This cheesy ham casserole is made with cooked ham, broccoli, rice, and a creamy sauce with the perfect flavor. Then topped with cheese and a buttery cracker topping. This is the perfect meal to use up leftover ham for a hearty family dinner.
Ham Casserole Ingredients
- Cooked Ham
- Chicken Broth
- Yellow Onion
- Butter
- White Long Grain Rice
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Sour Cream
- Milk
- Colby Jack Cheese
- Ritz Crackers
- Italian Seasoning
- Black Pepper
How To Make Ham Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then prepare a 9 × 13 baking dish by coating it with a non-stick cooking spray. Then set aside.
- In a large pot over medium-high heat melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Then add garlic and saute for 1 minute.
- Add diced yellow onions and saute for 5 minutes or until they are translucent and soft.
- Leave garlic and onions in the pot. Then add chicken broth, 1 tbsp unsalted butter, and rice to the large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for an additional 8 minutes.
- Next, add broccoli to the top of the rice and add the lid back on the pot. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove lid and make sure the broccoli is tender with a fork. Then, add cooked diced ham, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, black pepper, and 1 1/4 cups of shredded Colby Jack cheese. Stir until ingredients are well combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly. Cover the top with the remaining cheese and cover with foil.
- Bake covered for 10 minutes.
- While the casserole is baking prepare the Ritz cracker topping. Add 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers to a seal-able bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Then, melt 2 tbsp of butter. In a medium bowl add crushed Ritz crackers, melted butter, and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.
- After the casserole has baked for 10 minutes. Remove it from the oven and remove foil. Evenly spread Ritz cracker topping over the top and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole cool down for 5 minutes. This will allow the sauce to thicken. Then serve and enjoy!
Make Ahead and Storage
You can make this recipe up to 24 hours ahead of time. Follow all the steps up to baking. Let the casserole cool to room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate. You will want to make the topping the day you bake the casserole so that the butter topping does not become soggy. When you are ready to bake the ham and cheese casserole. Pull it out of the refrigerator and let it set at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then follow all the steps on how to bake and make topping. Once baked, any leftovers should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator and be used within 3 days.
Can You Freeze Ham Casserole with Broccoli and Rice?
Yes, this makes a great freezer meal. Follow all the instructions up to baking (leave off the cracker layer until you are ready to bake the casserole). Then allow the ham casserole to cool to room temperature. Wrap in a layer of foil and add a second layer of plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn. It will stay good in the freezer for up to two months. When you are ready to cook the casserole, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then allow it to sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes. Follow the for the cracker topping and bake as directed.
Ham Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked ham (diced into ½ cubes)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ¾ cup yellow onion (diced)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter (divided 1 tbsp and 2 tbsp)
- 1½ cups white long grain rice (uncooked)
- 2½ cups frozen broccoli florets
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 10.75 oz cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup milk (any percentage)
- 2½ cups Colby Jack cheese (shredded and divided in half)
- 1 tbsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then prepare a 9 × 13 baking dish by coating it with a non-stick cooking spray. Then set aside.
- In a large pot over medium-high heat melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Then add garlic and saute for 1 minute.
- Add diced yellow onions and saute for 5 minutes or until they are translucent and soft.
- Leave garlic and onions in the pot. Then add chicken broth, 1 tbsp unsalted butter, and rice to the large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for an additional 8 minutes.
- Next, add broccoli to the top of the rice and add the lid back on the pot. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove lid and make sure the broccoli is tender with a fork. Then, add cooked diced ham, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, black pepper, and 1 1/4 cups of shredded Colby Jack cheese. Stir until ingredients are well combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly. Cover the top with the remaining cheese and cover with foil.
- Bake covered for 10 minutes.
- While the casserole is baking prepare the Ritz cracker topping. Add 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers to a seal-able bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Then, melt 2 tbsp of butter. In a medium bowl add crushed Ritz crackers, melted butter, and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.
- After the casserole has baked for 10 minutes. Remove it from the oven and remove foil. Evenly spread Ritz cracker topping over the top and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole cool down for 5 minutes. This will allow the sauce to thicken. Then serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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