This cheese and ham pie is a delicious way to use leftover ham from the holidays. You can make it ahead of time, and it still tastes wonderful.
Want more savory pie recipe options? Try our mouthwatering Ham and Cabbage Pie and Corned Beef Pie.
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Ingredients
You don't need a ton of ingredients to make this cheesy ham and potato pie! You can make your own cheese pastry like I did or use store bought. Let's talk about the key ingredients in the filling.
- Potatoes: Leave the skins on for extra nutrition or peel them if desired. Cut them in thin slices so you can layer them in the pie.
- Ham: Use sliced ham for the best presentation. It will also help the slices hold together better when cut.
- Cheese Sauce: I use a homemade cheese sauce made milk and cheese thickened with a butter and flour roux.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make
- To make the cheese pastry, pour the flour into a bowl and add the butter, lard, and salt. Pinch the fats and flour together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
- Gradually add 2-3 tablespoons of cold water and mix with your hand until a dough forms. Make sure all the flour is picked up from the bottom of the bowl. Knead the pastry a couple times until smooth. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour before using.
3. Peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Place in a medium pot, cover with cold water, and boil until fork tender, about 3-5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
4. Slice the scallion and mince the garlic. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a small frying pan until bubbly, then cook the scallions until soft. Add the garlic and cook for a minute more.
5. Next, make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan until bubbly. Add in the flour and whisk constantly until the roux has turned a light brown and smells toasty.
6. Whisk in a little of the milk, then add the rest and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the cheese and spices until well combined. Keep the sauce on low heat until needed, stirring occasionally.
7. Line a 9-inch, deep dish pie plate with some of the cheese pastry. Layer half of the cooked potatoes in the dish. Top with half of the ham and all of the scallion/garlic mixture.
8. Spread the cheese sauce on top. Brush the edge of the pastry, then top with the remaining pastry and press down the edges to seal. Crimp the edges as desired, then brush the pastry with beaten egg. Decorate with scraps of pastry and cut a few vent holes.
9. Bake at 400°F for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown. Let it cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
10. Enjoy while it's warm!
Recipe FAQs
Any kind will work here, but I chose a flaky cheese pastry. Feel free to use shortcrust or puff pastry if you prefer.
Store
Can you make ham pie ahead of time?
Yes, you can. Cover the cooled dish tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave.
Can you freeze it?
Yes, you can freeze it. Chill it until cold, then slice and place in freezer bags or airtight containers and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or the oven.
Expert Tips
- Chill the pastry while you prepare the filling. Cold pastry is easier to work with and is more flaky.
- Measure out the cheese sauce ingredients before you make it. The roux can burn if you stop stirring to measure ingredients.
- Gently press down the layers to help them fit into the plate.
- Bake the pie on top of a preheated cookie sheet to help the bottom pastry cook properly.
- Make this up to a week before. Store covered in the fridge until needed.
Other Savory Pies Recipes You'll Love
Recipe
Cheese and Ham Pie
Ingredients
For the Cheese Pastry
- 1 â…” cups all-purpose flour
- â…› teaspoon fine salt
- â…“ cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- â…“ cup lard
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated and lightly packed
- 2-3 tablespoons cold water
For the Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated and lightly packed
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Filling
- 2 ½ cups smoked ham, cut in bite-sized pieces
- 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (1.3 lb)
- ½ cup scallions, white and green part, sliced
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 large egg, for glazing
Instructions
Making the Pastry (10 minutes + 1 hour chilling)
- Grate the cheddar cheese and set aside.
- Pour the flour and salt into a medium mixing bowl. Add the butter and lard and rub in the fats until the mixture resembles large breadcrumbs.
- Mix in the grated cheese and add 2 tablespoons of cold water. Stir the mixture with your hand until it comes together as a dough. If the mixture seems dry, gradually add more water a few drops at a time until all the flour is picked up and a smooth dough has formed.
- Turn the pastry onto a clean work surface that hasn't been floured and knead gently a few times to finish combining the ingredients.
- Shape the pastry into a flat disc and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Let the dough chill while you prepare the filling (about 1 hour).
Preparing the Ham, Potatoes, and Veggies (35 minutes)
- While the pastry is chilling, roughly chop the smoked ham into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Peel and thinly slice the potatoes, then put them in a medium pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and let the potatoes cook for 3-5 minutes, until fork tender. Immediately drain the potatoes and set aside.
- Slice the spring onion and mince the garlic. Melt the butter in a small frying pan over medium heat until bubbling, then add the onion. Fry until the onion has softened some, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Spoon the mixture into a small bowl and set aside.
Making the Cheese Sauce (15 minutes)
- Measure out the butter, flour, and milk, and grate the cheese for the sauce before starting.
- Melt the butter until bubbling in a 2-quart saucepan set over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly until the roux has turned light brown and smells toasty. Pour in a little of the milk and whisk until combined, then whisk in the remaining milk.
- Stir the sauce constantly over medium heat until it has thickened considerably. If the sauce is extremely thick, add more milk to thin it a little.
- Whisk in the grated cheese until it has fully melted and is well mixed in to the sauce. Add the white pepper, salt, and smoked paprika and stir to combine.
- Keep the sauce on low heat until needed, stirring occasionally to break the skin that will form on the surface.
Assembling the Pie (25 minutes + 35 minutes baking + cooling)
- Preheat the oven to 400 F and put a large rimmed cookie sheet in the oven to preheat.
- Roll out the chilled pastry on a lightly floured surface to a little less than ⅛ inch thick (about 3mm). Use it to line a 9-inch, deep dish pie plate, then trim off the excess with a sharp knife.
- Spread half of the sliced potatoes in the dish, then top it with half of the ham and all of the scallion/garlic mixture. Spread all of the cheese sauce evenly over top, then layer the remaining ham and potatoes on top.
- Beat the egg in a small bowl until blended, then brush the edge of the dish with the egg. Re-roll the remaining pastry and use it to cover the filling. Gently press down along the edges to seal the pastry together, then trim off the excess with a sharp knife. Pinch the edges to decoratively crimp the pastry.
- Cut out a few small leaves as decorations and use the knife to draw veins on each leaf. Brush the top with beaten egg and stick on the leaves as desired, then paint more egg on each leaf. Cut a few vent holes in the top.
- Bake on the preheated cookie sheet at 400 F for 35-40 minutes, until well browned. Let it cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Chill the pastry while you prepare the filling. Cold pastry is easier to work with and is more flaky.
- Measure out the cheese sauce ingredients before you make it. The roux can burn if you stop stirring to measure ingredients.
- Gently press down the layers to help them fit into the plate.
- Bake the pie on top of a preheated cookie sheet to help the bottom pastry cook properly.
- Make this up to a week before. Store covered in the fridge until needed.
Nutrition
Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.
This post was originally published on January 4, 2018.
Pamnela
This recipe is delicious. A great way to utilize leftover ham, but in my case - - since I live alone and only cook a ham when I have company, I used a ham steak. I did take a shortcut (by using a refrigerated crust), but enjoyed it so much, I will try it again and make the cheese pastry. Great job, ladies! Next savory pie I would like to try is Tourtiere. Sounds yummy!
Emma
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the cheese pastry and the tourtiere!