Easy French Onion Potato Bake

• Preheat oven to 190°C. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Layer half the sliced potatoes in the dish, season with salt and pepper. Mix French Onion soup with cream - pour half over potatoes.
• Add remaining potatoes, soup, and cream. Top with Gruyere cheese and thyme.
• Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil, add crispy onions, and bake uncovered for 15 minutes until golden.

Notes

To achieve an outstanding French Onion Potato Bake, consider pre-cooking your potatoes before layering them in the dish. Parboiling them for about 10 minutes ensures they soften slightly before baking. This technique reduces overall cooking time and helps create a creamy texture in your bake.

Using homemade stock or broth instead of store-bought can elevate your dish significantly. Homemade stock adds depth and complexity that pre-packaged options often lack. If time constraints make this difficult, opt for low-sodium versions so you can control the salt content more effectively while still ensuring rich flavors.

Layering is crucial for even cooking; thus, alternate between potatoes and onions in an organized manner. Start with a layer of potatoes at the bottom, followed by a generous layer of caramelized onions sprinkled with cheese if desired. Repeat this process until you reach the top of your baking dish, finishing with a potato layer topped with cheese for that delightful golden crust.

Don’t forget about covering your bake while it cooks! Using foil during the initial baking period traps steam within the dish and keeps everything moist. Remove it towards the end of cooking to allow the top layer to turn golden brown and crispy.

Finally, allow your French Onion Potato Bake to rest after taking it out of the oven. This resting period allows flavors to meld together while making it easier to cut into portions without falling apart.