Creamy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Cheese: Recipe

I love potatoes, I love casserole recipes, and I just adore these Creamy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Cheese, which you can use as a perfect and rich side dish or enjoy as a main course. Just place them in a baking dish on the table, add freshly chopped vegetables, and let everyone at the table help themselves. The great advantage of this recipe is the flexibility to modify the ingredients in any way you like. Add a bit more, reduce something, or introduce additional ingredients. You have a free hand, making this cooking method convenient and foolproof.

Recipe

Ingredients in this recipe

• 4 large potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups diced ham
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups of milk
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 cloves of crushed garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1

• Peel and rinse the potatoes. Cut them into thin slices. The thinner, the better for a more delicious result. You can use a mandolin slicer for even slices.

Step 2

• In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat, add the chopped or crushed garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 3

• Stir in the flour to make a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream. Keep stirring to avoid lumps. Continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens.

Step 4

• Add dried thyme, salt, and pepper to the prepared sauce. Adjust the seasonings to your taste, or add other spices like chili powder for a spicy kick.

Step 5

• Turn on and preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Grease a baking dish with butter or cooking spray to prevent the potatoes from sticking.

Step 6

• Place a layer of sliced potatoes in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle diced ham and grated cheddar cheese over the potatoes. Pour some of the cheese sauce over the layer. Repeat this process until all the potatoes, ham, and cheese are used, finishing with a layer of cheese on top.

Step 7

• Cover the baking dish with foil or a lid and bake in the preheated oven for about 40 to 50 minutes. Then uncover and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden.

Step 8

• Remove the Scalloped Creamy Potatoes from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes so they’re not scalding hot. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve these delicious potatoes hot as a fantastic side dish or on their own as a main course with fresh vegetables.

So, how do you like this recipe for scalloped potatoes? Does it match what you were looking for? Feel free to adjust this recipe to your liking. The foundation is thinly sliced potatoes, heavy cream, ham, and cheese of your choice. Everything else is optional in terms of quantity or by adding other ingredients not listed. I’d be very happy to know if you enjoy it and perhaps leave a comment about how you make baked potatoes at home and what you serve them with as a side dish, as we usually enjoy them as a main dish.