You can’t go wrong with hearty casserole recipes, whether it’s pizza casserole, million dollar spaghetti casserole, king ranch chicken, 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!
Ham Casserole Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need egg noodles, butter, flour, garlic, milk, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, ham, broccoli, salt, black pepper and parsley.
How Do You Make Ham Casserole?
Preheat the oven, then coat a baking dish with cooking spray. Melt the butter in a pan or large skillet, then add the garlic and flour. Pour in the milk and cream, then bring everything to a simmer, whisking the whole time. Once the sauce starts to get thick, add parmesan and cheddar cheese, along with salt and pepper to taste. Place the noodles, ham and broccoli in a large bowl. Pour the cheese sauce into the bowl, and stir to combine. Transfer the noodle mixture to the prepared casserole dish, then top with more cheese. Bake until the casserole is bubbly and cheese is melted. Add a little fresh parsley on top, then serve 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.
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. Looking for more ways to use your holiday ham? Check out my comprehensive list of leftover ham recipes!
Ham Casserole Video
