Perfect Pairings: 8 BEST Side Dishes for Au Gratin Potatoes

Potatoes can be prepared in many different ways, but one of the most popular dishes includes Au Gratin Potatoes.

The flavor and taste of Au Gratin Potatoes are truly unique because it combines the vegetables’ natural starchiness with delicate flavors like nutmeg or garlic.

The buttery browned topping adds an extra dimension to this dish that everyone will love.

You can twist your Au Gratin Potatoes recipe by trying different cheeses, adding in some bacon bits, or sprinkling on a dash of parsley.

When serving Au Gratin potatoes, it is best to serve them alongside other dishes that are rich in flavor.

Some of the most popular side dishes include creamed spinach, roasted Brussel sprouts, or rice with mushrooms.

However, you are only limited by your imagination.

This classic dish is perfect for a busy weeknight or family gathering.

It is easy to cook and even easier to enjoy.

In this article, we will list eight side dishes to serve with Au Gratin Potatoes.

We hope you enjoy it.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Au Gratin Potatoes?

First of all, au gratin potatoes are incredibly delicious and incredibly simple to prepare – follow a few easy steps.

For that reason, they may be a common go-to choice for feeding a family or a larger group of people.

However, if you’re looking to take the concept up a notch, consider using side dishes for au gratin potatoes as a way to shake things up and add variety to your meal.

Another reason to use side dishes for au gratin potatoes is that they can help you make the most of your food.

If you’ve got a few extra vegetables lying around and want to fill out the meal more, consider serving them along with the already-filling potatoes, as this may allow people to get their money’s worth by utilizing all of what you’ve prepared.

Additionally, using side dishes for au gratin potatoes can help you avoid food waste – if, perhaps, you’re making too much food, to begin with.

If nobody finishes their bowl of potatoes in one sitting (and thus want to save them for later), consider putting some into a Tupperware to take home or use the next day.

Finally, maybe you have some picky eaters in your family or are hosting a group of friends who like to be difficult – using side dishes for au gratin potatoes can help you appease everyone at the dinner table by allowing them to choose their accompaniment.

That way, nobody has to compromise on their favorite sides, and everybody wins.

What to Serve with Au Gratin Potatoes? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Here are a few of our favorite side dishes that can be perfect for accompanying au gratin potatoes:

1 – Roasted Beef or Pork

Although it’s traditionally used as an entree, you can easily use Roasted Beef or Pork as a side dish for your au gratin potatoes.

When selecting your meat, you can also choose between different options depending on your pairing it with.

For instance, if you’ve got a steak that was marinated in Italian salad dressing then grilled to perfection, it would be best served with au gratin potatoes that are smothered in Alfredo sauce – giving the meal kind of an alfredo-and-red-sauce vibe.

Using different cuts of meat is another great way to experiment with new flavors and tastes.

For instance, you can use pork chops on the bone if you desire something meatier than a lean steak or London broil cut.

You could also opt for beef or lamb shanks if you’re looking for something with a little more flavor and richness.

2 – Honey Mustard Chicken

Honey Mustard Chicken is another delicious dish that’s easy to prepare and can be used as a side dish for au gratin potatoes.

Although you’ll want to use the same amount of honey mustard chicken as you would au gratin potatoes, make sure not to pour it directly over the meat; instead, serve both on separate plates so people can choose how much to drizzle over their meal.

As far as the chicken goes, you’ll likely want to use boneless chicken breasts – mind your cooking time for each.

If you’re unsure of timing or don’t have a meat thermometer around, test the chicken with a fork after roughly 25 minutes of baking it in the oven.

If the fork goes in easily, it’s done.

You can also use whole chicken legs for the dish, as the meat is more flavorful and comes off of the bone more easily.

Additionally, you can opt for wings if you’re looking to make a meal out of it; make sure not to eat the bones once you’ve had your fill.

3 – Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie is a great option for people who want to serve their au gratin potatoes with something that has gravy and vegetables included.

Although you’ll want to make sure that the Shepherd’s Pie and au gratin potatoes both take about 25 minutes (give or take) in the oven, it will be well worth the wait.

Just remember that no two au gratin potatoes are the same – some may be very cheesy while others only have a small handful of shredded cheese in them.

This is why it’s important to give your guests the option of putting gravy over their Shepherd’s Pie and serving both foods on separate plates (so people can choose how much gravy they want to add).

Another great thing about Shepherd’s Pie is that you can use a variety of meats if you don’t want ground beef.

For instance, you may decide to use turkey or some wild ground game instead – mind the cooking time for each.

Remember that every piece of meat has its specific timing at which it’s done cooking.

4 – Cornbread

If you want your au gratin potatoes to have a little bit of sweetness in them, opt for cornbread.

Not only is the dish easy to make, but it can also be served with butter (which can melt right between the layers) or more savory ingredients like pulled pork or Mexican-style chili.

Another great thing about cornbread is that it goes great with a variety of foods – you could enjoy it with chili, pulled pork, or even some homemade guacamole.

The possibilities are endless when pairing the side dish with other things; this is what makes it such an appealing meal option for people who like to keep things interesting.

5 – Roasted Vegetables

If you want the au gratin potatoes to be the star of your meal, roasted vegetables can make a delicious side dish that doesn’t take away from the main ingredient.

Even better is that some duds (like zucchini and asparagus) work well with the au gratin potatoes.

Remember that roasted vegetables go great with butter, so be sure to offer your guests an option of what they’d like to pair their veggies with.

Also, keep in mind that although the baking process for both meals should take roughly 25 minutes, make sure not to overcook anything – au gratin potatoes are done when the cheese on top is melted.

Roasted vegetables are finished once they’re fork-tender.

6 – Homemade Desserts

Time to show off your baking skills.

Not only is this a great option if you want to use something sweet as an accompaniment for au gratin potatoes, but it also gives people a choice between two different desserts.

This is especially great for those attending your dinner as a couple – one person may be in the mood for something chocolatey while the other wants to opt for something fruit-based instead.

Additionally, both desserts can be served with cream or ice cream so people can create their sundaes if they wish.

It’s important that the desserts both take roughly 25 minutes to bake, however, as you don’t want them to come out undercooked.

If you’re planning on making a cheesecake or a cake, for example, make sure not to take it out of the oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7 – Dinner Rolls

If you don’t want to add any meat protein to your au gratin potatoes, consider omitting them from the side dish entirely and serving dinner rolls with it instead.

These bread-based dishes are extremely versatile, so it’s easy to alter the ingredient list based on what you have in your pantry at any given time.

Not only can dinner rolls come with things like garlic butter, but they can also be made savory by adding herbs and cheese to the dough.

This way, you’ll have two options available for your guests – one that’s sweet and melts in the mouth, and another that’s crunchy on the outside and flavorful.

8 – Baked Beans

This peasant dish is a great option for those who want to add a little bit of carbohydrate to the meal – and it pairs well with au gratin potatoes.

The beans can be served alongside the dish or mixed in, so people have the power of choice regarding how they’ll enjoy their meal.

This is also a very inexpensive side dish that’s perfect for large gatherings.

If you’re struggling with a budget, know that baked beans can be cooked in bulk and reheated with little-to-no effort – they also freeze easily.

The best part about this dish is that it can pair with almost anything, from homemade chili to meatballs or steak.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the au gratin potatoes are a great side dish that can be paired with so many different meals – so it’s best to let people choose what they want.

This article provides eight dinner ideas to serve alongside this delicious meal, including roasted vegetables, homemade desserts, and more.

Thanks for reading.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, contact us anytime.

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