sauce and green onion are great additions as well.
  • This is a proper comfort food, so garlic bread, garlic sticks, or homemade rolls also complement this casserole perfectly.

Nutrition

Calories: 556kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 874mg | Potassium: 1317mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1040IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 454mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

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.

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Recipe Rating




342 Comments

  1. Bylli All says:

    How would frozen O’Brien potatoes work in this recipe?

  2. James. m says:

    4 stars
    Love it!! I changed it up s bit cooked onion and 8oz bacon with the hamburger then 30min or so before done put the chease on top..

  3. Mary says:

    4 stars
    After reading the comments, I decided to bake it in a round 9 inch casserole dish (I’m sure a square inch baking pan would do as well) at 375 for an hour. It was pretty good and tasted similar to tater tot casserole, although I would prefer this casserole because of the fresh potatoes. Not bad.

  4. Bob Adams says:

    3 stars
    This is reminiscent of 1950s cooking. Pleasant taste but a bit tame. Make this for that person who avoids eating anything with a chili. I cooked on low for 7 hours which suited my timeframe better.

  5. Lisa Howard says:

    5 stars
    This wash delish!!! I made no changes and it was a hit with the family!! Thank you!

  6. Ellen says:

    Loved it! But it was fully done after only 3 hours. Planned to eat at 6 pm so we ate early! Anyone else have this happen?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      You know what? I really think it depends on the potatoes! Some are early, late or just on time for this. Even I’ve had varied times.

  7. Payton Smith says:

    Has anyone tried this in an insta pot? What would be settings and time and temp? I dont have a 6 quart crockpot only a 4 quart. And I think a splash of heavy cream would make this wonderful

  8. Sammi Ricke says:

    I made this tonight and it is delicious! I layered in a 9×13 pan and baked at 375F for 1 hour.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Thank you for oven directions!

      1. mz says:

        Did you cover it?

    2. Lisa says:

      Can ingredients except for broth be put together the night before then cooked next day

      1. Sarah Olson says:

        The potatoes will brown. Could slice the potatoes and put them in water, then assemble in the morning.

  9. Cher says:

    5 stars
    Loved this! Will make again!!

  10. Sherri says:

    5 stars
    This is my 4th time making and it turns out great each time I do add an extra splash of broth though. Love this recipe!!!