Ham and Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (Freezer Meal Friendly)

Easy Ham & Scalloped Potatoes Freezer Meal (Cook Fresh or Later)

This ham and scalloped potatoes freezer meal is a classic comfort-food dinner that saves both time and money. Creamy sauce, tender sliced potatoes, and savory ham cook together into a hearty meal your whole family will love.

This ham and scalloped potatoes freezer meal is ideal for busy weeks, holiday leftovers, and anyone who wants a hearty dinner ready with minimal effort.

You can prep this meal ahead and freeze it for later, or make it fresh in the slow cooker when you need an easy, hands-off dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Freezer Meal

• Prep once, eat later: Assemble in minutes and have dinner ready on busy days.
• Budget-friendly: A great way to use leftover ham.
• Flexible: Freeze it or cook it right away.
• Comfort food classic: Creamy, hearty, and family-approved.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Potatoes: Russet potatoes work best for classic scalloped potatoes. Red potatoes also work, but you may need a few extra since they’re smaller.

Ham: Any cooked ham works well — leftover holiday ham, diced ham steak, or thick-cut deli ham.

Soup base: If you don’t have cream of chicken soup, this homemade version is a great substitute:
DIY cream of chicken soup (SOS mix).

Cheese: Shredded cheddar is added at the end of cooking so it melts smoothly.

How to Cook Ham and Scalloped Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

If you’re making this meal fresh (not freezing it), simply layer all ingredients directly into your crockpot.

1. Add sliced potatoes, diced ham, soup, milk, and seasonings to the crockpot.
2. Stir gently so the potatoes are coated.
3. Cook on LOW for 8 hours.
4. Add shredded cheese during the last hour of cooking, or stir it in just before serving.

How to Make This a Freezer Meal

This recipe is perfect for freezer meal prep. The ingredients listed on the recipe card make one meal, so feel free to double or triple the recipe if you’re stocking your freezer.

1. Add all ingredients except cheese to a gallon-size freezer bag.
2. Remove as much air as possible and seal.
3. Lay the bag flat to freeze.
4. Label with cooking instructions.

Freezing flat saves space and helps the meal thaw more evenly.

Can You Freeze Raw Potatoes in This Recipe?

Yes — raw potatoes can be frozen in this recipe, but there are a few important tips that make all the difference.

Potatoes darken when exposed to oxygen, which is why some people believe they don’t freeze well. In this freezer meal, the potatoes are fully coated in liquid (soup and milk), which helps protect them during freezing.

For best results:

• Slice potatoes thin and evenly
• Work quickly to limit air exposure
• Make sure potatoes are well coated before sealing the bag

Prefer to play it safe? You can also freeze everything except the potatoes and slice them fresh on cooking day. Both methods work — choose the one you’re most comfortable with.

For general food storage and freezing safety guidelines, the USDA offers helpful recommendations for freezing meals and ingredients at home:
USDA Freezing Food Guidelines.

The Secret to Perfectly Sliced Potatoes

A good slicer makes prep faster and ensures even cooking. Uniform slices make a big difference in slow-cooker recipes.

Pro Tips for Best Results

• Cook on LOW for best texture — high heat can scorch potatoes.
• Add cheese at the end to avoid grainy texture.
• If the sauce seems thick, stir in a splash of milk before serving.

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes FAQ

Do potatoes turn black when frozen?

Potatoes darken when exposed to oxygen. In this freezer meal, they’re coated in liquid, which helps prevent discoloration. You can also add potatoes fresh on cooking day if preferred.

Can I make this freezer meal in the Instant Pot?

This recipe was developed and tested for the slow cooker, which gives the best texture for both the potatoes and the creamy sauce—especially when cooking from frozen.

Because Instant Pot models and potato thickness vary, pressure cooking can easily lead to uneven or mushy potatoes in this dish. For that reason, we recommend sticking with the crockpot method for consistent, reliable results.

If you’re away from home longer than the cook time, the slow cooker’s LOW + warm setting is the safest and most forgiving option for this freezer meal.

Is this recipe gluten-free or dairy-free?

You can make it gluten-free or dairy-free by using appropriate substitutes. See this cream soup substitute for allergy-friendly options.

More Freezer Meal Resources

• Freezer Meal Recipes
• Why You NEED Freezer Meal Cooking
• Freezer Meal Tips & Lessons Learned
• What Foods Don’t Freeze Well

Final Thoughts

This ham and scalloped potatoes freezer meal is one of those recipes that makes life easier. Spend a few minutes prepping once, then enjoy a comforting, homemade dinner whenever you need it.

If you love make-ahead dinners, this ham and scalloped potatoes freezer meal is one you’ll want to keep stocked in your freezer.

Freezer Meal Recipes: Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

Super easy and filling freezer meal that the whole family will love - slow cooker ham and potatoes!

4.58 / 5 ( 19 Reviews )

Print Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours hours

Total Time: 8 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Serves: 4

Adjust Servings: 4

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• 1 Gallon freezer bag

Ingredients

• 2 cups broccoli chopped
• 1 ¼ pounds cooked ham cubed
• 2 10 3/4 oz cans Cream of Chicken Soup (or any Cream of Soup)
• 1 ⅓ cups water
• 6 potatoes sliced (about 1/4 inch thick)
• salt and pepper
• ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 gallon size freezer bag

Instructions

Freezer Meal Prep

• Place 2 cups broccoli in gallon sized bag
• Add soup and 1-1/4 lbs cubed ham to each bag (see note)
• Add 1 1/3 cups water.
• Lastly, immediately after slicing, place potatoes on top
• Seal bag, lay flat, and place in freezer immediately

To Cook from Freezing

• Defrost just enough to get out of freezer bag and place entire contents in slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours (depending on how tender you prefer your potatoes).

Recipe Notes

One reason to turn this into four freezer meals is because it's so easy to just purchase a 5 lb ham and cut it in fourths for cubing. No extra measuring or guessing!

You can add the cheese into the bags if you want to save a step, I just personally think it tastes better added at the end of cooking time.

If you don't add the potatoes at the end, and freeze right away, they may turn brown. This doesn't mean they are bad, it just is what they look like if left in the air to long. Another option is to NOT freeze the potatoes and slice them up on cooking day.

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 16g | Sodium: 1767mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 3g