This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
This easy Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham recipe is perfect comfort food, featuring cheesy potatoes, savory ham, and a creamy sauce – made in your slow cooker!
A Cheesy and Delicious One-Pot Meal
This Crock Pot Scallped Potatoes and Ham dish is no-fuss, and one of the best scalloped potato recipes ever! The prep takes just a few minutes, and you’ll love the way the tender potatoes melt into the cheesy sauce. Add any kind of baked ham or spiral ham and you have an entire meal in one pan. Serve it with a side salad and you have a complete meal. This also makes for a hearty side dish to a larger meal or brunch buffet. However it is served, you’ll love how the savory ham, tender potatoes, cheese, and cream sauce combine together for the ultimate comfort dish!
Ingredients for Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
- Potatoes – I like to use Russet potatoes in this recipe, but you can also use red potatoes. Try to make your potato slices as thin and even as possible so they’ll cook evenly and turn out nice and tender. You can use a mandolin slicer or a very sharp knife to scallop your potatoes.
- Onion – A yellow onion or sweet onion works best for this recipe.
- Diced Cooked Ham – Typically, I use ham leftovers in this recipe. Since ham freezes well, you can freeze leftover ham and save it for recipes like this. Add the ham straight from the freezer. You can use diced bacon, too!
- Cheddar Cheese – Sharp cheddar cheese is my favorite option for a tangy cheddar cheese sauce, but feel free to experiment with different types of cheese!
- Cream of Mushroom Soup – This condensed soup makes up the base of the sauce in this Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham recipe. If you aren’t a fan of canned condensed soups, then try our Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup. You can also use our Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute in place of the can of cream of mushroom soup in this recipe.
- Milk – The milk adds creaminess to the sauce. You can substitute a little heavy cream to make the cream sauce even more rich and indulgent.
- Thyme – This herb has a light mint and lemon scent and taste.
- Salt, and Pepper – Start with a teaspoon salt and half a teaspoon pepper, but season to taste.
- Herbs – Experiment with all sorts of herbs and spices as you season. Chives are delicious, a sprinkle of garlic powder, some paprika, etc.
What is the Difference Between Potatoes Au Gratin and Scalloped Potatoes?
The term “Au Gratin” is French and refers to a casserole dish topped with grated cheese and/or browned bread crumbs. It is difficult to achieve the browned look of au gratin potatoes when cooking in a crock pot, but the taste of these Scalloped Potatoes with Ham is pretty much the same. The potatoes along the sides and bottom of the slow cooker do brown a little as they bake. If you gently stir the potatoes before adding the cheese on top, that will bring some of the more browned potatoes to the top.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
- First, peel and slice the potatoes. In a large bowl, toss the potato slices with a few pinches of salt. Then, chop up the onion.
- Spray the crock pot with cooking spray. Next, add half of the potatoes, onion, ham, and cheese to the pot.
- After that, add a second layer of potatoes, onion, ham, and cheese.
- In a small mixing bowl, stir together the condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the soup mixture over the potato mixture.
- Finally, cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or LOW for 6-8 hours.
Potatoes are Good For You!
Don’t let the low-carb craze scare you away from potatoes. They have a number of health benefits, including:
- Potatoes have more potassium than a banana.
- They’re high in fiber, and can help lower cholesterol. They can also decrease your risk of heart disease.
- Potatoes are naturally gluten-free.
- Potatoes are chock full of Vitamin C and Vitamin B6.
- Plus, they’re quite delicious!
What Kind of Potato Makes the Best Scalloped Potatoes?
When making Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, you want to use a nice, starchy potato such as Russet, Idaho, or Yukon Gold potatoes. Russet is the cheapest and easiest to find, which is why most people prefer to use them. They are high in starch. Idaho potatoes are very similar to Russet potatoes. If you like a more creamy, buttery taste, go with Yukon Gold. You really can’t go wrong with any of these options. Yukon golds are nice because the skin isn’t as thick and dry as a Russet so you don’t have to peel them perfectly. In fact, leaving a little bit of the peel on adds nutrients and gives a nice texture to the dish. If you want the best of both worlds, use half of each!
Make it Vegetarian
If you want to make this a vegetarian dish or use it only as a side dish (we love using this as a side dish for Easter dinner), then you can substitute mushrooms, carrots, or extra potatoes for the ham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Potatoes (or the starch in the potatoes) can sometimes remain tough if you cook them in something acidic like sour cream. Try cooking the potatoes in milk or heavy cream, to achieve a nice and soft texture.
If you find your scalloped potatoes don’t have enough flavor, add herbs and seasonings! Thyme is a great one to start with. You can also add some garlic powder, diced chives or extra salt and pepper for an added flavor boost.
If your sauce is too runny just using milk, add some heavy cream or whole milk to create an extra thick sauce.
READ NEXT: 60+ BEST Potato Recipes
More Crock Pot Recipes
Crock Pot (Slow Cooker) recipes are the best! It is so great to make dinner ahead of time and have it ready to serve after a busy day. After you’ve tried this Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes with Ham recipe, try some more of our favorite Crock Pot Recipes.
Crockpot Lasagna
Crockpot Pizza Casserole
Vegetable Beef Soup
Kalua Pork
Crockpot Baked Beans
Crockpot Taco Dip
How to Make Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
Video
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 8 potatoes medium-sized
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cups cooked ham cubed
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
- 10.25 ounces cream of mushroom soup homemade recipe
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Peel and slice potatoes, and tossed with a few pinches of salt. In a slow cooker, layer half of the potatoes, onion, ham, and cheese.
- Repeat layer.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together soup, milk, thyme, and fresh ground pepper. Pour over potato layers.
- Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or on LOW for 6-8 hours.
Notes
- For best results, use starchy potatoes like Russet, Idaho or Yukon Gold potatoes.
- Yukon golds are nice because the skin isn’t as thick and dry as a Russet so you don’t have to peel them perfectly. In fact, leaving a little bit of the peel on adds nutrients and gives it a nice texture. If you want the best of both worlds, use half of each!
- If you want to make this a vegetarian dish or use it only as a side dish (we love using this as a side dish for Easter dinner), then you can substitute mushrooms, carrots, or extra potatoes for the ham.
I haven’t tried this yet. I have made something very similar and it tasted great, but the potatoes turned brown. What prevents the potatoes from turning brown?
They turned brown before or after cooking? What kind of potatoes did you use?
So good and comforting. I also added broccoli florets and slow cooked for eight hours. I’ll be adding this to my recipes.
How many does this serve???
It serves 8!
Absolutely LOVED this recipe. I have been hunting the internet high and low to find a scallop potato and ham recipe with just the right texture, flavor, and creaminess to check off all the boxes to fulfill my scallop potato craving. I have tried SO many and, frankly, this recipe was so simple, I lacked much confidence in it’s overall success. I could NOT have been more wrong. Wow! I use internet recipes all the time and rarely comment, but this time it would have been criminal to consume this potato perfection and leave the creator unacknowledged. Thank-you so much.
By the way, my boyfriend has the pallet of a toddler and won’t eat any cheese, eggs, mayo, sour cream, cream cheese, etc. (Basically all the yummy things that just take recipes over the top.) When I can’t smuggle in the ingredient, I usually have to prepare two versions of the dish or go without. For this recipe, I just placed uncooked lasagna sheets down the middle of the crock pot vertically and layered in his half without the cheese. It worked like a charm and I was able to save the work of making a second dish. He loved the recipe too! In fact we are making it for the 2nd time this week for some friends that are visiting. It’s THAT GOOD.
WOW! Thank you so much for your kind comment! We love hearing about when recipes are a hit!!
Ok grandma taught me to bake it but time limits the crock pot meals are easier favorites. Living in Ky I add home made called greens with hint of bacon and diced onion and seasoned salt when cooked for a side to the meal. Family loves it and kids even take seconds on the greens at times.
Absolutely delicious and easy to make
I love a good crockpot recipe and this one is just amazing! These potatoes come out with the best texture and the absolute best flavor!
This is on our menu for our Easter Dinner with the fam! I can’t wait!
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Looks good! Easier than baking which I have always done! And always have to check and worry if it’s done! Thank You for a great creation!
Love this! It’s such a delicious side dish! It was event great as leftovers the next night.
Oh man! These look so cheesy and delicious. Perfect side dish for any meal.
We grew up poor and potatoes were made for every single dinner. I love this dish so much, amazing childhood memories!
So happy to hear this recipe brought back happy memories! That is our goal! Thanks for the nice comment 😀
Yum! I could eat potatoes with everything! These look so cheesy & I love the addition of ham!
These sound amazing!!!!
I subbed the cream of mushroom with cream of bacon. And also used bacon in place of the ham.
Cream of BACON? How have I never heard of this??
Can I put this in the crockpot overnight before cooking? Would I add the liquid or wait? Thanks
I wouldn’t do it that way because the potatoes will brown if they sit that long before cooking.
could i use canned potatoes in this recipe?
You probably wouldn’t want to use canned because the canned ones are typically pre-cooked. They will get too soft in the slow cooker with the additional time. You may be better off just baking. Hope this helps!
Hi, i don’t like cream of mushroom, what other type of soup mix would you recommend?
This recipe would work with cream of chicken soup or cream of celery. We have a recipe for Cream of Chicken soup works as a great base. See the recipe here: /condensed-cream-of-chicken-substitute/
Are there any other meats that could be used in this dish? We don’t eat pork or beef. Thank you.
I have always made this dish with ham, but I don’t see why cooked chicken or turkey wouldn’t work just as well. It would also be delicious as a side dish without any meat at all. You could substitute carrots, mushrooms, more potatoes or another vegetable in place of the ham. Thanks for asking, Jenn!
Turkey pastrami would be a good substitute
Turkey pastrami would be a good substitute or turkey ‘ham’ sold at most stores.
Has anyone tried buttermilk instead of milk?
Doesn’t the milk curdle? Can it be put in at the end?
The milk does not curdle. I’ve made this several times and I’ve never had that problem. You may have a problem adding it at the end because when mixed with the soup it gives the potatoes the liquid needed to cook and become soft and tender. If you are concerned about it, a better alternative would be to use water in place of the milk. Thank you for asking!
WE had this last night and it turned out great, thanks or sharing.
I like leaving the potato skins on. As long as you wash the potatoes thoroughly, you’re good to go, it makes for a more nutritional, hearty (and easier) potato casserole! I have also used a bag of ore ida potatoes obrien instead of chopping raw potatoes and onions. It works great if you’re pinched for time as everything is cut up, plus you get chopped green peppers too !! I’ve added sour cream and extra cheese to my casserole as well. Use your imagination as long as the moisture is appropriate to the potato amounts. Enjoy!!