Ham and Potato Casserole

By Becky Hardin

Updated Sep 22, 2025

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When I need to use leftover ham, this Ham and Potato Casserole recipe is cheesy, creamy, and super delicious! I make this dish throughout the year, from weeknight dinners to holiday feasts, or even for a hearty breakfast. My kids gobble this up every time it hits the table.

Easy Ham and Potato Casserole Recipe

I can’t think of a better recipe than this casserole that repurposes leftovers into a meal that everyone will love. Leftover ham and potatoes are smothered in a bechamel sauce and then covered in a layer of melted cheese for a hearty and comforting casserole that disappears in minutes. I love it when a recipe helps me reuse leftovers, so less food goes to waste. If you don’t have leftover ham, you can easily pick up a precooked ham or make your own.

Creamy, cheesy, and a cinch to pull together, this recipe can easily be customized based on what I’ve got in the fridge. Sometimes I mix in chili powder and/or red pepper flakes to give it a kick, or I’ll sprinkle pepper jack cheese on top. I’ve even mixed in green chiles to really spice things up.

The kids love it when I mix in bacon crumbles, sliced jalapeños, broccoli bits, and peppers. Topped with a dollop of sour cream on top, it’s absolutely delish!

Recipe Card

Ham and Potato Casserole Recipe

4.60 from 279 votes

Prep: 30 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Author: Becky Hardin

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This cheesy, creamy casserole is so versatile! Filled with ham and potatoes, you can serve it for breakfast or dinner.

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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Equipment

• 9×13 Baking Pan

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 tbsp unsalted butter (¼ stick)
• ▢ 1 yellow onion finely diced
• ▢ 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1¼ cups whole milk or half-and-half
• ▢ ½ cup chicken stock or chicken broth
• ▢ ½ tsp fine sea salt
• ▢ ½ tsp ground black pepper
• ▢ ½ tsp garlic powder
• ▢ 2 lbs. russet potatoes peeled and diced small
• ▢ 2½ cups diced cooked ham precooked chicken or turkey also works
• ▢ 4 oz. freshly shredded white cheddar cheese (about 1 cup)

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan melt the butter. Add the diced onion and cook over medium heat until translucent.
  2 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 yellow onion
• Sprinkle the flour over the cooked onion and stir to combine. Add in the milk, chicken stock, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Continue to heat, stirring often, until warmed through and slightly thickened.
  3 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1¼ cups whole milk, ½ cup chicken stock, ½ tsp fine sea salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder
• Spread the potatoes evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish and top with the diced ham. Pour the milk mixture over the ham and potatoes.
  2 lbs. russet potatoes, 2½ cups diced cooked ham
• Cover and bake for 40-45 minutes.
• Remove from oven and top with shredded cheese. Continue to bake, uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and potatoes are tender.
  4 oz. freshly shredded white cheddar cheese

Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 15gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 689mgPotassium: 684mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 294IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 170mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Ham and Potato Casserole Step-by-Step

Gather your ingredients and prepare a baking dish: Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Use butter or nonstick spray and then set the dish aside.

Sauté the onions: Melt 2 tbsp of butter in a medium saucepan and cook one onion over medium heat until it’s translucent.

Make the sauce: Sprinkle 3 tbsp of all-purpose flour over the cooked onion and stir to combine. Pour in 1¼ cups of whole milk, ½ cup of chicken stock, ½ tsp of fine sea salt, ½ tsp of ground black pepper, and ½ tsp of garlic powder. Stir often over medium heat, until warmed through and slightly thickened.

Assemble and bake: Spread 2 lbs. of peeled and diced russet potatoes evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish and top with 2½ cups of diced ham. Pour the milk mixture over the ham and potatoes. Cover and bake for 40-45 minutes.

Melt the cheese: Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 4 oz. of shredded white cheddar cheese. Continue baking, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and the potatoes are tender.

Serve: Serve the casserole warm and enjoy.

How to Store

To prepare ahead of time, I follow the recipe through step 4, then cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, I let the casserole warm up to room temperature while the oven preheats, then proceed with the recipe as written from step 5. I sometimes need to add a few extra minutes to the final bake time if the casserole is still cold when it goes into the oven.

Store leftover ham and potato casserole in an airtight container, or cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap. Keep in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

To reheat any leftovers, place an individual portion in a microwave-safe dish. Heat on 50% power for 1-2 minutes at a time until heated through. Stir well at least once during heating.

To reheat a larger portion, warm the casserole in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until warmed through.

Let the casserole cool to room temperature, then cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil. You can also scoop it into a freezer-safe bag. Freeze up to 3 months, then thaw in the fridge before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

This dish can be served as a simple dinner, a side dish, or even for breakfast or brunch. It’s truly one of the most versatile recipes. For dinner, I usually add dinner rolls or cornbread. As a side dish, I’ll serve anything from air-fried chicken to breaded pork chops. And, for breakfast, I like to cook up some oven-baked bacon, a batch of home fries, or eggs in any style.

More Casserole Recipes to try!

Chicken Noodle Casserole

Sausage and Potato Casserole

Hamburger Casserole Recipe

Mac and Cheese Casserole