🥓🥔 Ham and Potato Casserole (Creamy, Cheesy Comfort Bake)
A hearty oven-baked dish with tender potatoes, savory ham, and a rich creamy sauce topped with melted cheese.
🧾 Ingredients
- 4–5 medium potatoes (peeled and sliced thin)
- 2 cups cooked ham (diced or chopped)
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 2–3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar works best)
- 1½ cups milk or cooking cream
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour (for thick sauce)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust based on ham saltiness)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika (optional)
- 1 tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning (optional)
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Prep potatoes
- Slice potatoes thin so they cook evenly
- Optional: parboil for 5–7 minutes to speed up baking
2. Make creamy sauce
- Melt butter in a pan
- Add onion and garlic, sauté until soft
- Stir in flour and cook 1 minute
- Slowly whisk in milk/cream until smooth and slightly thick
- Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and herbs
3. Assemble casserole
In a greased baking dish:
- Layer sliced potatoes
- Add ham
- Pour some cream sauce
- Sprinkle cheese
- Repeat layers
Finish with potatoes + sauce + lots of cheese on top
4. Bake
- Cover with foil and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 40 minutes
- Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes until golden and bubbling
5. Rest & serve
- Let sit for 10 minutes before serving so it sets nicely
🔥 Tips for best casserole
- Use smoked ham for deeper flavor
- Slice potatoes evenly for consistent cooking
- Add a little mustard in sauce for extra richness
- Don’t skip resting time—helps it hold shape
🍽️ Serving ideas
- With green salad or coleslaw
- With garlic bread
- As a full one-dish meal
- Topped with hot sauce or mustard drizzle
If you want, I can also make a breakfast-style ham and egg casserole, a slow cooker version, or a low-carb cauliflower swap version.
