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Best Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Recipe {Ultimate Comfort Food!}

By in Dinner

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Looking for the perfect way to use up leftover ham? This scalloped potatoes and ham recipe is the ultimate comfort food!

Layers of tender potatoes, savory ham, and a rich, creamy sauce come together in this old-fashioned scalloped potatoes with ham dish that’s been a family favorite for decades.

scalloped potatoes and ham casserole pin this idea now...

In fact, if you are in need of a side dish that’s guaranteed to be loved by everyone at your dining table, look no further! This scalloped potatoes and ham recipe is greeted with actual cheers from my family every time I pull it out of the oven. It’s that good!

I’ll show you exactly how to put this simple dish together – bookmark this recipe because you will absolutely reach for this one over and over!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Creamy & Cheesy – The rich sauce coats every bite!
  • Great for Leftovers – Perfect for using up holiday ham.
  • Easy to Make – Simple ingredients and just a few steps.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food – Perfect for family dinners!
Plate full of scalloped potatoes and ham

Ingredients

The ingredient list for this one is fairly short and consists of “real” food ingredients like butter, flour, milk, and spices, along with potatoes and ham. Just like grandma used to make!

Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this decadent dish:

Note: One batch makes one large casserole dish or approximately 6-8 servings. In my family of 6, we never have leftovers!

serving of scalloped ham with potatoes

Instructions

To make the casserole, start by melting the butter in a saucepan. I recommend doing this on medium-low, as anything higher can lead to scorched butter. For this dish, we want to keep that smooth buttery flavor!

Then, add the flour, parsley, salt, thyme, pepper, and minced onion.

Stir until smooth. I find this is best done when I use a whisk rather than a spoon. Next, gradually add the milk.

creamy sauce in a pan

Turn the heat up to medium and bring to a boil. You don’t have to stir constantly, but keep a close watch on it and stir regularly. Milk sauces burn quickly if they aren’t watched.

Once it’s boiling, cook and stir for 2 minutes. Then, remove from the heat.

making a roux for potato casserole

Next, grease a 2.5-quart casserole dish with a little (more!) butter. You could also use a 9×13″ pan – you want to make sure the potatoes are nice and thick (as pictured). Otherwise, they can get overcooked.

Now, layer potatoes on the bottom, then top with a layer of ham. You’ll do several layers, so try to keep it as even as possible so every bite has some of that yummy flavor combo!

Lastly, pour some of that sauce on top.

pouring sauce over scalloped ham with potatoes

Continue layering with ham, potatoes, and sauce until you reach the top. I’ve found that about 3-4 layers are right for this dish. Then, top with the remaining sauce.

making scalloped ham and potatoes recipe

Cover and bake at 375º for 45-60 minutes or more until the potatoes are almost tender. You should be able to tell by poking with a fork. If the fork has a bit of resistance but can still go through – you are ready for the next step!

Top with the remaining butter and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes longer or until the potatoes are fully tender.

old fashioned scalloped ham and potatoes baked in the oven

My family was fighting me to dig into the dish before I could get a better picture. Now, that’s some evidence that this is a favorite!

It’s that good.

layout of printable recipe binder pages
oven baked ham and potato casserole on a plate

How to Store Leftovers

If by some miracle you have leftovers with this dish, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll last about 2-3 days this way.

Expert Tips for the Best Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

  • Cut thin, even slices for even cooking – Use a mandolin for perfectly even potatoes, or enjoy a meditative time slicing with a chef’s knife.
  • Don’t skip the rest time – Letting the dish sit after baking helps the sauce set. Yes, even if your kids are fighting you for a bite. Stay strong!
  • Add a bit of cheese – Sharp cheddar adds depth, but Swiss or gouda work great, too!
  • Make it ahead – Assemble it a day in advance and bake it when ready!

FAQs

Can you freeze scalloped potatoes and ham?

Yes, scalloped potatoes and ham can be frozen. To do so, I recommend baking it until the potatoes are slightly underbaked. Then, make sure to cool the dish completely and cover it with a lid or foil before placing it in the freezer.

To reheat, thaw the dish overnight in the refrigerator. Then bake it to reheat and finish cooking the potatoes.

What do I serve with scalloped potatoes and ham?

A light, steamed vegetable like green beans or broccoli is a classic pairing for scalloped potatoes and ham.

How do I tell if the scalloped potatoes are done cooking?

The best way to tell if the potatoes are done is to insert a fork into the center of the dish. If the fork goes through the potatoes with little resistance, they are done.

Can I use leftover ham on this recipe?

Yes, you can absolutely use leftover ham – we sure do! While you can make this dish any time of year, I’ve found myself making this recipe after the holidays when I have a lot of ham left over, like from Easter or Christmas dinner.

In fact, one of the nice things about the holidays is that even though there’s lots of cooking and baking, afterward, there are usually plenty of leftovers. This means mom gets a much-deserved break from cooking.

Eventually, though, you may get tired of ham sandwiches and decide you want to cook something. Why not put that leftover ham to good use? 🙂

More Side Dishes to Try

Just pin it below to find the recipe later!

the best scalloped potatoes & ham pinterest collage
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Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 8 reviews

With a creamy flavorful sauce, chunks of ham, and sliced potatoes, this main dish has become a tried and true family favorite recipe.

  • Author: Erika at Living Well Mom.com
  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 20 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour 50 mins

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
  2. In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir in flour, parsley, salt, thyme, pepper, and minced onion until smooth. Gradually add milk and bring to a boil over medium heat. Whisk to keep smooth. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
  3. In a greased 2.5 quart casserole dish, layer potatoes and ham with sauce spooned over. Repeat layers (usually 3-4). Top with the remaining sauce.
  4. Cover and bake for 65-75 minutes or until potatoes are almost tender. Dot with remaining butter and bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes longer or until potatoes are fully tender.

About Erika

Erika Bragdon is a flower essence practitioner and a second-generation homeschooling mom with 3 kids at home and 1 in college. She enjoys her chickens, goats, and gardening on a small farm in New Hampshire, and is passionate about sharing flower essences and more ways to renew body, mind, and soul with moms.

Comments

  2. Leila says

    Now I’m craving! We make ham and scalloped potatoes every year after Thanksgiving, but we do a homemade cheese sauce with ours (using left over cheese sauce from our broccoli and cheese sauce from Thanksgiving as well!) I look forward to your split pea soup. I wanted to do split pea with our ham bone from Christmas, but hubby doesn’t like peas so I’m going to try a navy bean soup which is similar – just no peas! 🙂

    Reply

  3. Jillian says

    This sounds so awesome! I’ve been looking for a good ham & scalloped potato recipe! Question- do you think it would work as a freezer meal? I want to make this with our leftover ham, but with New Year’s, etc I don’t really have a good night to slip this into my meal plan!

    Reply

    • Erika says

      I’ve never tried freezing the whole meal, but I often freeze extra ham and make this recipe later. I just cut the ham into chunks first then throw into a ziploc bag and freeze. You could try that. Good luck!
      Happy New Year, Jilly!

      Reply

  8. Priscilla says

    This looks so delicious! I have leftovers from my Easter ham so I will be putting them to good use with this recipe!

    Reply

  9. parmesan scalloped potatoes says

    I have been browsing online greater than 3 hours these days,
    yet I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours.
    It is pretty price sufficient for me. In my view, if
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    Reply

  10. Ruth Martin says

    Hi Erika,
    My husband raved over this recipe, and he is not one to give food compliments very often at all! Just thought I’d let you know 🙂 I’m saving this recipe into my favorites. (I changed one thing in the recipe when I made it: substitute 1 cup of chicken broth for 1 cup of the milk. Somehow that just makes it tastier.) 🙂 (I learned that trick from another scalloped potato recipe we like.)

    Reply

  11. Sandra says

    This was a huge hit at dinner tonight! I added sharp cheddar to it just because it’s potatoes and ham. Thank you so much!

    Reply

  17. C Lange says

    This was delicious. I switched out 2 cups of milk for 2 cups whipping cream and then sprinkled some sharp cheddar and mild cheddar between the layers.

    Reply

  20. Shana says

    It was delicious! My whole family loved it, and that’s rare. I made a half batch, which was perfect for one meal.

    Reply

  22. Melanie says

    I made this recipe because I had some pota6that were left in the back of the refrigerator & forgotten & leftover sliced ham lunchmeat. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out with the ingredients I had but I figured it was worth a try. I added a 1/2 of a white onion & sliced it the same way I slices the potatoes. Because I had so much thin sliced ham leftover I used it all which came to 2 cups. I included shredded cheddar cheese & mixed it in with the potatoes then added it on the top for garnish. I didn’t have whole milk but I had unsweetened almond milk which worked really well. It was so good and the spices were absolutely perfect. Even though I didn’t have the exact ingredients it turned out so good that I am looking forward to making it again for guests.

    Reply

  23. Donna Backus says

    I made this tonight for dinner. Sounded the closest to what my mom used to make. It was delicious ! Especially for my husband who was unburying our cars from the snow storm. Will definitely make again. I made no changes. Perfect just as it is .

    Reply

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