Ham and Cheesy Potato Casserole

Do you have ham in your freezer leftover from Thanksgiving Dinner or Easter brunch. It’s time to put it to good use in this cheesy potato casserole. This is a fantastic way to use up some leftovers and it’s so easy to make!

It’s great as a breakfast potato casserole all by itself or serve it with eggs. Best of all it’s a do ahead dish that can be thrown together the night before. There’s nothing like cheesy potatoes. Don’t have ham, then try a sausage casserole or make a breakfast casserole with hash browns instead.

While this has an amazing cheese sauce, it’s not as rich as creamy scalloped potatoes or crispy au gratin potatoes which makes it a great choice for breakfast.

Don’t have leftover ham, you can use a ham steak that’s pre-cooked or deli ham. A ham breakfast casserole only has a few ingredients and most of them you probably have on hand so, it’s one, two, three and you’re ready to go!

I spent an entire weekend perfecting this recipe and honestly Mike is really sick of it but, when I got to the final version, he said, “ Barbara, this is really delicious!” You’ll get that response from your family too!

This has become one of our favorite hearty breakfast recipes to make for holiday brunches when you don’t feel like an egg based breakfast casserole. It will go with almost anything that’s being served.

Reasons you’ll love a breakfast casserole

• Great way to use up leftover ham
• It’s an easy recipe with just a few ingredients
• No canned soup, just the real stuff
• Creamy sauce
• Great for brunch or as a main course
• You can make it ahead of time

What type of potatoes should you use for a potato casserole recipe

Russet potatoes work the best in this type of casserole. They have a high starch content which means they will hold their shape and not get mushy while baking. You can use other types, but the texture will be different, still delicious though.

Russets are also the potato of choice for baked mashed potato casserole, hamburger potato casserole and for au gratin potatoes for the same reason, you want the texture a russet will provide to your casserole.

Can I make this casserole ahead of time

This is a great recipe to prepare the night before. Since the potatoes are covered in a cream sauce they won’t turn brown. Just let it warm to room temperature and bake and you have breakfast without any fuss.

This recipe for cheesy potato casserole is so easy and handy to make! You can always make it ahead of time for company and serve it with berries and flaky sour cream biscuits, or as a quick weeknight meal, alone or with a fruit salad. Because it’s made of things that you usually have on hand and can be customized with different cheeses if necessary, it’s my new go to for a quick, and filling dish.

Ready? 1, 2, 3. . . Let’s go!

Simple Ingredients for a potato casserole with ham

Cooked ham – you’ll need about 1 ½ cups diced ham. If you don’t have any left over, then use ham steaks or have them cut it at the deli. A honey baked ham works great in this dish.

Russet potatoes – 2 medium potatoes (yes the plain old kind!), peeled and diced.

Onion– I prefer a sweet vidalia onion for a milder flavor in this breakfast casserole.

Colby cheese – I like the mild flavor of this cheese but you can substitute sharp cheddar cheese instead.

Pantry staples – milk, butter, flour, salt and black pepper

Pro tip: If you are making this in advance and don’t want the potatoes to turn brown, place them in a bowl of cold water until you’re ready to assemble! Just dry them off before placing them in the casserole.

Putting together a ham and potato casserole

Step 1: chop

Peel and dice the potatoes and cut the ham into similar sized cubes. Combine the ham and potatoes in a large bowl.

Step 2: make the sauce

Saute onions in some butter in a skillet, once softened add flour and whisk together then gradually add milk whisking until it has slightly thickened. It should be pourable, if not add more milk. Salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3: make it cheesy

Add a cup of cheese to the sauce and stir until melted. Pour over the ham and potatoes. Stir until coated and place a casserole dish. (you can cover the entire casserole in plastic wrap at this point and keep it refrigerated overnight and serve the next day)

Step 4: bake

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and the sauce is bubbly. Remove and add additional cheese. Place under the broiler for 2 minutes until the cheese melts and starts to brown.

Serve it with berries on the side or buttermilk biscuits and homemade strawberry jam. A spinach salad would be a nice addition if serving for brunch or dinner.

Ham and Cheesy Potato Casserole FAQ’s

How long will a potato casserole last in the refrigerator?

Put it in an airtight container and it should be fine for 3-5 days, if it lasts that long! Or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

How do I reheat a cheesy casserole?

You can microwave it or I prefer putting it in a 350º oven until warm. About 10 minutes.

Can you use deli ham for a cheesy ham and potato casserole?

You can use any type of cooked ham for this potato casserole. If using ham from the deli, ask them to cut it into ½ inch cubes rather than slices.

Can I use turkey or chicken in this recipe?

You can substitute turkey or chicken for the ham, just make sure it is fully cooked.

Try these potato casseroles too!

Hamburger and Potato Casserole

Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes

Oven Baked Pork Chops and Potato Casserole

Crispy Potatoes Au Gratin with Gruyere

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag and tagging me @butterandbaggage.

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