This easy, cheesy ham and potato casserole uses up leftover Christmas or Easter ham! It’s perfect for a post-holiday breakfast or an easy weeknight dinner. My family looks forward to this classic combination.
Decadently cheesy, crispy, and hearty ham and potato casserole makes for the perfect bite any time of day. This simple, pantry-friendly recipe will win over even the pickiest of eaters with its bold savory flavor. You'll never look at leftovers the same way again — try this top-rated casserole recipe for a delightfully creamy dish that the entire family will enjoy.
How to Make Ham and Potato Casserole
This deliciously down-home dish is too easy not to make. You'll find the full recipe below with step-by-step instructions, but here's what you can expect when you make this top-rated recipe:
Start by bringing potatoes to a boil, then reducing the heat and simmering until they are tender. While the potatoes cook, saute leftover ham and onions in butter until the onions are translucent. Next, make a light roux and swirl in cheddar cheese.
Pour the cheese mixture over ham and potatoes, top with breadcrumbs, and bake until golden brown. Serve piping hot for a luscious bite of breakfast-y goodness that's perfect for both busy weeknights and holiday brunches.
What to Serve WIth Ham and Potato Casserole
Leftover ham and potato casserole is an enticingly cheesy bake that pairs well with a range of dishes. Try serving it with asparagus, buttery dinner rolls, or roasted broccoli for a complete, wow-worthy meal.
How to Store Ham and Potato Casserole
Refrigerate leftover casserole in an airtight container (or casserole dish covered in foil) for up to four days. Reheat at 325 degrees F for best results.
Cookdap Community Tips and Praise
“Awesome way to use leftover ham or another way to eat store-bought ham,” raves Debbi. “This recipe is delicious and filling. Shared with neighbors and they loved it too!”
“I added a bit of garlic powder and chili powder to the ham and onions as they were cooking,” shares home cook Eva. I also sprinkled crushed rosemary before the bread crumbs. My whole house smells like rosemary potatoes (YUM!) and the taste is phenomenal.”
“I made this with leftover ham and veggies from Thanksgiving dinner,” says marcra. “My husband is an avid casserole hater and he went back for seconds.”
Ingredients
- 6 small potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 7 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2/3 pound leftover cooked ham, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup bread crumbs
Directions
Step 1
Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 1 1/2-quart baking dish.
Step 3
When the potatoes are almost finished, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add ham and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Step 4
Drain potatoes; add to the ham mixture and stir to combine. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
Step 5
Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and stir until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Step 6
Gradually whisk milk into the flour mixture; season with salt and black pepper. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in Cheddar cheese until melted.
Step 7
Pour cheese sauce over ham and potatoes. Sprinkle bread crumbs over top.
Step 8
Bake in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbly and browned, 25 to 30 minutes.
Step 9
Serve hot and enjoy!
Tips
Cook time will depend on the size of your potatoes. When cutting them, try to make the cubes as uniform as possible for best results.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 6 | |
Calories 591 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat37g | 47% |
Saturated Fat21g | 103% |
Cholesterol108mg | 36% |
Sodium1044mg | 45% |
Total Carbohydrate40g | 15% |
Dietary Fiber4g | 15% |
Protein25g | |
Vitamin C52mg | 261% |
Calcium380mg | 29% |
Iron2mg | 13% |
Potassium1034mg | 22% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
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source by allrecipe
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- by: Nikishep
- 12 years ago
This was a very tasty and hearty meal!! I was looking for a recipe to use for leftover ham and this one is a keeper! It’s quick and easy and my fiance loved it. The only thing I changed was that I added about 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper and some green beans. Thanks for the recipe! *Update* I had this next day and added salt to it and it was PERFECT! I thought the ham would be salty enough and didn’t want to oversalt it…I was wrong. Add extra salt!
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- by: BIZZYSMOM
- 12 years ago
Ultimate decadent comfort food! Too bad I only have leftover ham about twice/year! This recipe is basically the same as my au gratin potato recipe with the exception of adding the ham and cubing instead of slicing the potatoes. Also used a combo of sharp and extra-sharp cheddar cheese. Thanks for sharing!
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- by: Donna
- 12 years ago
This casserole took me about an hour to prepare, but it was worth it. I knew this was going to be a winner with my midwestern born husband and I was right. He said he was almost ready to faint with pleasure. Ha-ha! The only change I made was to cut up a piece of toast into 1/4 inch cubes as a topping instead of using canned bread crumbs. I wish it would have had a specific amount of salt to add, because I had to keep sprinkling in more, and I have no idea how much I ended up adding. Thank you so much for posting this recipe!!!
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- by: Echomoon
- 12 years ago
Made several changes that made this AWESOME!!! Used 1 can “Chedder Cheese Soup” & One can “Creamy Chicken-Mushroon Soup”…also added One can of Button Mushrooms (drained)omitted flour mixture! Also topped with Velveta Cheese…This is a good base recipe to put your own twist on!:)
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- by: Natalieann
- 11 years ago
My husband loved this! Used leftover spiral ham from Christmas (the still-meaty bone is going in the soup pot). I didn’t have cheddar cheese, so I used a low-fat mozzarella and though probably more subtle than cheddar, it worked well. I also added a can of peas and used panko bread crumbs on top. (To be honest, I burned the top a little putting it under the broiler to brown the bread crumbs, but it just added to the flavor!)
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- by: Sara Ham
- 11 years ago
This was a nice easy way to use some of my frozen left over ham. I had everything on hand. My changes were that I added Paprika to the cheese sauce and a sleeve of Ritz cracker in place of the bread crumbs. I wish that I had coated the potato/ham mixture with the cheese sauce and I wish there had been a little acid bite somewhere–garlic or mustard maybe. All in all I’d do it again–Everybody ate without complaint and with seven kids that’s no small feat.
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- by: Ann Woldt
- 11 years ago
This is very good as published. The second time I made it, I added one teaspoon of dry mustard with the flour (in the white sauce), and half of a large bell pepper, cubed, with the ham and onions, sauteing until soft. I used corn flake crumbs the second time. I’ll make this again.
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- by: Dwieberg
- 11 years ago
This was a great recipe, so heartfelt thanks for posting, SweetT! I doubled the recipe for a crowd and made these variations per reviews /for gluten free: substituted gluten free flour, and fat free half and half, crumbled gluten free bread slices (I didn’t even dry them). nom, nom…
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- by: Joybvoelkel
- 11 years ago
Absolutely amazing! I did everything just as the recipe called for, except for using 1 1/2 T of butter when sauting the ham and onions, and it turned out soooo yummy! My 3 kids, who normally don’t like potatoes because of the texture, ate this up and asked for seconds! The cheese sauce is to die for, and I look forward to using this cheese sauce in other recipes- I’m thinking Broccoli casserole? Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful recipe!
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- by: Christy Hughlett Johnson
- 11 years ago
This was so good! Although the family didn’t gush over it, my husband told everyone they couldn’t have seconds because he was going to eat the rest. Of course, my 8-year-old had already taken seconds. I saw my husband go back three or four times for more, which is very rare for him. There was some leftover, but I am eating it now for lunch and it’s every bit as good as it was last night.
I made some fresh broccoli to go with the meal, and it was a great accompaniment. The only change I made was substituting bell pepper for onion (didn’t have any onions at home).
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- by: Nmchef1
- 11 years ago
I thought this dish was OK, but nothing special.
I pretty much made it exactly as written, except that I bought “new” ham instead of using leftovers, and I shredded my own Cheddar from a large block. I should note that a 1.5-quart baking dish would not have sufficed for me. I only had a 2.5-quart dish, and it was nearly filled. (I think that maybe my “small” potatoes were larger than they should have been.) I thought the cheese sauce was nice, and I ate it all over several days, but it just wasn’t exciting, sorry. -
- by: Kim Carnahan
- 11 years ago
Instead of using leftover ham, I purchased a 1 lb package of pre-diced ham. It worked great. I used boiled redskin potatoes and they were very moist and tender. This is yummy comfort food! But if you are afraid it will be too bland, add onion powder, garlic, or a sprinkle of dried mustard, cayenne pepper, or chipotle powder, or a few drops of hot pepper sauce.
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- by: Eva
- 11 years ago
This recipe was great and utilized a few things that would have gone bad if I didn’t use them soon (namely ham and potatoes). The only thing I did differently was add a bit more flavor for fear of my toddler not liking it. She definitely loves her spices. I added a bit of garlic powder and chili powder to the ham and onions as they were cooking. And I sprinkled on crushed rosemary before the bread crumbs. My whole house smells like rosemary potatoes (YUM!) and the taste is phenomenal. Definitely making this one again.
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- by: Marypawpins
- 10 years ago
Best We’ve had so far! I have been looking for a recipe that tastes similar to the Marie Callender’s Family size Scalloped Potatoes with Ham, this is it! I added in some personal taste like onion salt instead of regular salt, and we didn’t have any breadcrumbs, but everything else was verbatim. Big hit with the whole family, including 7 yr. old twins with different tastes in food. Thank you for a keeper of a recipe.
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- by: Cindy In Pensacola
- 10 years ago
This is the best recipe that I’ve made in the last year and the left overs were so good for lunch. I used 2% velveeta for the cheese but otherwise followed the directions. Such perfect comfort food and I’ll be making this again soon. Doesn’t get much better than this!!
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- by: Farmer Mom
- 10 years ago
I made a ham for just so I could make this after! My picky ones love it as much my hubby, Who had 3 helpings. I made as written the first time and it was great. Thus time I used crushed corn flakes on top which gave a slightly salty/sweet combo. I’ll keep the corn flakes next time. Love everything about this recipe.
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- by: Madelineapril
- 10 years ago
I was looking for a simple ham & potato bake that wasn’t complicated or too fatty. This worked out well. I used half the butter, a little less cheese, and chives instead of onions. It turned out to be delicious! We made steamed green beans & carrots on the side to make a full meal.
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- by: Sarah Ferrell Horwich
- 10 years ago
This was so yummy!! Very simple but extremely tasty! Both my husband and son liked it. I used golden potatoes, which I think made a better choice than regular Russets. I also used half-and-half instead of the milk. It’s what was on hand and it worked great! I have made this twice in the past few months and will continue to make it – it’s definitely a keeper!
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- by: JUMAHA
- 10 years ago
Yum! Very tasty. I changed things up a little based on another au gratin potato recipe I’ve made before. Used 4 T of flour and 2 C of milk to make a little more sauce. Used 2 C of shredded cheese and added salt, pepper, nutmeg, cayenne, and mustard to the sauce. Didn’t feel like cooking anything ahead of time so layered the potatoes, onion, and ham raw in the pan and poured the sauce over it. Covered with foil and baked at 375 for 90 minutes. Excellent! Worth all the peeling and chopping.
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- by: Maximumgravity1
- 10 years ago
This is a great dish, and all the other reviewers on this are spot on. I over cooked some potatoes, and ended up with a a quasi-mashed potato variation on this. My daughter and I loved it this way, but my wife thought it needed more potatoes – but she is a potato-holic. I will definitely be making this again in the future, and will be careful about overcooking next time. It will likely work best with the left-overs as suggested, instead of cooking them from start to finish.
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- by: Marcra
- 10 years ago
I made this with leftover ham and veges from thanksgiving dinner. My husband is an avid casserole hater and he went back for seconds. He said he really liked this! I added some celery, carrots, red and green peppers that were left over from our relish tray. I boiled the celery and carrots with the potato and saut?ed the peppers with the onion. A very tasty one dish meal! All I had for bread crumbs were Italian panko crumbs, but they added a nice flavor. Enough left over for lunch tomorrow. I will make this again.
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- by: JERIESHA
- 10 years ago
Hamsgiving. The leftovers that keep on giving. I omitted the bread crumbs, and this was still awesome. I used half and half that I had in the fridge in lieu of milk, and it just added to the creamy texture of the extra sharp cheese sauce. Per another reviewer, I still added salt to the sauce (against my better judgment), and it was perfect!
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- by: Mcmargo
- 10 years ago
This is a hit. This is one of those great recipes that you can tweak according to your families tastes! I don’t wait for left overs, I buy a ham slice (thick cut) and cube. I follow the recipe until I get to the bread crumbs part, as the first time I made this, the bread crumbs didn’t get crunchy. So instead I added saltine crackers that I crumbled in my hands, over the top of it all, then added dollops of butter over the crushed crackers and baked accordingly. WOW, what a great buttery, crunchy addition this made. Necessary, no…but yummy, YES!
P.S. This time I used a certain brand of packet cheese that is called Triple Cheddar and contains Vermont White Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar and Cream Cheese. Very creamy. -
- by: Diane Brazdzionis
- 10 years ago
I added some extra Italian seasoning, used a little more cheese than what the recipe called for but other than that followed it word for word. It came out delicious!! My whole family loved it, it was super easy and fast to put together and make. It’s definitely now my go to recipe for leftover ham!
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- by: Kayb
- 10 years ago
This was really good. I didn’t boil the potatoes, I just cubed them and fried them in a skillet with some oil, diced onions, diced peppers, some garlic and a splash or two of chicken broth. Of course, I added salt and pepper to taste. Once the potatoes started to soften I mixed in the cubed ham. When it was done I put it in the casserole dish and topped it with the cheese sauce and breadcrumbs and popped it in the oven. The only thing I would do differently next time is omit the breadcrumbs. I didn’t feel like they added anything to the dish and, in the 25 minutes the dish was in the oven, they didn’t really brown. So, it was like I just had raw breadcrumbs on top soaking up the cheese sauce. Other than that I will surely be making this again. It was a great use for leftover ham and very yummy!
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- by: Lisa Mays
- 9 years ago
First time we made this the cheesy topping was too thick and the casserole contents were dry. Taste was still good and we put leftovers in tortillas with sour cream and hot sauce for breakfast burritos. The second time I made this with more cheese and more milk. ( I used mozzarella and Monterey Jack this time… My boyfriend doesn’t like cheddar, but these two cheeses are a bit creamier than cheddar anyway.)
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- by: Coppercoated
- 9 years ago
Just made this for my people – and it was inhaled. I used sweet potato chunks as that is what I had for left overs and it still tasted pretty good! I am sure it would taste better with regular potatoes. Next time I think I might add in a little bit of corn just to add some crunch and colour.
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- by: Amanda May Vaden
- 9 years ago
I made some minor adjustments to the recipe but I think that’s the fun of cooking. I used slightly larger potatoes so I doubled the onion and cheese sauce. Next time I will use smaller potatoes and still double the sauce because we like cheese in this family. I also used a generous amount of garlic because you can never have too much garlic. I also added extra cheese in top because, like I said, this family loves cheese. 🙂
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- by: Virginia Butchart Cowie
- 9 years ago
This was awesome. Very cheesy, especially when made with sharp cheddar. As other suggested, I added some chopped celery, red pepper and carrots, plus some frozen peas to make it a full meal. Next time I will add more potato, though. Agree with another reviewer’s wife with that. LOL Made this with the leftover ham from Christmas that I had frozen.
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- by: Cookdap Member
- 9 years ago
Super Yum, definitely a keeper & going into regular rotation! This is a great standard recipe that is simple to prepare, versatile, and frugal. I used red potatoes and left the skin on, I grated a block of swiss I had instead of cheddar, and I incorporated some baby carrots I had by slicing them into coins and parboiling them at the same time as the potatoes. Otherwise, I prepared as written. My whole family cleared their plates and I got a third meal out of a 10 pound ham (traditional ham dinner, this casserole, and froze the ham bone with remaining ham for a pea soup next week). This is a very tasty meal that will stretch my food budget a little farther, thanks for sharing!
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- by: Lins
- 9 years ago
I’ve made this several times now, using leftover Christmas or Easter ham, and it’s always a hit even with the kids. It’s great as written, but easy to change seasonings or types of cheese to suit your taste. I personally like to add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce. I like to bulk up the sauce a little to make sure the casserole isn’t dry or bland.
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- by: Cookdap Member
- 9 years ago
Wonderful! My husband and sons said they liked it, but they always say that. (They are good boys!) I knew it was a winner when they all got up for seconds! I used new potatoes and just microwaved them whole for 10 min, then diced them. Served with steamed mixed veggies and garlic-sauteed spinach.
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- by: MELAYA
- 9 years ago
I didn’t have an onion. So I used some onion powder and skipped the butter/onion/ham in the skillet part. The cheese sauce turned out perfectly. The entire dish was yummy (might need more seasoning for those who like a more seasoned dish) and went great with a side of peas and carrots on a rainy day. I’ll probably make this again.
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- by: Natalierasmussen
- 9 years ago
Very, very good. Easy too. I had some half and half and some heavy whipping cream to use up so I used those in place of the milk. Added a little onion powder because my onion was VERY small and I love onion. Also instead of the plain bread crumbs I added a little bit of the Italian bread crumbs, which didn’t make a huge difference, as it would be excellent either way. I will be making this again at Thanksgiving! Yummy. Kid friendly too! 🙂
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