This creamy and delicious scalloped potatoes and ham dish is the best comfort food and perfect for a hearty dinner. Made with layers of Yukon Gold potatoes, smoked ham, and sharp cheddar cheese, this recipe will surely become a family favorite.
Easy and Delicious Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham are sliced Yukon gold potatoes and smoked ham in a delicious creamy, lightly seasoned white sauce, all topped with sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese. This is comfort food at its best and is always a huge hit with friends and family. This is one of my favorite recipes to make with leftover ham.
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Ingredients
For this recipe, you need butter, onion, garlic, all-purpose flour, chicken broth, milk, fresh thyme, salt, black pepper, paprika, ground cayenne pepper, Yukon Gold potatoes, smoked ham, cheddar cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese.
How to make Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Start by melting the butter over medium-low heat in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook until tender. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Sprinkle in the flour and continue cooking for 2 minutes while you stir constantly. Whisk in the chicken broth and milk, alternating between them. Continue whisking and cooking until smooth and thickened. Then, whisk in the thyme, salt, black pepper, paprika, and ground cayenne. Take the cream sauce off the heat.
Now spread several tablespoons of the cream sauce mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish. Then add a layer of potato slices, followed by a third of the ham and a third of the cream sauce. Now repeat two more times for a total of 3 layers. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. Then remove the foil and top with cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese melts, the casserole is golden brown, and the potatoes cook through. Garnish with fresh thyme and let the casserole rest loosely covered for 20 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Fresh thyme adds excellent flavor to this recipe, but dried thyme can be added in a pinch.
- I like to use a ham steak with this recipe. It has a ton of flavor, doesn’t break the bank, and provides almost the perfect amount of ham. If there is a little extra, I either toss it in or snack on it.
- Starchy potatoes work best for this recipe as they help thicken the sauce. Yukon gold or Russet Potatoes work best.
- Slice the potatoes thinly into 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. This helps them cook all the way through. Use a mandoline slicer for a consistent cut so they cook at the same pace.
- Freeze leftovers in a sturdy freezer container for up to 3 weeks. Then thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave at a reduced power.
What to Serve with it
- French onion soup
- Roasted asparagus
- Green beans almondine
- Olive Garden copycat salad
- No knead bread
- Cream of broccoli soup
- Pear salad
- Garden salad
- Honey roasted carrots
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power to ensure the potatoes heat through without overcooking. Or reheat the casserole covered with aluminum foil in the oven at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Can you freeze scalloped potatoes and ham?
Potato casseroles must be cooked before freezing to avoid discoloration. They are best consumed within 2-3 weeks after freezing. Cook the casserole for about 1 hour, stopping shy of uncovering and adding the cheese. Then, let it cool for about 30 minutes at room temperature before sliding it into the fridge to fully cool. The complete cool-down can take several hours. Once cool, cover well with several layers of plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Freeze for up to 3 weeks.
Thaw in the fridge for 2 days or microwave at 20-30% power until thawed. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a 375-degree oven for about 10 minutes. Uncover and top with the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, and bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the potatoes cook through.
More potato recipes you will love!
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup butter
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme plus more for garnish
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 3 lbs. Yukon gold potatoes sliced ⅛ inch thick
- 2 cups cooked diced ham
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Melt the butter over medium low heat in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook until tender; about 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the garlic cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Sprinkle in the flour and continue cooking for 2 minutes while stirring constantly.
- Whisk in the chicken broth and milk alternating between them. Continue whisking and cooking until smooth and thickened. Whisk in the thyme, salt, black pepper, paprika, and ground cayenne. Take the cream sauce off the heat.
- Spread several tablespoons cream sauce in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Layer 1/3 of the potatoes, followed by 1/3 of the ham, and 1/3 of the cream sauce. Now repeat two more times for a total of 3 layers.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove the foil and top with cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and lightly browned and the potatoes are cooked through.
- Garnish with fresh thyme and let the casserole rest loosely covered for 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Fresh thyme really adds great flavor to this recipe but dried thyme can be added in a pinch.
- I like to use a ham steak with this recipe. It has a ton of flavor, doesn’t break the bank, and provides almost the perfect amount of ham. If there is a little extra I either toss it in or snack on it.
- Starchy potatoes work best for this recipe as they help thicken the sauce. Yukon gold or Russet Potatoes work best.
- Slice the potatoes thinly into 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. This helps them cook all the way through. Use a mandoline for a consistent cut so they cook at the same pace.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at a reduced power to make sure it heats all the way through without overcooking the potatoes.
- Freeze leftovers in a sturdy freezer container for up to 3 weeks. Then thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave at a reduced power.
Nutrition
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Stephanie
This scalloped potatoes and ham recipe is just perfect – the whole family dug into it. Will certainly make this again!
Beth Pierce
Awesome! We love it too!
Stephanie
I love scalloped potatoes and I love ham but I never thought about putting them together! This will be the perfect recipe for our leftover ham from Easter yesterday.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stephanie! Enjoy my friend!
Kimberley Asante
Ohhh my mother used to make a recipe like this. I haven’t had it in so long. I’m gonna give this recipe a try! Thanks for sharing. It looks so delicious.
Abida
OMG! You always come up with awesome recipes. This one is awesome too.
Vanessa Palma
This recipe was a big hit with the family. Thanks for posting!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Vanessa!
Marysa
One of our favorite dishes is scalloped potatoes, and it would be nice to mix it up and make this version so we can serve something a little different. Looks delicious!
Rosey
My mom and my grandma used to make a recipe like this one. It was always a big hit at the table.
Heatherkleinwolf
Perfect recipe for the upcoming holiday. Ham and potatoes are Easter must haves
Eileen M Loya
I love this recipe. It is easy to follow and the final product looks really delicious! Thank you for your tips on how to store left overs, even if I know there won’t be any once I make this for the family.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Eileen! Enjoy!!
Ave
This was so darn good! Scalloped potatoes are one of my favorite comfort foods for sure! I love the combination. I can’t wait to make it again.
briannemanzb
Oh Im always on the hunt for delicious recipes! I’m so glad I found your site. I’d love to try these Scalloped potatoes and ham.
Cinny
This was so yummy. My whole family enjoyed it and we will make it again.
Thena
This reminds me of what my grandma used to make! Love it!
John
This looks perfect. So tasty and great for leftovers to take to work and make my colleagues jealous 😋
Jennifer Prince
This sounds like an amazing recipe! I’d skip the ham b/c I’m vegetarian, but it sounds great all the same!
Saïda
Oh love it! It is so delicious. My family loved it!
Sam
As a potato lover, I really loved the recipe. This is really good and easy to prepare.
Beth Pierce
Thanks! So glad that you liked it!