Let’s face it: there’s virtually no end to the delicious recipes that you can make using a slow cooker. If you’re pressed for time and need an easy dinner, throw a bunch of veggies, meat and beans in there for a simple chili dish. On the other hand, you can add some broth and additional liquid to turn that same dish into a stew. Aside from the savory options, it can even be used to make a variety of sweet baked goods.
Still, the recipe we’re making today is a twist on a classic that you’ve probably had before. Today, we’re going to make a Southern-style scalloped potato dish with ham thrown in for good measure. If you’ve never had them before, scalloped potatoes are creamy, cheesy and delicious. With a long cook time, they end up melting in your mouth when they’re ready to eat. Still, this recipe adds some additional meaty flavor and some spices to take it all to the next level. So let’s get started.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 pounds of sliced russet potatoes
- 1 large sweet onion
- 1 pound of boneless ham steak, cubed
- 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 12-ounce can of evaporated milk
- 1 cup of heavy cream or half and half
- salt
- pepper
- paprika
Here’s what you do:
1. First, prepare your potatoes by thoroughly rinsing them and shopping them up into thin slices. Chop your ham up into cubes as well and layer a third of the potatoes, onions, ham and cheese in the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. Sprinkle your salt, pepper and paprika on top of the first layer before building another two layers of the dish up the same way as you did before. Keep doing this until you’ve used up all of the potatoes, ham, onions and cheese.
3. After that, add your milk and cream to the slow cooker as well without mixing everything together. Sprinkle the top with more salt, pepper and paprika before covering the slow cooker and setting it to cook on low for four to six hours.
4. When the time is up, open it up and check to make sure the potatoes are soft and cooked all the way through. When everything is done, serve as it is or add another cup of cheese on top and close the slow cooker again. Leave it until it’s just melted and serve hot!
Though this dish uses simple ingredients, the result is a delicious, creamy and layered meal that you can eat as a side dish or a main course. Because all the ingredients are so hearty, you’re sure to have plenty of leftovers as well. If it’s too much to eat in the short-term, you can always store the leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer as well for up to three months. When you go to thaw it out, put it back in the slow cooker with a little more milk for a few hours and it’ll be good as new.
As always, you can also experiment with this recipe and add your own meats and spices to give it even more flavor. If you’re looking for more vegetables, feel free to pack those in as well. Above all, have fun with the process and let us know what you think!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
