Leftover Ham Casserole

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Leftover Ham Casserole with noodles, ham, corn, creamy garlic sauce and crunchy panko topping, no cream of soup. Easy comfort food dinner for busy days!

If you have leftover holiday ham, this easy dish is the perfect way to use it. We also love the Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup.

This is my go-to easy dinner to make with leftover ham. My whole family enjoys it! It’s an easy and delicious comfort food meal you can make with ham or chicken. Serve it with a simple salad or roasted veggies. The creamy cheesy garlic sauce is made from scratch in just 10 minutes. No cream of soup or condensed soup needed! The crunchy topping made with melted butter and panko breadcrumbs is the perfect finishing touch for this creamy pasta dish.

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped ham
• wide egg noodles
• butter
• garlic
• half and half or whole milk
• cornstarch
• Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper
• shredded cheddar cheese
• shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 can whole kernel corn
• panko breadcrumbs or crushed Ritz crackers

How to make Ham Casserole?

Step 1: Make the sauce

• Saute garlic in melted butter.
• Add seasoning and saute for 1 minute, or until fragrant.
• Add cornstarch mixed with half and half. Stir well.
• Simmer until the sauce thickens.
• Add cheese and stir until melted.

Step 2: Noodles

• Cook noodles in salted water. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Combine ham, corn and noodles with sauce.

Step 3: Bake

• Spread the noodle mixture in a casserole dish.
• Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle over the top.

What to serve with it?

I like to serve it with a simple salad, like my Perfect Caesar Salad, Sauteed Spinach or Easy Broccoli Salad. My kids also love it with roasted carrots or broccoli.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the dish and store it in the fridge overnight and bake the next day. You can make the sauce a day ahead and assemble the dish before baking.

Can I freeze this dish?

Yes, this ham casserole can be easily frozen. Assemble the dish and do not add the panko topping. Cool it completely and wrap it with plastic wrap. Place in a freezer-safe dish and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge, then bring to room temperature before baking.

Expert tips

• use bite-size pasta: you can use wide egg noodles, penne, bow tie or macaroni.
• make the sauce ahead of time to save on prep OR use store-bought Alfredo sauce (roasted garlic kind, if possible)
• protein: you can use any cooked meat you like: ham, shredded or cubed chicken, bacon OR skip it and add white beans

More easy casseroles:

• Beef Noodle Casserole
• Tater Tot Casserole
• Instant Pot Chili Mac
• Sweet Corn Casserole
• Turkey Tetrazzini

If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

5 from 7 votes

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Leftover Ham Casserole

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

Leftover Ham Casserole with noodles, ham, corn, creamy garlic sauce and crunchy panko topping. Easy comfort food dinner for busy days!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: ham casserole

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 771 kcal

Author: Anna

Ingredients

for the sauce:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 3/4 cup half and half
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

for the casserole:

• 4 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
• 15 oz can whole kernel corn drained and rinsed
• 2 cups chopped leftover ham

for the topping:

• 2 tablespoons butter melted
• 1/4 cup panko breading or crushed Ritz crackers

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to instructions on the packaging. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
3. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
4. Add garlic and stir. Saute for 3 minutes, or until very fragrant.
5. Add seasoning and stir in. Saute for 1 minute.
6. Mix cornstarch with half and half. Slowly, pour it over garlic, stirring constantly.
7. Simmer until the sauce thickens. Add cheese and stir until melted. Set aside.
8. Butter a 9"x7" casserole dish.
9. Combine noodles, ham, corn and the sauce and spread the mixture in a prepared baking dish.
10. Combine melted butter and Panko breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over the noodle casserole.
11. Bake casserole in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until it bubbles on the edges and the topping is toasty and golden.
12. Remove from oven and cool before serving.

Recipe Notes

1. Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
2. You can use chopped cooked chicken in place of ham. 
3. Make it vegetarian and add 2 cups of cooked white beans.
4. Use Ritz crackers instead of panko breading, or use more cheese and skip the crunchy topping.

Nutrition Facts

Leftover Ham Casserole

Amount Per Serving

Calories 771 Calories from Fat 414

% Daily Value*

Fat 46g71%

Saturated Fat 24g150%

Cholesterol 168mg56%

Sodium 1490mg65%

Potassium 586mg17%

Carbohydrates 52g17%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 971IU19%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 444mg44%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.