Ham Casserole

This ham casserole is egg noodles, broccoli and diced ham in a creamy sauce, all topped with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A comfort food classic that’s the perfect way to use up leftover ham!

You can’t go wrong with a hearty casserole, whether it’s chicken and broccoli casserole, taco casserole or this cheesy ham and noodle version. My kids always request this meal and I’m happy to oblige.

When the holidays roll around, I always make sure to purchase a ham that’s larger than what I actually need, so that I have plenty of leftovers. My favorite way to repurpose holiday ham is in an amazing ham casserole. You don’t even have to wait for a holiday ham to make this one, it’s great year round too!

How do you make ham casserole?

This recipe starts with a homemade cheese sauce, which is made in minutes with a little butter, flour, milk, cheddar cheese, and heavy cream. I typically make my sauce while I’m waiting for the noodles to cook. After the pasta and sauce are ready, toss them together with cubed ham and cooked broccoli florets, then pour everything into a baking dish. The finishing touch is a generous amount of shredded cheese. Bake your pasta dish until the cheese melts, then add a sprinkling of parsley and enjoy!

Tips for the perfect casserole

• Noodle casserole is a great way to use up holiday ham, but you can make this casserole year round by purchasing a ham steak and cutting that into cubes.
• You can assemble this dish up to 4 hours before you plan to eat. Cover the pan and refrigerate the casserole until you’re ready to bake it. You may need to add a little more bake time to compensate for starting with a cold casserole.
• I prefer to use the extra wide egg noodles, but standard egg noodles also work just fine.
• This casserole tastes best with freshly grated cheese. The pre-shredded cheese that comes in bags at the grocery store is often coated with anti caking agents and preservatives, and does not melt as well.
• Lightly steam or blanch your broccoli before you add it to the dish. Frozen broccoli will also work, just be sure to thaw and pat dry to remove any excess water.

Ham casserole flavor variations

This casserole is delicious as-is, but feel free to add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.

• Pasta: Instead of egg noodles, try a different variety of short pasta such as rigatoni, penne, farfalle or fusilli.
• Vegetables: Swap out the broccoli for a scoop of frozen mixed veggies, or use cooked asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini or bell peppers.
• Cheese: While ham and cheddar are a classic flavor combination, other great cheese options include mozzarella, Monterey Jack, fontina or swiss.
• Toppings: Add a sprinkle of buttered breadcrumbs, some cooked and crumbled bacon or a handful of french fried onions to the top of your casserole.

Ham casserole is a must make recipe – it’s the perfect hearty comfort food that’s easy to prepare and always gets rave reviews.

More casseroles to try

• Dorito Casserole
• Squash Casserole
• Pierogi Casserole
• Chicken Enchilada Casserole
• Chile Relleno Casserole

Ham Casserole Video