Crockpot Million Dollar Au Gratin

Ingredients

• 2 lb potatoes (Any variety; skin left on, or peel if preferred; thinly sliced)
• 2 lb ground beef (Brown on the stovetop and drain excess grease; creator mentions ground sausage or rotisserie chicken as alternatives)
• 1 cup beef broth
• 0.5 cup heavy whipping cream (Milk or half-and-half may be used instead)
• 0.5 cup sour cream (Creator also suggests replacing it with more milk, half-and-half, heavy cream, blended cottage cheese, or Greek yogurt)
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder (The creator adds a little extra, but gives no additional amount)
• 2 tsp smoked paprika (Regular paprika may be used instead)
• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 cup smoked Gouda (Shredded)
• 1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese (Shredded; creator recommends using sharp cheese)
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp butter (Cut into small squares)

Steps

1. 1

   Thinly slice the potatoes. Leave the skins on, or peel them first if preferred.

2. 2

   Arrange and stack the sliced potatoes across the bottom of the crockpot.

3. 3

   Brown the ground beef in a skillet on the stovetop, then drain off the excess grease.

4. 4

   Sprinkle the browned beef evenly over the potatoes.

5. 5

   In a separate bowl, combine the beef broth, heavy cream, sour cream, black pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cornstarch.

6. 6

   Whisk the mixture thoroughly until well combined.

7. 7

   Pour the mixture evenly over the potatoes and beef.

8. 8

   Combine the shredded smoked Gouda, sharp cheddar, and Parmesan in a bowl, mixing the cheeses together with your hands.

9. 9

   Sprinkle the mixed cheeses evenly over the top.

10. 10

    Cut the butter into small squares and distribute them over the top. Do not stir the casserole.

11. 11

    Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 3–4 hours or on low for 6–7 hours. The creator notes that cooking it longer is fine if needed.

12. 12

    Let the finished dish sit for 10–15 minutes to thicken, then serve.

Notes

The creator offers ground sausage or rotisserie chicken as alternatives to ground beef, and milk or half-and-half as alternatives to heavy cream. Sour cream may also be replaced with more milk, half-and-half, heavy cream, blended cottage cheese, or Greek yogurt. The source does not specify a crockpot size or a precise yield.

Nutrition per serving

• dinner
• main course
• slow cooker
• comfort food
• beef
• potatoes
• cheesy