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cheesy scalloped potatoes and ham on blue and white decorative plate on white linen

How to Make Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

How to make scalloped potatoes and ham in a creamy sauce, baked in the oven. Easy, old-fashioned, homemade, cheesy casserole recipe perfect for a crowd!
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Course: Dinner Ideas
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 543kcal
Author: Mel Lockcuff

Equipment

  • Mueller Austria Premium Quality V-Pro Multi Blade Adjustable Mandoline Cheese/Vegetable Slicer, Cutter, Shredder with Precise Maximum Adjustability
  • Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 3-Quart Covered Straining Saucepan - Silver
  • Baking Dishes, Krokori Rectangular Bakeware Set Ceramic Baking Pan Lasagna Pans for Cooking, Kitchen, Cake Dinner, Banquet and Daily Use, 13 x 9 Inches

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour*
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups milk*
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • Salt to taste
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • 3 pounds potatoes* washed and thinly sliced
  • 2 cups cooked ham diced
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded, optional
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded, optional

Instructions

  • Before you get started, you'll need to gather and prep all of your ingredients. Dice the onion and ham, as well as wash and slice up the potatoes.
  • Pre-heat the oven to 350° F, and grease your casserole dish with cooking spray.
  • In a medium saucepan, cook the butter and onions over medium heat 'til the onions are soft and translucent.
  • Add in the thyme, parsley, and flour; cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Then turn the heat to low, and add in the cream and milk a little at a time, whisking between each addition.
  • Stir in the chicken broth, and the salt and pepper (to taste), and bring to a boil, cooking for about 1 minute. Remove the white sauce from heat and set aside.
  • Begin by layering 1/3 of the thinly sliced potatoes on the bottom of your prepared baking dish.
  • Top that layer off with about 2/3 cup of the ham.
  • Then add about 1 cup of the cream sauce.
  • Repeat these same layers until the dish is full; you should have 3 layers altogether.
  • Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350° F for about 50 minutes. Then uncover and bake an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. If you want to add cheese to the top, add it during the last 15 minutes of baking.
  • Then remove the potatoes from the oven, and allow them to cool at least 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

*Flour - You can substitute a good gluten-free flour instead.
*Milk - You can either use 2 cups milk or 1 cup half-and-half.
*Potatoes - I recommend using Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes.
WHAT ELSE CAN I ADD TO SCALLOPED POTATOES?
I might have a few suggestions for you…
  • Smoked paprika – This has quickly become one of my favorite seasonings; it's absolutely delicious in Philly cheesesteak sliders. A good sprinkling of smoked paprika would give these potatoes a real kick. It's so good!
  • Basil would add a whole other dimension of flavor.
  • Use bacon instead of ham.
  • My family loves sliced sausage links with potatoes too. Yum!
  • Add a layer of chopped spinach right before you add each layer of sauce.
  • Add your favorite cheese. Maybe smoked cheddar instead of regular. Or smoked gruyere, smoked gouda, goat cheese, etc.
  • Speaking of cheese, add a final layer of parmesan cheese.
CAN I MAKE THIS GLUTEN FREE?
Yes, you can. Be sure to check all ingredient labels to make sure they are definitely gluten-free.
As mentioned above, you can change out the all-purpose flour for a good gluten-free flour. I prefer to use Authentic Foods Classical Blend; it makes a delicious ham gravy.
And again, check labels. Make sure that your ham and chicken broth are gluten-free too; sometimes the glaze on certain hams contains gluten.
CAN I MAKE IT AHEAD OF TIME?
Yes, you can make cheesy scalloped potatoes and ham ahead of time.
  1. You'll need to go ahead and follow the steps thru the first 50 minutes of bake time.
  2. Then remove the potatoes from the oven, still covered with foil, and allow them to cool completely.
  3. Refrigerate them 'til serving time, no more than a day or two.
  4. Then take them out of the fridge, pre-heat the oven, and complete the baking time. They may need to bake slightly longer than 30 minutes, but bake 'til the potatoes are tender and everything is cooked thru.
CAN I FREEZE SCALLOPED POTATOES?
Yes, you can, but you need to semi-cook them before freezing; otherwise, the potatoes will discolor.
To freeze homemade scalloped potatoes, follow the same instructions above for making ahead of time, cooking them thru the first 50 minutes of bake time, cooling, and freezing in an airtight container.
Don't thaw before cooking, though; you'll likely need to add at least 20-30 minutes on to the cook time, since you'll be finishing the cooking process while everything is still frozen.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH SCALLOPED POTATOES AND HAM
Scalloped potatoes go well with pork roast and pork tenderloin. They also make a delicious side with meatloaf.
Speaking of pairing, make the potatoes your main dish, and pair them with a good wine, like…
The California Wine Club has a great selection of wines you can have delivered right to your doorstep.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 543kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 818mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g
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