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Looking for a recipe to use up leftover ham? Our hash brown casserole with ham is just what you need.
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Ingredients
This version has no "cream of" soup or sour cream. These two ingredients have been replaced with a homemade cheesy white sauce.
- Hash browns: Southern style, not shredded
- Ham: cubed from leftovers or a hickory smoked ham steak
- Shredded cheese: white sharp cheddar and Parmesan
- Vegetables: red onion, green pepper, corn
- Spices: salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, parsley
- Homemade white sauce: butter, flour, whole milk
Questions
What are some common substitutes for ham and potato casserole?
- Cheese: extra sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gouda, Swiss
- Veggies: peas, carrots, broccoli, sweet bell peppers
- Meat: shredded chicken, bacon, turkey leftovers
- Vegetarian: omit the meat and add mushrooms
How can I tell if the cheese sauce is done?
- It will have no lumps, due to gradually adding the milk while whisking.
- It will start to thicken after stirring for 10 minutes.
- It will coat the back of a spoon.
Can I make this recipe ahead?
Yes, you most certainly can. Assemble the casserole, cover, then place in the fridge. For best results, bake it just before serving for 30 minutes at 350 F or 20 minutes at 400 F.
What are the calories for one serving?
For one serving of 1 ¼ cups, there are 617 calories with 36.6g of carbs. This recipe is also high in vitamin A, C, and calcium. For more nutritional information, scroll to the bottom of the recipe card.
How long is this good for?
- Serve: This dish will keep at room temperature for up to two hours. After this time, cover and place in the fridge.
- Store: Any leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, as long as it is in an airtight container.
- Freeze: If you can't eat all your leftovers, place it in a freezer friendly container and freeze for up to one month.
Serve
To balance out your dinner, serve this recipe with the following suggestions. All of these recipes can be found in our recipe index.
- Salad: layered, bell pepper, carrot
- Bread: rosemary, mountain, or cob loaf
- Vegetables: green beans, sauteed kale, beet greens
How to Make
First, gather all the ingredients. Cube the ham, grate the cheese, chop the onion, green pepper, and parsley.
Saute the red onion and green bell pepper until soft in a skillet.
Mix with the hash browns and corn.
Melt the butter and add the flour one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Cook the flour for 3 minutes, whisking constantly.
At moderate heat, gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to achieve a smooth sauce. Keep whisking until the sauce thickens, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and gradually add the cheese while stirring so it melts well.
Whisk until the sauce is smooth and all the cheese has melted, then add the salt and pepper.
Pour over the potatoes, corn, onions, peppers, and spices.
Gently stir to combine with a large spoon.
Fold in the diced ham.
Pour into a buttered casserole dish. If you want to make it ahead, you'll cover the dish and put it in the fridge at this step.
When ready to serve, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and smoked paprika. Cook for 30 minutes at 350 F or 20 minutes at 400 F if you're in a hurry.
The casserole should be well browned when it's done.
Let it stand for a few minutes, then serve.
Variations
- Want this spicy? Sprinkle cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes on top.
- Want a different onion? Use yellow, scallions, or green.
- Don't have hash browns? Use peeled, diced cooked potatoes.
Pro Tips
- Whole milk works better than 2% for the sauce.
- Use freshly grated cheese, not pre-grated.
- Add an extra tablespoon of flour to the roux for a thicker sauce.
- As the potatoes bake, they will absorb some of the sauce.
- Allow to set for a few minutes before serving.
- Cooking for a crowd? It's easy to double.
Recommended Tools
- Saucepan: this heavy-bottomed pot doesn't burn food too easily.
- Wooden Turner: this sturdy spoon makes it easy to stir cooked veggies.
- Whisks: this set of 3 stainless steel whisks in different sizes is one of our favorite tools.
- Casserole Dish: this oval glass dish is the perfect size for this recipe and many others.
Craving more ham recipes for your collection?
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PrintRecipe
Hash Brown Casserole with Ham
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 cups 1x
Description
Hash brown casserole with ham is an easy recipe to make ahead for breakfast or busy weeknight dinners. It's made with a homemade cheese sauce, so no canned soup is needed. Your whole family will love this cheesy ham and corn casserole so much that they'll be asking for seconds!
Ingredients
- 32-ounce bag of Southern style hash browns, thawed
- 4 cups hickory smoked ham, cubed (580g)
- 1 ½ cups frozen kernel corn (150g)
- ¼ cup salted butter
- 1 cup green pepper, chopped (100g)
- 1 cup red onion, chopped (100g)
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour (45g)
- 3 cups whole milk (710 ml)
- 3 cups white sharp cheddar cheese, grated (621g)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (45g)
- sprinkle of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (4g)
Instructions
Making the Potato Mixture
- Melt one tablespoon of butter over medium high heat, then saute the green peppers for a few minutes. Add the onion and cook until soft.
- Gently stir together the potatoes, peppers, onion, and corn in a large bowl until combined.
Making the Cheese Sauce
- Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then add the flour 1 tablespoon at a time. Cook for 3 minutes, whisking constantly.
- Gradually add the milk, constantly whisking until the sauce is smooth, then add the salt and black pepper. Cook until it thickens, stirring occasionally for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in 3 cups of sharp cheddar cheese a little at a time until it's all melted. Remove the sauce from the heat and mix it into the potato mixture. Add the cubed ham and adjust seasonings to taste.
Assembling the Casserole
- Pour the cheesy potato mixture into a large, buttered casserole dish. Top with 1 cup of Parmesan and smoked paprika or cayenne pepper.
- Bake in a 350 F oven for 55 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is browned. Allow to set for a few minutes, then serve warm garnished with fresh parsley, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a few cracks of black pepper.
Notes
- This casserole freezes well. Thaw it out overnight in the fridge, then reheat it in the oven at 300 F for 30 minutes. Garnish with a fresh sprinkle of cheese and paprika on top.
- Speed up the prep time by using Southern style hash browns instead of cubed potatoes.
- For a better tasting sauce, use whole milk instead of 2%.
- For a smooth sauce, use freshly grated cheese, not pre-grated.
- Remember some of the sauce will be absorbed into the hash browns or cubed potatoes.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: recipes, leftover
This recipe was originally published on October 20, 2017 and was updated on November 30, 2018.
Alex
The ham is chewy, and the smoked paprika adds a hint of delicious flavor. The potatoes are soft, and the corn has a unique flavor. YUM!
★★★★★
Emma
Thank you, Alex!
Beth
The potatoes are like jewels! This cheesy casserole is filled with succulent cubes of ham and the divine taste of potatoes and corn. The best casserole ever!!!
★★★★★
Emma
Thank you, Beth! Ham and potatoes are always a great combo. 🍖🥔