Hey everyone, Jason Griffith here! When you’re craving a meal that feels like a warm hug but requires minimal effort, especially after the holidays when you might have leftover ham, my Slow Cooker Amish Ham and Potato Casserole is your absolute hero. This isn’t just a casserole; it’s a rich, creamy, and incredibly satisfying concoction packed with tender ham, hearty potatoes, and a luscious cheesy sauce. It’s pure comfort in every spoonful and guaranteed to warm you from the inside out!
Why I Love This Recipe
What’s not to love about a meal that practically cooks itself while filling your home with the most inviting aromas? I’m absolutely obsessed with Slow Cooker Amish Ham and Potato Casserole because it brings together so many wonderful elements with incredible ease. The slow cooker works its magic, ensuring the potatoes become incredibly tender and the flavors meld beautifully over hours, creating a depth that you just can’t achieve with quicker methods. It’s fantastic for meal prepping, feeding a hungry family, or simply savoring on a quiet evening. Plus, it’s a brilliant way to use up leftover holiday ham! The minimal cleanup is always a bonus.
The Heart of Amish Comfort Food
Amish cooking is renowned for its emphasis on simple, wholesome ingredients and deeply comforting, hearty dishes, often designed to feed large families with minimal fuss. Casseroles are a staple in Amish communities, leveraging the slow cooking process to create tender textures and rich, melded flavors. The combination of ham and potatoes is a classic, reflecting a heritage of using readily available farm ingredients.
This Slow Cooker Amish Ham and Potato Casserole embodies that tradition, offering a nourishing, flavorful, and incredibly comforting meal that feels both familiar and deeply satisfying. The slow cooker is ideal for this dish, allowing the potatoes to become perfectly tender without drying out, and the creamy sauce to thicken beautifully around them. It’s a testament to simple ingredients coming together to create something truly special, making it a perfect solution for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend treat, especially when you have that delicious leftover ham.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to create this incredibly creamy and easy Slow Cooker Amish Ham and Potato Casserole:
- 2 lbs Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/4-inch thick)
- 2 cups cooked ham, diced (leftover ham is perfect!)
- 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/2 cup sour cream (full-fat recommended)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for extra flavor)
- Optional Garnish: Fresh chopped parsley, extra shredded cheese, or crispy fried onions
Swaps and Notes
- Potatoes: Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are ideal as they soften beautifully and contribute to the creamy texture. Thinly slicing them (a mandoline can help!) ensures even cooking.
- Ham: Cooked, diced ham is perfect. This is an excellent recipe for using up leftover holiday ham! You can also use pre-cooked ham steak or deli ham.
- Cream of Soup: The condensed cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups provide the classic creamy base and a depth of flavor. You can use two cans of either if you prefer. For a from-scratch version, you could make a cream sauce with a roux, broth, and milk, seasoned similarly.
- Milk & Sour Cream: Whole milk provides richness, and sour cream adds tang and extra creaminess, balancing the savory flavors. Full-fat sour cream is best for consistency.
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds a wonderful tang and melts beautifully. Shred your own cheese from blocks for the best melt – pre-shredded often contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
- Aromatics: Thinly sliced onion and garlic powder provide savory depth. You can sauté fresh minced garlic and onion for a few minutes before adding to the slow cooker for more intense flavor.
- Herbs/Spices: Dried parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper are simple yet effective seasonings. You could add a pinch of dried thyme or onion powder.
Steps for the Recipe
Let your slow cooker do all the hard work for this amazing casserole:
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Lightly grease the inside of a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker with cooking spray or butter.
- Combine Creamy Sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup, condensed cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, dried parsley flakes, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined and smooth.
- Layer Casserole:
- Place about one-third of the thinly sliced potatoes in an even layer at the bottom of the prepared slow cooker.
- Sprinkle with about one-third of the diced ham and one-third of the thinly sliced onion.
- Spread about one-third of the creamy soup mixture over the ham and onion.
- Sprinkle with about 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
- Repeat the layers twice more, ending with the final layer of potatoes topped with the remaining creamy soup mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and the optional 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or until the potatoes are completely tender. Cooking time can vary based on your slow cooker and potato thickness.
- Serve: Once the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly, give the casserole a gentle stir (optional, if you want a more cohesive mix) or simply scoop out portions. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or crispy fried onions if desired. Serve hot.
Tips for Success
- Thinly Slice Potatoes: This is crucial for even cooking in the slow cooker. Use a mandoline or a very sharp knife for uniform 1/4-inch slices.
- Don’t Overfill: Ensure your slow cooker is large enough (6-quart or more) for all the ingredients. Overfilling can lead to uneven cooking.
- Resist Lifting Lid: Every time you lift the lid, heat escapes, adding about 20-30 minutes to your cooking time. Try to avoid peeking too often!
- Shred Your Own Cheese: For the creamiest, smoothest cheese melt, shred cheese from blocks. Pre-shredded often contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
- Crispy Top (Optional): If you desire a crispy, browned top, you can transfer the casserole to an oven-safe dish and bake at 400°F (200°C) for the last 15-20 minutes, or broil for 3-5 minutes, watching closely.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
Slow Cooker Amish Ham and Potato Casserole is a complete and satisfying meal on its own, but it pairs beautifully with:
- Simple Side Salad: A light, crisp green salad with a vinaigrette dressing provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the casserole.
- Crusty Bread or Dinner Rolls: Perfect for soaking up the creamy sauce.
- Cooked Greens: A side of steamed green beans or roasted asparagus would be excellent.
- Other Comfort Foods: This casserole complements other hearty dishes well, such as my This Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole Is My Favorite One-Pan Dinner That’s Always a Hit.
- Beverage Pairings: A simple glass of water, iced tea, or a crisp lager would complement this casserole nicely.
Storage and Leftover Tips
Slow Cooker Amish Ham and Potato Casserole makes fantastic leftovers, and the flavors often deepen even more the next day!
- Refrigerate: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The casserole will thicken considerably upon chilling.
- Reheat: To reheat, gently warm portions in a saucepan on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth to thin out the sauce and bring it back to your desired creamy consistency. Stir frequently. You can also microwave individual portions, stirring halfway through.
- Freezing: Freezing is possible, but the texture of the potatoes and cream can sometimes change slightly upon thawing. If freezing, use freezer-safe containers and leave some headspace. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat gently, adding liquid as needed.
More Recipes You Will Love
If you enjoyed the ease and comfort of this slow cooker meal, you might also like these other hearty and time-saving recipes:
- For another deep, comforting bowl with Southern flavors, my This Cajun Chicken Sausage Gumbo Is My Favorite Bowl of Southern Comfort is a must-try.
- If you love quick and flavorful skillet dinners, check out This Tomato Skillet with Okra and Sausage Is My Favorite Quick Dinner Packed with Southern Flavor.
- For truly simple, satisfying comfort food that lets your oven do the work, you’ll love These Easy Turkey Wings Are My Favorite Comfort Food for Lazy Sundays.
- And for another fantastic cheesy slow cooker dish that’s always a hit, check out This Crockpot Nacho Dip Is The Reason I Never Have Leftovers.
Final Thoughts
Slow Cooker Amish Ham and Potato Casserole is a true triumph of comfort food – it offers all the rich, savory, and cozy flavors you crave in a hearty casserole, with the incredible convenience of a slow cooker. It’s perfect for chilly evenings, easy meal prepping, or simply indulging in pure, cheesy comfort. This recipe is a game-changer that will quickly become a beloved staple in your kitchen.
I hope you give this amazing casserole a try and enjoy every comforting spoonful! Let me know in the comments below if this becomes your new go-to slow cooker recipe, or what your favorite way to use up leftover ham is. I always love hearing from you! Happy cooking!
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