One of my favorite comfort foods is that classic combination of ham and potatoes. Thanks to these super easy air fryer scalloped potatoes and ham I can enjoy them anytime of year, without needing to heat up the big oven!
What Are Air Fryer Scalloped Potatoes?
Scalloped potatoes and ham is one of those perfect side dishes you can serve with a variety of meals. It’s made of sliced potatoes, with a creamy sauce and a golden brown top.
This version is easy to throw together, and looks good enough to serve for company! Plus, I love that I can customize the seasonings, potato types, and more when making homemade scalloped potatoes.
Your air fryer does a great job of getting the potatoes tender and the top of your casserole perfectly browned, in far less time when compared to the traditional oven baked method. If you want to add cheese (for an au gratin style) it melts that nicely as well!
Katie’s tip
I love this recipe as a great way to use up that leftover ham from Christmas, Easter, or last night’s Air Fryer Ham Steak recipe. It’s the perfect way to repurpose it into another delicious dish when everyone is tired of sandwiches!
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Air Fryer Scalloped Potatoes Ingredients
- 3-4 medium sized potatoes (about 1 pound total)
- 2 Tbsp all purpose flour (or ½ Tbsp per potato)
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 ½ tsp minced garlic (or more to taste)
- ¼ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced ham
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional – see notes in ingredient section below)
Special Equipment Note
You’ll need a casserole dish, cake pan, or similar oven-safe vessel that fits in your air fryer basket. Many air fryer accessory kits come with cake or deep dish pizza pans that work great.
Ingredient Substitutions and Tips
- Potatoes. I prefer russet or yellow, but you can use red or sweet potatoes as well. Whether you choose to peel them or not is personal preference
- Garlic. You can use 1 tsp garlic powder in place of the fresh garlic
- Onion. May be substituted for 2 Tbsp dried minced onion, or an equal amount of leeks instead
- Ham. Thick spiral sliced is best for cubing. However, you can add deli ham in a pinch or substitute bacon instead. You can also omit ham entirely for a vegetarian friendly version
- Cheese. Traditionally scalloped potatoes do not have cheese, so you can skip it if preferred. However, I like the ham and cheese combination. You can also use swiss or gruyere instead of cheddar
How to Make Air Fryer Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
- Peel potatoes if desired, and then cut into thin slices (approximately ⅛” or less thick). Keep them as even as possible. Pro tip: if you own a mandolin slicer, use it here
- Toss the potatoes with the flour so that they are evenly coated
- Layer the potatoes, ham, and onion in a greased casserole dish that will fit in your air fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
- In a bowl, mix together the cream, milk, garlic, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine
- Pour the liquid mixture over top of the potatoes in the casserole dish. Try to push the potatoes down so they are fully submerged
- Transfer the casserole dish to the preheated air fryer basket
- Cook on the air fry setting for 30 minutes at 400°F, or until the potatoes pierce easily with a fork. Check in periodically on them – if the top begins to brown too much, you can cover them with foil
- (Optional) If you want to add cheese, sprinkle the cheese on top and return to the air fryer for an additional 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and begins to brown
- Rest for 10 minutes to allow everything to set and cool slightly
- Serve and enjoy!
What to Serve With Scalloped Potatoes
- Fried or rotisserie chicken
- Salmon
- Meatloaf
- Kielbasa
- Smoked sausage
- Ribs
- Steak
- Pork chops
- Other ham dishes
- Asparagus
- Green beans
- Brussel sprouts with bacon
- Spinach
- Corn casserole
- Peas
- Glazed carrots
There are lots of great main courses and other side dishes that pair well with creamy air fryer scalloped potatoes (or au gratin potatoes if you add some cheese)! I especially enjoy other classic steakhouse sides to complete the meal.
Try some of my favorites, like Air Fryer Corn Casserole, Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts With Bacon, Air Fryer Kielbasa, Air Fryer Smoked Sausage, Brown Sugar Air Fryer Carrots, or Bacon Wrapped Filet in the Air Fryer!
Recipe FAQs
Why Won’t My Scalloped Potatoes Get Soft?
Typically, your scalloped potatoes won’t get soft because they were cut too thick, haven’t been cooked long enough, or weren’t properly submerged in cooking liquid.
In the air fryer, you can always par bake your potatoes for 10-15 minutes before adding the wet ingredients and continuing to cook them if this is a common problem.
What’s the Difference Between Au Gratin and Scalloped Potatoes?
The difference between au gratin and scalloped potatoes is the addition of cheese. Scalloped potatoes typically have no cheese, whereas au gratin includes it.
That’s not to say you can’t add cheese to your scalloped potatoes or leave it off your au gratin recipe to modify it to your tastes.
How Do You Keep Scalloped Potatoes From Being Watery?
To keep scalloped potatoes from being watery, do not rinse your potato slices. The natural starch serves as a thickener. It’s also important to use heavy cream for the fat content.
Flour or cornstarch may be added to the mixture as a thickening agent if this is a common issue you’re experiencing.
What Type Of Potatoes Work Best For Scalloped Potatoes?
Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes are the best choices for scalloped potatoes.
Yukon Gold potatoes have a buttery texture, while Russet potatoes are starchy and absorb the creamy sauce well.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Scalloped Potatoes In The Air Fryer?
The cooking time for scalloped potatoes in an air fryer is typically around 25-30 minutes at 400°F.
It’s important to check for doneness by piercing the potatoes with a fork; they should be tender throughout.
Recipe Pro Tips For the Best Scalloped Potatoes
- It’s important to cut your potato slices thin and even so that they cook well. If you think your slices are too large, pre-cook them for 10 minutes in the air fryer before layering your casserole to give them a head start
- Don’t rinse your potato slices – the natural starch is important to help your casserole set up. If you did to prevent browning, make sure to add extra flour or cornstarch to assist
- If your potatoes are still hard after 30 minutes, don’t panic. Wrap foil on the top to prevent burning and return them to the air fryer. Keep cooking in 5 minute increments and checking for doneness
- The top is going to get very browned during cooking (though it shouldn’t burn). You can alleviate this by covering your potatoes with foil, but it adds a nice textural crunch that we actually prefer. The more submerged your slices are, the less they’ll brown
- This recipe can be cooked in one large pan or a couple smaller pans like I have here (cooking time is the same). I have the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone which has two small rectangular baskets instead of one large one. For two pans, you may need to add a little extra heavy cream for coverage
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Store any leftover scalloped potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months for longer term storage
- To reheat scalloped potatoes in the air fryer, cook the dish at 350°F for about 10 minutes, until warmed through. For a smaller (individual) portion, start with 4-5 minutes, and adjust as needed until heated
- Ham and Cheese Pull Apart Bread (Air Fryer)
- Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Stuffed Chicken
- Ham Croquettes in the Air Fryer
Final Thoughts
Your air fryer is such a great way to prepare scalloped potatoes and ham. Whether you make a meal out of it, or pair it alongside another protein for a complete meal, you’re going to love it!
The potatoes are tender and perfectly cooked, the top is brown and crisp, and everything sets up perfectly. It’s one of my favorite ways to use up extra holiday ham after Christmas or Easter!
If you love this recipe, make sure to check out some of my other air fryer casserole recipes you can try out next!
Air Fryer Scalloped Potatoes and Ham (Cheese or No Cheese)
Equipment
- Casserole or baking dish that fits in your air fryer
Ingredients
- 3-4 Medium potatoes (about 1 pound total)
- 2 Tbsp all purpose flour (or 1/2 tbsp per potato)
- ¾ Cup heavy cream
- ¼ Cup milk
- 1 ½ Tsp minced garlic (or more to taste)
- ¼ Cup diced onion (white, yellow, or sweet)
- ½ Cup diced ham
- 1 Tsp salt
- ½ Tsp black pepper
- ½ Cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Peel potatoes if desired, and then cut into thin slices (approximately ⅛” or less thick) using a sharp knife or mandolin slicer. Keep them as even as possible
- Toss the potato slices in a mixing bowl with the flour so that they are evenly coated
- Alternate layering the potatoes, ham, and onion in a greased casserole dish that will fit in your air fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
- In a mixing bowl (you can use the same one as you tossed potatoes in), mix together the cream, milk, garlic, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine
- Pour the liquid mixture over top of the potatoes in the casserole dish. Try to push the potatoes down so they are fully submerged
- Transfer the casserole dish to the preheated air fryer basket
- Cook on the air fry setting for 30 minutes at 400°F, or until the potatoes pierce easily with a fork. Check in periodically on them – if the top begins to brown too much, you can cover them with foil
- (Optional) If you want to add cheese, sprinkle the cheese on top and return to the air fryer for an additional 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and begins to brown
- Rest for 10 minutes to allow everything to set and cool slightly
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- I prefer russet or yellow potatoes, but you can use red or sweet potatoes as well (but they may take a few minutes longer to cook). Whether you choose to peel them or not is personal preference
- You can use 1 tsp garlic powder in place of the fresh garlic
- Onion may be substituted by 2 Tbsp dried minced onion, or an equal amount of leeks instead
- Thick spiral sliced ham is best for cubing. However, you can add deli ham in a pinch or substitute bacon instead. You can also omit ham entirely for a vegetarian friendly version
- Traditionally scalloped potatoes do not have cheese, so you can skip it, or add the optional amount for an au gratin style. You can also use swiss or gruyere instead of cheddar
- It’s important to cut your potato slices thin and even so that they cook well. If you think your slices are too large, pre-cook them for 10 minutes in the air fryer before layering your casserole to give them a head start
- Don’t rinse your potato slices – the natural starch is important to help your casserole set up
- If your potatoes are still hard after 30 minutes, don’t panic. Wrap foil on the top to prevent burning and return them to the air fryer. Keep cooking in 5 minute increments and checking for doneness
- The top is going to get browned during cooking (though it shouldn’t burn). You can alleviate this by covering your potatoes with foil, but it adds a nice textural crunch that we actually prefer. The more submerged your slices are, the less they’ll brown
- This recipe can be cooked in one large pan or a couple smaller pans like I have here (cooking time is the same) depending on your air fryer (I have a Dual Zone Ninja Foodi). For two pans, you may need to add a little extra heavy cream for coverage
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, adjustments, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
