In this simple, cheesy sweet potato gratin recipe, sweet potatoes, gruyere, cheddar, garlicky cream, and fresh thyme come together to create a delicious twist on the classic potato au gratin casserole.
A cheesy sweet potato gratin
I would almost always choose sweet potatoes over regular potatoes, and this sweet potato gratin – a vibrant, seasonal twist on the classic potatoes au gratin casserole – is no exception.
It’s a simple recipe: layers of sliced sweet potatoes baked until bubbly in a garlicky cream sauce with a triple dose of cheesy goodness and fresh herbs; at its heart cozy comfort food that’s perfect for holiday entertaining and sure to become a seasonal favorite.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this gratin
This rich and cheesy sweet potato gratin combines mostly simple pantry ingredients with a couple of seasonal additions. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- sweet potatoes: of course! We’ll use vibrant sweet potatoes in place of traditional yellow potatoes. For the best texture, be sure to slice them very thin, no more than 1/8” thick.
- cheese: a blend of gruyére, sharp cheddar, and parmesan cheeses add tons of flavor, lots of creamy goodness, and forms the gratin or “crust” of the dish as it bakes.
- olive oil and garlic: the flavorful base of the creamy sauce.
- cream: for a rich and fully indulgent sauce that binds the scalloped sweet potatoes together.
- thyme and nutmeg: for cozy, earthy fall flavor.
- salt and pepper: be sure to season to taste!
Find all the exact measurements and full recipe instructions below.
Admittedly, slicing the potatoes takes a little bit of time (a mandoline is quite helpful for this), but after that, things come together quickly, and the gratin emerges from the oven golden and glorious and worth every ounce of effort. Happy cooking!!
Other cozy comfort foods to cook next:
- Simple homemade chicken ramen
- Lemony kale and white bean soup
- Pasta with broccoli and chicken sausage
- Butternut squash noodle soup
- Spinach and ricotta stuffed shells
If you make this sweet potato gratin recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #forkknifeswoon and leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it! ★★★★★ Star ratings are especially helpful because they help others find my recipes too. xo, Laura
Sweet Potato Gratin
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 Servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
In this simple, cheesy sweet potato gratin, sweet potatoes, gruyere, cheddar, garlicky cream, and fresh thyme come together to create a delicious twist on the classic potato casserole.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled
- 1 cup grated Gruyére cheese
- 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp fresh garlic, finely minced
- 1–1/2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme, removed from stems and finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉. Lightly grease a 9-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- Using a mandoline, carefully slice the sweet potatoes horizontally into thin rounds, no larger than 1/8” thick. Place the sweet potato slices in a single layer in an overlapping pattern in the baking dish.
- Set aside 1/2 cup of Gruyére cheese. Sprinkle the sweet potatoes with a third of the remaining Gruyére, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with two more layers of potatoes and cheese.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil to a medium sauce pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cream, nutmeg, and thyme, and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Do not let come to a boil.
- Stir in the reserved 1/2 cup of Gruyére cheese, until melted. Slowly pour the warm cream mixture over the sweet potoates, letting it sink in amongst the layers. Top with a bit of fresh thyme leaves.
- Bake until the gratin is golden brown and bubbly and the potatoes are tender, about 45-50 minutes. If the gratin begins to brown too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil, as needed. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Garnish with more fresh thyme. Enjoy!!
- Category: Side Dish, Savory, Dinner, Holiday
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, French
Keywords: sweet potato gratin, sweet potato casserole, potato gratin, garlic and thyme, gruyere cheese, sweet potato gratin with gruyere, au gratin, sweet potatoes, vegetarian, gluten free
Originally published on December 11, 2012. Updated recipe photos by Jenn Davis added November 2018.
Smash hit of Christmas lunch. Fabulous sweet potato recipe. Decadent and delicious.
★★★★★
Oh, yay! Thanks so much, Kristy!!
Hi! Can I make this. A day ahead and not bake it? Or would you suggest I bake it and reheat the next day?
Hi Kate! I haven’t tried making it in advance without baking, but you can definitely bake it and reheat the next day. I would reheat at 350℉ covered with foil until it’s warmed through then uncovered for the last few minutes. Enjoy!!
This looks so delicious! Question – if I double the recipe, would you suggest I make it in 2 separate 9 in baking dishes, or should I combine it into a larger dish?
Hi Michelle! So you definitely can make it in two separate dishes. I worry a little about the potatoes cooking evenly in a larger dish (I haven’t tested it). I would try a 9×13 and be ready to cover with foil and/or turn the oven down (350℉?) for the second half of baking/cook for slightly longer in case the top starts browning before the potatoes are fully cooked through. Enjoy!!
This recipe is delicious. We scrapped the pan. I substituted sage instead of thyme. Really, really good.
★★★★★
Thanks so much, Amy!!
Excellent. Followed recipe exactly using half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Don’t omit the fresh thyme. Wonderful flavors.
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Helen!!
I love this recipe and have made it a few times. Is it something that can be made a day ahead?????
★★★★★
Hi Amy! So happy you love the recipe! Yes, you can make it the day before (or morning of), and reheat in the oven when ready to serve. Happy Thanksgiving!!
I made this for a potluck at my church today and I got a ton of compliments! I think I’ll probably make it for Thanksgiving dinner this year as well. Thanks for the great recipe, love the blog!
★★★★★
This is one of our favorites for Thanksgiving too 🙂 Thanks, Janace!
What size Casserole dish would be suitable for this dish?
Hi Karla! I’d recommend a 9-inch square or oval baking dish for this gratin. Enjoy!
So yummy!
Thanks, Brandi!!
This gratin is specially requested by family and friends for the past 3 years. It is absolutely delicious!
★★★★★
Thanks so much, Tamie! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Made this tonight for Thanksgiving. It looks and taste great!! I will serve it tomorrow
★★★★
Thank you so much, Stacy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! It’s one of my favorite dishes to serve for guests at the holidays…
I don’t know what I did wrong, but mine turned into a groopy, oily mess. The cheese didn’t melt despite bubbling like crazy, and there was this oily goo through the whole dish. Bummer, because I was hoping to love this recipe!
Erica, I am so sorry to hear that! I’ve made this recipe many times without anything like that happening… usually the cheese begins to melt even as I pour the warm cream mixture over the sweet potato layers. My only thought it that it could possibly be an issue with the specific brand(s) of cheese used? Alternatively, you could try melting the cheese completely in the cream mixture while it is on the stove, and then pouring that over the layered potatoes…