How to Make Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

This delicious scalloped potatoes and ham recipe comes from Stephanie Manley’s popular YouTube cooking channel, CopyKat.com. It’s become a family favorite because it turns simple ingredients into something truly special while helping stretch your grocery budget.

What makes this recipe so loved by home cooks is how it transforms leftover ham into a comforting one-pot meal that works perfectly as either a hearty main dish or satisfying side. Stephanie shares all her kitchen secrets for getting evenly cooked potatoes and that perfect golden-brown top that makes everyone come running to the dinner table.

Key Takeaways

• Layer sliced potatoes with salt, pepper, ham, and cheese for a simple but delicious casserole.
• Use heavy cream instead of milk for better texture and easier reheating.
• This recipe works great with leftover ham, sausage, or bratwurst to save money and reduce waste.

Getting Your Ingredients Ready

Selecting Your Spuds

The secret to amazing scalloped potatoes starts with picking the right ones. You’ll need about 2 pounds of potatoes for this recipe.

The most important thing is making sure they’re all sliced the same thickness. Stephanie uses a mandolin to get perfect slices about three-eighths inch thick. Don’t worry if you don’t have one though – a sharp knife works just fine!

Pro tip: Even slices mean everything cooks at the same rate. Nobody wants some potatoes mushy while others are still crunchy.

The Best Ham to Use

This recipe calls for about 6 to 8 ounces of ham. It’s perfect for using up that leftover holiday ham sitting in your fridge.

But here’s the fun part – you don’t have to stick with just ham! Here are some tasty swaps:

• Smoked sausage – adds amazing flavor
• Leftover bratwurst – slice into rounds
• Regular sausage – whatever you have on hand

The beauty of this dish is how flexible it is with whatever meat you’ve got.

Finding the Right Cheese

Stephanie uses a 3-year aged cheese in her recipe, but you have lots of options. The key is picking something mild that melts well.

Great cheese choices:

• Emmentaler
• Jarlsberg
• Monterey Jack
• Cheddar
• Colby

You want a cheese that won’t overpower the dish but adds that creamy, melty goodness we all love.

The Milk or Cream Question

This is where things get interesting. You can use either milk or heavy cream, but Stephanie has a clear favorite.

Heavy cream wins because:

• Makes the casserole thicker
• Helps it hold together better
• Reheats beautifully
• Creates a richer texture

Why milk can be tricky:

• Skim milk and 2% can make things watery
• The dish might get “weepy”
• Doesn’t reheat as well

If you do use milk, whole milk works best. But if you want that restaurant-quality result, heavy cream is your friend.

Simple Step-By-Step Preparation

Cutting Potatoes the Same Size (Grandma’s Wisdom)

Stephanie shows us that the real secret to perfect scalloped potatoes is making sure every slice is the same thickness. She uses a mandolin to cut her 2 pounds of potatoes into neat three-eighths inch slices.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a mandolin! A sharp knife works just as well. The key is taking your time to make each slice about the same size.

Why this matters: When all the potato slices are the same thickness, they cook at the same rate. No more hard pieces mixed with mushy ones!

Building Perfect Layers

Here’s how Stephanie creates those beautiful, tasty layers:

1. Start with butter – She spreads a couple teaspoons in her 9×13 inch pan to prevent sticking
2. Add potato layer – Arrange slices in an even layer
3. Season each layer – Sprinkle salt and pepper on every potato layer
4. Add protein – Scatter 6-8 ounces of diced ham over potatoes
5. Top with cheese – Add your chosen cheese
6. Repeat – Keep layering until ingredients are used up

Pro tip: White pepper adds an extra kick if you have it on hand!

Creating Family-Favorite Taste

Stephanie’s seasoning approach is what makes this dish so delicious. She seasons each layer of potatoes with salt and pepper instead of just the top.

Cheese options that work well:

• 3-year aged cheese
• Emmentaler
• Jarlsberg
• Monterey Jack
• Mild cheddar
• Colby

The trick is picking a mild cheese that melts easily. For families who don’t want cheese, Stephanie suggests putting a few pats of butter on top instead – it still browns beautifully!

Protein swaps for variety:

• Leftover sausage
• Smoked sausage (amazing flavor!)
• Sliced bratwurst rounds
• Any leftover cooked meat

Customizing Your Recipe

Ham Alternatives That Work Beautifully

You don’t need to stick with ham to make this dish shine. Smoked sausage brings incredible flavor to the table and works just as well as traditional ham.

If you have leftover bratwurst sitting in your fridge, slice them into rounds for a delicious twist. Regular breakfast sausage can work too – just brown it first and drain off any excess grease.

Other protein options to try:

• Cooked bacon pieces
• Leftover pork chops, diced
• Smoked turkey slices
• Kielbasa rounds

The key is using about 6 to 8 ounces total, whatever protein you choose.

Cheese Options Beyond the Basics

While a good 3-year aged cheese creates wonderful results, plenty of other cheeses melt beautifully in this dish. Emmentaler and Jarlsberg both bring nutty, mild flavors that complement the potatoes perfectly.

Mild cheeses that melt well:

Cheese Type	Flavor Profile	Best For
Monterey Jack	Creamy, mild	Kids who don’t like strong flavors
Colby	Sweet, mild	Family-friendly option
Sharp Cheddar	Tangy, rich	Adults who want more flavor
Swiss	Nutty, smooth	Traditional comfort food taste

The secret is choosing cheeses with mild flavors that melt easily. Avoid anything too strong or aged, as it can overpower the dish.

Options Without Dairy

Sometimes you need to skip the cheese entirely, and that’s perfectly fine. A few pats of butter scattered on top will help the potatoes brown just as beautifully.

The dish still tastes wonderful with just butter instead of cheese. The creamy texture comes from the milk or cream you’ll add during baking.

For completely dairy-free versions:

• Use olive oil instead of butter to grease the pan
• Skip both cheese and butter on top
• Add extra herbs like rosemary or thyme for flavor
• Consider nutritional yeast for a cheesy taste without dairy

The potatoes will still brown nicely and taste delicious with just the seasoning and your chosen protein.

Achieving That Perfect Golden Finish

Heat Settings and Cook Time

The magic happens at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. This temperature gives the potatoes enough time to cook through without burning the top.

Stephanie bakes her scalloped potatoes uncovered the whole time. This lets the top get that beautiful golden color we all want.

The casserole is done when the top turns golden brown. You’ll know it’s ready just by looking at it.

Creating That Gorgeous Golden Top

The secret to a beautiful brown crust is all about what you put on top.

If you’re using cheese, spread it evenly over the final layer. Stephanie uses a mild 3-year aged cheese that melts well and browns nicely.

Don’t have cheese? No problem! Just dot the top with a few pats of butter. The butter will help the potatoes brown just as well as cheese would.

Great cheese options that brown beautifully:

• Mild cheddar
• Colby cheese
• Emmentaler
• Jarlsberg
• Monterey Jack

The key is picking cheese that melts easily and has a mild flavor. You want it to complement the potatoes, not overpower them.

Checking When It’s Ready

Visual cues are your best friend here.

Look for a golden brown color across the top. The surface should look set, not watery or loose.

Liquid test: The casserole should look thick and creamy, not thin or weepy. If you used heavy cream like Stephanie suggests, it will hold together nicely.

Potato test: Gently press the center with a fork. The potatoes should feel tender all the way through.

Remember, every oven runs a bit different. Start checking around 40 minutes, but don’t be surprised if yours needs the full 45 minutes or even a few extra minutes to reach that perfect golden finish.

Tips for Serving and Storing

Works Great as a Main Dish or Side

This hearty casserole is wonderfully flexible for any meal. It stands perfectly on its own as a complete dinner when you want something filling and comforting.

The layers of tender potatoes, savory ham, and melted cheese create a satisfying main course. Families love how it feels like a warm hug on the dinner table.

It also shines as a side dish alongside other favorites. The creamy, golden-topped casserole pairs beautifully with simple proteins or fresh salads.

Perfect pairings include:

• Roasted chicken or pork chops
• Fresh green beans or steamed broccoli
• A crisp garden salad
• Warm dinner rolls

Smart Ways to Reheat and Keep Leftovers Fresh

The beauty of using heavy cream instead of milk really shows when storing leftovers. The casserole holds together much better and doesn’t get watery like it can with lighter milk options.

Store leftover portions in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days in covered containers. The thick, creamy texture stays nice and doesn’t separate.

For best reheating results:

• Oven method: Cover with foil and warm at 325°F for 15-20 minutes
• Microwave: Heat individual portions for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through
• Stovetop: Warm gently in a covered pan over low heat

The heavy cream makes all the difference in how well everything reheats. Portions come out creamy and delicious rather than weepy or separated.

Individual servings reheat beautifully for quick lunches or busy weeknight dinners. Just pop a portion in the microwave and dinner is ready in minutes.

Making the Most of Your Food Budget

Smart Ways to Transform Leftover Food

Scalloped potatoes and ham makes a perfect example of how yesterday’s dinner becomes today’s treasure. This hearty dish takes leftover ham and turns it into something the whole family will ask for again and again.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility. When you don’t have ham sitting in the fridge, smoked sausage works wonderfully. Those leftover bratwurst from last weekend’s cookout? Just slice them into rounds and layer them right in.

Key ingredients for the base:

• 2 pounds potatoes, sliced evenly (about 3/8 inch thick)
• 6-8 ounces of ham or other leftover meat
• Cheese that melts well
• Heavy cream or whole milk
• Salt and pepper for each layer

The secret to making this dish shine is seasoning each layer as you build it. A little salt and pepper on every layer of potatoes ensures every bite tastes just right. White pepper adds an extra kick if you have it in the spice cabinet.

For the cheese, mild flavors work best. A 3-year aged cheese, Emmentaler, Jarlsberg, Monterey Jack, cheddar, or Colby all melt beautifully. Pick whatever your family enjoys most.

The assembly stays simple: layer potatoes, sprinkle salt and pepper, add ham pieces, scatter cheese, and repeat. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until the top turns golden brown.

Planning Meals for the Whole Family

This one-dish meal serves as both a main course and a clever way to stretch the grocery budget. When money feels tight, dishes like this help make expensive ingredients like ham go much further.

Heavy cream creates the best results, though whole milk works too. The cream makes the casserole thicker and helps it reheat better the next day. Skim milk or 2% milk tends to make the dish watery, so stick with the richer options when possible.

Budget-friendly substitution ideas:

• Use smoked sausage instead of ham
• Try leftover bratwurst or other cooked sausages
• Skip cheese entirely and add butter pats on top
• Mix different cheese scraps from the fridge

The dish stands alone as a complete meal or pairs nicely as a side dish. Either way, it transforms simple ingredients into something that feels special and filling.

Planning meals around leftovers like this helps families eat well without breaking the bank. One leftover ingredient becomes the star of a whole new dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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