Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

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When you have leftover ham in the fridge and a craving for something simple and satisfying, this Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole comes to the rescue. It’s hearty, creamy, and just the kind of no-fuss dish that brings everyone to the table with a smile.

There’s not much that’s better than a cheesy potato casserole like this one, made with diced ham and all of your favorite flavors. This is pure comfort food that hits all the right notes.

Cheesy ham and potato bake in a casserole dish with a large spoonful being shown.

When I think about hearty, homey cooking, meat and potatoes are automatically where my brain goes. Roast Beef and Gravy, Irish Stew, or a nice Roasted Turkey and Gravy all come to mind.

After enjoying those dishes all winter, I’m not always ready to leave them behind when the weather starts to warm. So, before I ease into lighter foods or fire up the grill for something like a delicious turkey burger, I often find myself coming back to this casserole because of the way it neatly bridges winter to spring.

This easy ham and potato bake also makes a welcome meal to send to a new mom, a friend who has been under the weather, or to bring to a party or covered dish supper.

Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Oven
Total Time: 55 Minutes

Servings: 8
Primary Ingredients: Potatoes, Ham, Cheese
Skill Level: Easy

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING …

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have never tasted such a wonderful ham, onion, potato and cheese casserole in my life…the flavor is absolutely wonderful.”
— Sara

What You’ll Like About This Recipe

  • So much cheese! This recipe is cheesy to the max, and tastes amazing!
  • It’s made with mostly pantry and common fridge ingredients. You probably have most of them in your house right now!
  • This casserole is meal-prep and leftover-friendly. Have leftover ham to use up? This is the perfect dish! Want to prep easy lunches for the week? Do it! You can even serve this for breakfast with some scrambled eggs mixed in and wrapped into a burrito.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for ham and potato bake on a marble background in separate dishes.

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  • Onion – Use whatever you have on hand. Either red, white, or yellow onions will work fine.
  • Dry Mustard – Mustard powder is an incredible flavor booster and, no, it won’t make the whole dish taste like mustard. It just adds a nice piquant background flavor. My favorite Colman’s dry mustard.
  • Milk – Whole milk or 2% milk is best for this recipe. If you have half-and-half or cream, you can also use that, and it will make the recipe even richer.
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese – While you can use pre-shredded cheese successfully, for the best melt and taste, shredding your own cheese is preferred. I use extra-sharp Cheddar. If you prefer mild or medium, that’s fine, too.
  • Ham – There are several options for the ham in this recipe. Obviously, diced leftover baked ham is perfect, but not always on hand. Other options are to purchase a thick ham steak and dice it, or just buy a package of diced ham from the meat counter in your local grocery store.
  • Potatoes – As with the ham, there are options for the potatoes. If you have leftover baked potatoes, they’re perfect! If not, take a few minutes to microwave several baking potatoes (also called russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes), then let them cool until they can be handled.

The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Recipe Variations/Substitutions

  • Want to cheese it up even more? Mix in 4 ounces of softened cream cheese!
  • You can also mix in different varieties of cheese, too. Pepper-Jack would add a nice kick!
  • A little garlic powder added to the cheese mixture in Step 4 is also good.

How to Make Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

This recipe is simple to make and tastes incredible! Your whole family will love it.

STEP 1. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven warms, grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray and set it aside.

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Melted butter in a skillet with onions sautéing in the pan.

STEP 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the chopped onion and cook until it becomes tender. The goal is to soften the onion without letting it brown.

Flour and butter cooking in a skillet.

STEP 3. Stir in the flour, salt, dry mustard, and pepper. The mixture will thicken quickly and take on a paste-like consistency. Let it cook for a minute or two to remove the raw flour flavor.

Milk added to the flour-butter mixture.
STEP 4.

STEP 4. Slowly pour in the milk, stirring constantly. This step takes a little patience, but the sauce will gradually thicken into a smooth and creamy base. Add 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheese and stir until the cheese is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce.

Potatoes and diced ham folded into the sauce mixture.
STEP 5.

STEP 5. Next, gently fold in the diced ham, cooked potatoes, and chopped parsley. Stir just until everything is evenly combined, being careful not to break up the potatoes too much.

The potato and ham casserole with extra cheese on top.

STEP 6. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.

Baked cheesy casserole topped with melted cheese and chopped parsley in a white dish on a marble surface.

STEP 7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the top is lightly golden. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Ham and Potato Casserole on a white plate with salt and pepper shakers in the background.
  • If you have leftover baked potatoes, they work great for this dish. If I don’t have any leftover, I simply microwave a few (usually about 6) small baking potatoes and cube them.
  • While leftover ham is perfect for this, you can also use an 8-ounce package of diced ham available in most grocery stores. I love those packages because you don’t have to wait until you have a little bit of leftovers to make a dish like this. You don’t even have to bother with chopping the ham yourself! It’s great stuff.

How to Serve

I like to serve this with a crisp green salad and some vegetables. Broccoli salad is a great option, as well as fresh salad greens with a homemade vinaigrette. My Old-Fashioned Southern Green Beans would also make an incredible side.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave until steaming hot. This dish keeps very well and is a good option to make ahead.

A spoonful of cheesy ham and potato bake in a large casserole dish.
Can you substitute heavy cream for the milk?

Yes, you can. Heavy cream or half and half can be used in place of the milk if that’s what you have available.

Do the potatoes have to be cubed?

Nope! Shredded potatoes also work well in this recipe. Or, you could also used sliced potatoes if you prefer.

More Recipes You’ll Like

Traditional Irish Boxty (Potato Pancakes)

Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

Ham and Cheese Stuffed Potatoes

Ham Egg and Cheese Muffins

Lana Stuart.

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If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.

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Recipe

Cheesy ham and potato bake in a casserole dish with a large spoonful being shown.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

This Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole is creamy, comforting, and great for using leftover ham. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing family favorite!
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Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 372kcal
Author: Lana Stuart

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup butter
  • ½ medium onion chopped
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dry mustard
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ pound ham diced
  • 6 cups diced cooked potatoes
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish; set it aside.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender but not browned, about 5 minutes.
    ¼ cup butter, ½ medium onion
  • Stir in the flour, salt, dry mustard, and pepper until the onions are well coated. Let the mixture cook for 1 to 2 minutes to remove the raw taste from the flour.
    ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon dry mustard, ½ teaspoon pepper
  • Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue cooking over medium heat until the mixture thickens into a smooth sauce, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheese and stir until it melts completely and the sauce is smooth.
    1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
    1 ½ cups milk
  • Add the diced ham, cooked potatoes, and chopped parsley. Stir gently to combine, being careful not to break up the potatoes too much.
    ½ pound ham, 6 cups diced cooked potatoes, ¼ cup fresh parsley
  • Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheese over the top.
    1/2 cup shredded cheese
  • Bake for 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden. Let the casserole sit for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley, if desired.

Notes

  • This recipe is great for using up leftover baked potatoes, but if you don’t have them you can just quickly microwave a few (usually about 6) small baking potatoes and cube them.
  • If you don’t have leftover ham, you can pick up an 8 ounce package of diced ham available in most grocery stores.
  • Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1Calories 372kcalCarbohydrates 34gProtein 18gFat 19gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 1gCholesterol 60mgSodium 884mgPotassium 855mgFiber 4gSugar 4gVitamin A 603IUVitamin C 34mgCalcium 222mgIron 2mg

Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.

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16 Comments

  1. Thanks. We made this last night. Came out great. Used My Fitness Pal to calculate the nutritional info.

    Serves 8
    – Substituted flour for Bob’s Gluten Free Flour
    338 calories per serving
    30 Carbs
    17 grams fat
    17 grams protein

  2. found this recipe while searching for something new for leftover ham-made it right after Christmas and my family loved it! making it again tonight and using ham steaks-thanks!

    1. I’m so glad your family liked it, Dawn. Thanks for letting me know!

  3. Great recipe. I substituted rice and broccoli for the potatoes and it turned out great!

  4. My Daughter-In-Law (like my own daughter) found this recipe and made it one evening as I could not be home to make my usual recipe, let me tell you…I have never tasted such a wonderful ham, onion, potato and cheese casserole in my life…the flavor is absolutely wonderful, needless to say, my OLD recipe went by the way side, we searched and searched to find this recipe again…prayers are answered! :)

  5. I just made this today and it’s all I can do to stop my husband from eating the whole thing. Talk about a great way to use up leftover ham! Thank you so much!!

    1. Caitlin – yes, this is a great recipe for leftovers! Kids really love it, too.

  6. I discovered today that this is a great recipe for using the rest of the holiday ham. The kids love it!

    Thanks,

    Uncle J

    1. So glad! That’s a really good one for kids. Cheese, potatoes, ham…what’s not to like?

  7. Dear Neverenoughtthyme, where are the kids who offer to shovel your driveway for 5 dollars when you need them? Your cheesy ham and potato bake are an amazing idea!!!! “Wild Thing”, you make my heart sing! Loved and saved this recipe. I shall revisit you soon. Thank you for sharing.
    Cheers, Gaby

  8. I’ll be right behind Kay!!!

  9. This looks so very good. I was planning on starting a diet next week. But…I think I have to make this first!

  10. Looks good especially for a cold day. Where are the daily pictures? I miss them.

  11. jenn (Bread + Butter) says:

    Ham, potatoe and cheese. What’s not to love? Seriously.

  12. I’ll be right over! :)