Easy Creamy Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Oct 01, 2021Updated Nov 18, 2022

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Make the perfect scalloped potatoes for your next family dinner with this easy Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes recipe! This savory recipe is a great side dish for any potluck or holiday and pairs well with chicken or pork main dishes.

You may also like Lipton Onion Potatoes or my Cajun Parmesan Potatoes if you are a potato lover.

cooked scalloped potatoes in slow cooker

If you’re craving comfort food tonight, this easy slow cooker scalloped potatoes recipe is the perfect dish for you. The comforting and savory side dish features layers of thinly sliced potatoes smothered with a creamy sauce made from cream cheese, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

The best part about it is that there are only a few ingredients, so anyone can make them – even if they’re not an expert chef.

What is the difference between scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes?

Scalloped potatoes are usually made with a heavy cream sauce, which is usually made with butter and flour roux.
Au gratin potatoes will have more cheese in the recipe and are typically baked in an oven.

If you want to make rich, scalloped potatoes but don’t want to go through all of the work involved, this homemade slow-cooked scalloped potato recipe is easy to make and will be a big hit with the whole family! My recipe doesn’t have a complicated stove-top sauce to make; it’s all made in a mixing bowl.

How to Make Scalloped Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

Ingredients

Center cut bacon: Cooked, drained and chopped.
Russet potatoes: Skins removed and thinly sliced.
Cream cheese: Softened so the cream cheese mixture can be spread evenly.
Cream of chicken soup: One can – do not add water (You can substitute sour cream if you don’t have a can of soup in the pantry.)
Ranch seasoning mix: I prefer the Hidden Valley Ranch brand dry mix, but any brand will do.
Garlic: Fresh minced or jarred garlic works.
Butter: Salted butter, melted.
Seasonings: Kosher salt and black pepper.

Step-by-Step Directions

collage of how to make sauce for scalloped potatoes

Step 1 – Warm the cream cheese in the microwave in a medium bowl; this will take about 30 seconds. Add the cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning, garlic, melted butter, salt, and pepper.

Step 2 – Whisk until blended.

4 image collage about how to add ingredients to slow cooker for scalloped potatoes

Step 3 – Add the peeled and cut potatoes to the slow cooker.

Step 4 – Sprinkle over half of the bacon

Step 5 – Spread over the creamy mixture.

Step 6 – Add the remaining bacon. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3.5-4 hours or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Do not stir this dish, for you don’t want to mash the potatoes.

What’s the easiest way to peel potatoes?

If you prefer peeled potatoes, there are a few different ways to remove the skin from the potato, but you’ll need a vegetable peeler and some patience!
One way is to start peeling at one end of the potato until it’s all peeled then use your hands or knife blade (careful!) to get in between any remaining skin.
Another way is to stand the potato on end and use a sharp knife to cut off strips of skin, rotating as you go until it’s all peeled.
Of course if you can’t peel the potatoes, this recipe works fine without peeling. Just wash the potato well before slicing.

cooked scalloped potatoes with wooden spoon in it.

Tips for Storing & Reheating Leftover Scalloped Potatoes

Storing – These will last three days in an airtight tupperware in the refrigerator.
Freezing – Potatoes and dairy don’t do well after freezing. I recommend eating this right away or storing in the fridge.
Reheating – The microwave is the easiest way to reheat these, either in a glass bowl or plate. If you don’t have a microwave you can reheat in a small pan on the stovetop.

What do I serve with scalloped potatoes?

Scalloped potatoes are a side dish, not the main meal. Here are my favorite meals to enjoy scalloped potatoes with.

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham
Slow Cooker Tukery Breast
Crockpot Barbecue Chicken – Recipe from the Country Cook
Grilled Barbecued Hotdogs (one of my favorite recipes!) – Recipe from A Southern Soul
Slow Cooker Red Wine Brisket

Recipe FAQs

Can you leave the skin on scalloped potatoes?

Leaving the skin on in a recipe for slow cooker potatoes is up to the chef. If you leave the skins on, they tend to fall off into the sauce, and some do not like the texture.

Can I use ham instead of bacon?

Yes, ham is very common in scalloped potatoes. Use 1 cup of diced ham; this ham can be leftover ham.

Can I add raw potatoes to a slow cooker?

Raw potatoes cook nicely in the slow cooker, so don’t hesitate to add them to your soup and side dish recipes.
This scalloped potato recipe uses raw potatoes- they cook beautifully in the crockpot, turn out fork tender, and are so flavorful!

What are the best potatoes for scalloped potatoes?

Russet potatoes are the most popular for scalloped potatoes. However, buttery Yukon gold potatoes or red will work very well too.

Can I make these ahead of time?

I prefer to prepare and cook these the day I need them. The potatoes will brown if made ahead before cooking.

Can I add cheese?

Yes, of course. Add 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese right into the creamy sauce.

How long can I keep scalloped potatoes warm in a slow cooker?

Two hours is the maximum you want to keep scalloped potatoes on the warm setting after cooking.

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Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

5 from 3 votes

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 3 30

Total Time: 3 55

Servings:

By: Sarah Olson

Thinly sliced potatoes with a decendent sauce and plenty of bacon. A wonderful side dish for any occasion.

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