Ham And Scalloped Potatoes

It wasn’t supposed to turn into a cooking day. Just a handful of friends, a garage piled with boxes, and vague plans to be productive. But by noon, organizing gave way to rumbling stomachs, and the fridge offered up its modest challenge: a couple of ham steaks, a bag of potatoes, and a lonely wedge of cheddar.

The mission was simple—make something satisfying with whatever was lying around. As the potatoes layered up and the sauce thickened on the stove, the kitchen filled with that unmistakable scent of something worth waiting for: warm, hearty, and nostalgic. No one expected much, yet when the dish emerged—bubbling, golden, and perfectly rich—every plate was scraped clean.

Now it’s part of my regular lineup. A dish with no hard rules, just comfort, ease, and the kind of flavor that feels intentional even when it’s improvised.

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📋 Ingredients

For the Creamy Sauce

Ingredient	Amount
Butter	4 tbsp
All-purpose flour	4 tbsp
Milk	3 cups
Salt & pepper	To taste

For the Layers

Ingredient	Amount
Butter (for onions)	1 tbsp
Onions	3 medium, sliced
Russet potatoes	8 medium, thinly sliced
Ham steaks	24 oz, diced
Mild cheddar cheese	4 cups, shredded

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🍽️ Directions

Step 1: Preheat & Prepare
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a deep 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.

Step 2: Make the Sauce
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for about a minute to remove the raw flavor.
Take off the heat, slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly until smooth. Return to the stove and cook until the sauce thickens (5–7 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Cook the Onions
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet. Add sliced onions and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden. Season lightly.

Step 4: Assemble the Layers
Spread one-third of the sauce across the bottom of your baking dish.
Layer half of the potatoes, onions, ham, and cheese on top.
Drizzle another third of the sauce and add a pinch of seasoning.
Repeat with the remaining ingredients, finishing with a final layer of cheese.

Step 5: Bake
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 30–40 minutes, until the top turns golden and the potatoes are fork-tender.

Step 6: Rest & Serve
Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve hot—and don’t be surprised when it disappears fast.