Slow-Cooker Scalloped Potatoes With Ham

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 08/24/21
Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

Diana Rattray

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 4 hrs
Total: 4 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Scalloped potatoes are perfect whether you're looking for comfort food or a special dish for the holidays. These scalloped potatoes are cooked in the slow cooker, which makes them especially convenient when the oven is already occupied. The sauce is made with just canned cream of mushroom soup and cheese, simplifying what can often be a complex recipe. The added ham turns this side dish into a main dish if you like; all you need is a green vegetable to round out the meal.

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Ingredients

  • Unsalted butter, for greasing the slow cooker

  • 3 pounds red potatoes or other waxy potatoes, peeled and sliced

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped onion

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup

  • 1/2 cup water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Butter the sides and bottom of the slow cooker crockery insert.

  3. Add the potatoes to the slow cooker along with the chopped onion, cheese, and ham. Sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, and toss to distribute.

  4. In a small bowl, combine the condensed soup with the water; pour the soup mixture over the potato mixture in the slow cooker.

  5. Cover, and cook on high for 4 hours, or until potatoes are tender. Gently stir just before serving.

  6. Enjoy.

What Is the Best Type of Potato to Use?

When cooking for a long period of time, you want to choose a potato that will hold its shape. Waxy varieties, such as red-skinned or Yukon Gold, are lower in starch compared to russet and will not fall apart in the slow cooker.


It is recommended to peel the potatoes since the skins will most likely come off as the dish cooks, but it is up to you. Because this is a slow-cooked version of scalloped potatoes, you don't need to slice them paper thin, but make sure they are not too thick, or they won't cook properly.

Transporting Tips

This is a good dish to take to a potluck supper or Sunday football game.

  • Carry it in the crock pot and plug it in when you get there.
  • Pack the slow cooker in a large container with blankets around it to keep it from cooling down.
  • Set the slow cooker on high to get it back to temperature and then switch to the warm setting.
  • The important thing to remember is that bacteria can grow at temperatures between 40 F and 140 F. Generally, food should not be kept off of the heat for more than 2 hours after cooking. Or, in the case of cold foods, food should not be kept out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours—if the temperature is over 90 F, no more than 1 hour.

Recipe Variations

  • Rub the cut sides of a halved clove of garlic over the sides and bottom of the crockery insert of the slow cooker.
  • Add diced red or green bell pepper along with the onion.
  • Add chopped or sliced celery along with the onion.
  • Use a cheddar jack blend of cheeses, smoked cheddar, or Colby cheese, or use part Velveeta cheese.
  • Replace the ham with browned and drained sausage or about 1/2 pound of diced cooked bacon.
  • Use seasoned salt or Cajun or Creole seasoning instead of salt.
  • Instead of water, try evaporated milk with the condensed soup.
  • Omit the ham or use a vegetarian equivalent for a meat-free dish. Vegetarian "bacon" or "sausage" crumbles would be good choices.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
405 Calories
12g Fat
56g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 405
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 47mg 16%
Sodium 729mg 32%
Total Carbohydrate 56g 20%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 24mg 119%
Calcium 219mg 17%
Iron 3mg 16%
Potassium 1470mg 31%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)