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Recipes · April 17, 2025

Delicious Easter Side Dish Recipe: Potatoes au Gratin with Leeks, Parmesan Reggiano & Thyme

Easter is right around the corner so if you’re trying to plan ahead and find delicious easter side dish recipes, you have come to the right place!

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Easter Side Dish Recipe

Delicious Easter Side Dish Recipe: Potatoes au Gratin with Leeks, Parmesan Reggiano & Thyme

I love Easter because it’s a time for gathering with loved ones and enjoying a delicious meal. While ham or lamb may be the star of the show, the side dishes are just as important in creating a memorable feast. If you’re looking for a rich, creamy, and flavorful addition to your Easter spread, try this Potatoes au Gratin recipe!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easter side dish recipe

This dish takes the classic potatoes au gratin to the next level with the addition of tender leeks, nutty Parmesan Reggiano, and fragrant thyme. The combination of flavors creates a luxurious and balanced dish that pairs beautifully with any Easter main course. Plus, it’s easy to make ahead of time, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the holiday.

Not only is this recipe incredibly delicious, but it’s also simple to prepare! The creamy, cheesy layers of potatoes make it a crowd-pleaser that even picky eaters and kids will love. Hosting for a group can be tough but having easy easter side dish recipes like this one on hand will make preparation easier. With its comforting flavors and irresistibly crispy top, this dish is guaranteed to have everyone at the table asking for seconds!

More Easter Side Dish Recipe Ideas

If you’re looking to round out your Easter table with more delicious side dishes, there are plenty of options to explore. From roasted spring vegetables to classic deviled eggs, the right sides can elevate your holiday feast and planning ahead of time is half the battle. For more inspiration, check out my honey glazed carrots recipe or pickled deviled eggs recipe! 

Potatoes au Gratin with Leeks,  Parmesan Reggiano & Thyme
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Potatoes au Gratin with Leeks, Parmesan Reggiano & Thyme

Recipe by Cassie Schienle
5.0 from 1 vote
Course: Side DishDifficulty: Moderate

Step by step instructions for one of my favorite Easter side dish recipes.

Servings

10

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

90

minutes

Ingredients

  • 4

    russet potatoes, sliced very thin

  • 2 cups

    heavy cream

  • 3

    garlic cloves, smashed

  • 5

    thyme sprigs, whole

  • 1

    large leek

  • 4 tbsp

    butter, unsalted

  • salt, to taste

  • pepper, to taste

  • 7 oz

    Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated (6oz to assemble, 1oz top when baking)

  • 3 tbsp

    thyme, picked leaves

directions

  • Make Heavy Cream Reduction

    • In a small pot, add heavy cream, smashed garlic cloves & thyme sprigs.
    • Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, reducing by a quarter to infuse flavors. DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM THE BOIL. 
    • Strain cram and chill. Set aside for gratin assembly. 
  • PREP AND SAUTE LEEKS

    • Cut off root end and green tops of leeks and discard.
    • Cut leeks in half lengthwise, lay leeks cut side down and slice half-moons about 1/8” inch thick.
    • Place cut leeks into a mixing bowl and fill with cold water. Agitate leeks and let them float to the top and dirt sink to the bottom. Use a skimmer and remove clean leeks. Place on towels and pat dry.
    • In a sauté pan on medium heat, add butter and melt. Add leeks and sweat out leeks until they become tender and the color brightens.
    • Remove from heat and place leeks on a sheet pan and chill. Set aside for assembly.
  • GRATIN ASSEMBLY

    • Preheat oven to 350°
    • Peel potatoes and cover with cold water to keep from browning.
    • Take 8” x 8” pan, using cold butter, rub a thin layer of butter across the bottom and sides of the dish
    • Slice 1 potato in rounds on a mandolin as thin as possible, no more than a 1/16”. If the slices are too thick the potato will curl up and not lay flat during assembly.
    • Begin shingling potato slices overlapping by almost half.
    • When first layer of potato is done, lightly season with salt and pepper. Drizzle 2 Tbsp. of cream reduction down covering evenly. Next spread out an 1/8th of the sauteed leeks. Leeks will be used every layer. Then sprinkle grated parmesan and thyme leaves-use thyme every other layer.
    • For the second layer repeat the same as the first layer. There will be 7 layers of potatoes leaving the last bit of leeks and thyme for the top layer of the gratin.
    • Cover gratin and bake at 350° 1 hour 15 minutes covered. Uncover, add remaining parmesan and return back in oven uncovered for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. 

    This Potatoes au Gratin with Leeks, Parmesan Reggiano, and Thyme is the ultimate Easter side dish—creamy, cheesy, and packed with comforting flavors. Whether you’re hosting a big family gathering or enjoying an intimate holiday meal, this dish will have everyone coming back for seconds. Give it a try this Easter and watch it become a new holiday tradition!

    This blog is all about Easter side dish recipes, easter recipes and more. Check out everydaywithcassie.com.

    Posted By: cassie · In: Recipes

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    My dad was the American dream. He came to this co My dad was the American dream.

He came to this country from Egypt and built a life he could be proud of, becoming a successful business owner who owned three neighborhood bars. But to him, they were more than just bars. They were always home to familiar faces and gave people a place to go, especially on the holidays, when he would make sure everyone had a meal and a place to be.

He loved to go deep sea fishing, play video games at his bar, wear all white, put way too much sugar in his tea, smoke his Marlboro Lights, drink a Heineken, wear his 14k gold and always had wads of cash in his pockets.

But nothing put a bigger smile on his face than his grandchildren.

Losing both of my parents in six months is something I still can’t wrap my head around. It feels unimaginable. There are moments I don’t know how to process it all, or how life can possibly look the same without either of them.

But I find comfort in knowing that my dad is in heaven, and I know my mom was there to welcome him with open arms 🙏

I will miss you forever, Daddy. I love you ♥️
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That last picture 🫠
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    My beautiful mom went to heaven. She passed peacef My beautiful mom went to heaven. She passed peacefully and is no longer fighting a battle she has fought for so long. 

Nothing in this world prepares you for the heartbreak of losing your mom. My mom was everything to me, and I know how incredibly lucky I have been all these years to have had her as my mother. She taught me how to work hard, to be independent, strong, and assertive.

She was a powerhouse. Tough and honest, but always fair. Her bark bigger than her bite. But let me tell you about the German stubbornness…all the way to the end. I was always so proud you were my mom. A mom who did everything, for everyone. But her favorite role was becoming Omi to my two littles.

It’s up to us to keep our loved ones’ memories alive. If you knew my mom, please comment your favorite memory of her. Some of the only laughs I’ve had recently have come from friends sharing their favorite moments with her over the years.

I promise to continue her legacy. To say her name. To teach my children what an incredible woman their Omi was and how deeply she loved them. While her proudest accomplishment was being a selfless mother to her two children, mine was being able to care for her over the last 11 years, the way she cared for me my entire life. I will forever cherish the moments we walked through the hard together.

Be free, Mom. You are out of pain now. No more suffering. Watch over us and send me the signs, I will look for you in everything we do and know you are shining down on us forever.

I love you. In Gottes Namen 🙏♥️

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