By Krista Teigen
Updated Mar 7, 2025
I don’t know about you, but I love a creamy, rich, and savory side dish at the holidays. It’s the time of year for indulgence, and I’m not holding back with this scalloped potatoes and ham recipe. Layers of thinly sliced potatoes, diced ham, and creamy sauce all topped off with a crown of melty cheddar cheese…I can’t think of anything more delicious! This tasty side goes well with just about any holiday meal, although it may just take over as the star of the show!
At every holiday meal, I’m mainly interested in the sides, and scalloped potatoes and ham is such a good side! It’s full of savory and umami flavors, and it’s got a good dose of protein, too. I could make a whole meal out of just this one dish. Scalloped potatoes are good, but these potatoes are even better, and it’s all thanks to the deliciously salty ham!
Tips for Beginners
- I do not recommend parboiling the potatoes, as this can cause them to overcook and fall apart in the casserole.
- Depending on the thickness of your potatoes, this casserole may take more or less time to bake through. You can check them for doneness by pricking them with a toothpick, cake tester, or knife. They should be easy to pierce.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick)
- ▢ ½ onion finely chopped
- ▢ ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ 2½ cups whole milk*
- ▢ 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ▢ 3½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes** sliced thin
- ▢ 3 cups diced ham***
- ▢ 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- ▢ Chopped fresh parsley optional, for topping
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Melt the butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add in the onion and cook for a few minutes until softened. ½ onion
- Whisk in the flour and cook for a minute. ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- Slowly pour in the whole milk and chicken broth while whisking. 2½ cups whole milk*, 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Let the mixture simmer until thickened a bit. Then, whisk in the salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Layer ⅓ of the potato slices in the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish. 3½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes**
- Top with 1 cup of diced ham and ⅓ of the sauce. 3 cups diced ham***
- Repeat twice more with a layer of potatoes, ham, and sauce.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven, take off the foil, and add the cheese on top. 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. Chopped fresh parsley
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Step by Step
Gather your ingredients.
Sauté the Onion: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. Add in ½ of a diced onion and cook for a few minutes until softened.
Cook the Flour: Whisk in ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour and cook for a minute.
Make the Roux: Slowly pour in 2½ cups of whole milk and 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth while whisking.
Thicken the Sauce: Let the mixture simmer until thickened a bit. Then, whisk in 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard.
Layer the Casserole: Layer one-third of 3½ pounds of sliced Yukon Gold potatoes in the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish. Top with 1 cup of diced ham and ⅓ of the sauce.
Bake the Casserole: Repeat twice more with a layer of potatoes, ham, and sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is bubbling.
Top with Cheese: Remove from the oven, take off the foil, and add 1½ cups of freshly shredded cheddar cheese on top.
Brown and Serve: Bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley if desired.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover scalloped potatoes and ham in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for about 30 minutes. You can remove the foil in the last 10 minutes or so to brown the cheese. I do not recommend freezing this dish, as the sauce tends to separate once thawed.
Serving Suggestions
This scalloped potatoes and ham recipe is one of my favorite rich and indulgent side dishes to serve with Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham . It has the perfect balance of savory and umami flavors, and it’s so rich and creamy! It’s perfect for Easter dinner , too!
More Potato Casserole Recipes to Try!
Ham and Potato Casserole
Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
Sausage and Potato Casserole
Crockpot Potato Casserole
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick)
- ½ onion finely chopped
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups whole milk*
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes** sliced thin
- 3 cups diced ham***
- 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley optional, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Melt the butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add in the onion and cook for a few minutes until softened. ½ onion
- Whisk in the flour and cook for a minute. ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- Slowly pour in the whole milk and chicken broth while whisking. 2½ cups whole milk*, 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Let the mixture simmer until thickened a bit. Then, whisk in the salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Layer ⅓ of the potato slices in the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch casserole dish. 3½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes**
- Top with 1 cup of diced ham and ⅓ of the sauce. 3 cups diced ham***
- Repeat twice more with a layer of potatoes, ham, and sauce.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven, take off the foil, and add the cheese on top. 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. Chopped fresh parsley
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
