This Ham Casserole is is loaded with delicious bites of broccoli and super creamy rice! It’s a great recipe to make with leftover ham and it’s make-ahead and freezer friendly!
Ham Casserole
I can’t get enough of this incredible Ham Casserole recipe, it’s one of my favorite ways to make use of leftover ham while also switching up our normal dinner routine. I love using a variety of different vegetables here too! Bonus: This makes the best make-ahead recipe and freezer food!
Make-Ahead Method
- Assemble as outlined but don’t add Ritz topping.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. (You can also freeze it and let it thaw for 24 hours prior to following the remaining steps below.)
- If possible, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Add an additional 25 minutes of covered baking time, until the cheese is melted and the dish is hot. Add Ritz topping and bake for 10-15 more minutes, uncovered.
Pro Tips
- Use white long grain rice, not Instant rice. It has a creamier consistency and better flavor.
- Using Brown or Wild Rice: Other varieties of rice may require more liquid or cooking time. Cook according to package instructions, using chicken broth instead of water for more flavor. Add broccoli during the last 7 minutes.
- Condensed Soup: Feel free to make this with my homemade Cream of Chicken Soup instead of a can. Cream of Mushroom can also be used!
- Crispy Fried Onion Tops make a delicious topping on this casserole instead of Ritz as well.
- Frozen Broccoli can be used instead of fresh. Let it thaw and pay it dry.
- Other vegetable options include diced carrots, celery, peas, and green beans.
- Cheese: Shred it from a block if possible, it will melt and taste much better than packaged shredded cheese. Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow Cheese melts very well.
- Other cheese options include cheddar jack, mozzarella, and smoked gouda. A combination of different kinds of these cheeses may also be used.
- For different variations, be sure to try my Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole, One Pot Sausage and Rice Casserole, and Ground Beef and Rice Casserole!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. This freezes and reheats very well, it’s one of my favorite freezer meals!
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Ham Casserole with Broccoli and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, low sodium
- 1 ¼ cup white long grain rice, uncooked
- 2 cups cooked ham, diced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 10.75 oz. cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- Salt/Pepper, optional
Ritz Cracker Topping
- 1 cup Ritz Crackers, crushed into crumbs
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Note: This recipe is designed to allow you to prepare all of the casserole ingredients in one pot before transferring to a casserole dish for baking. Before you begin, refer to your rice package for the amount of liquid (we'll use chicken broth) and cooking time. If preferred, cook the rice separately and skip the broth ingredient. You'll need 3 + 3/4 cups of cooked rice to combine with the other casserole ingredients. I use white long grain rice and the cooking times below work perfectly.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the diced onions and cook for 5 minutes, until softened.
- Add the chicken broth, olive oil, and rice to the pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Cover tightly and cook for 8 minutes.
- Add the broccoli, replace the cover, cook for 7 more minutes. Refrain from stirring.
- Note: If liquid remains in the pot and the rice isn't yet cooked through after 15 minutes, cover simmer for up to 5 additional minutes, or until cooked through.
- Remove from heat and leave the cover on. Let the rice sit for 10 minutes. Any rice on the bottom of the pot will release during this time.
- Add the diced ham, condensed soup, sour cream, milk, and half of the cheddar cheese. Stir until well-combined.
- Spread into a lightly greased 9 x 13 casserole dish.
- Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
- Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
- Combine the Ritz cracker crumbs and butter. Spread over the top of the casserole and bake, uncovered, for 10 additional minutes.
- Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes prior to serving.
Notes
- Use white long grain rice, not Instant rice. It has a creamier consistency and better flavor.
- Using Brown or Wild Rice: Other varieties of rice may require more liquid or cooking time. Cook according to package instructions, using chicken broth instead of water for more flavor. Add broccoli during the last 7 minutes.
- Condensed Soup: Feel free to make this with my homemade Cream of Chicken Soup instead of a can. Cream of Mushroom can also be used!
- Crispy Fried Onion Tops make a delicious topping on this casserole instead of Ritz as well.
- Frozen Broccoli can be used instead of fresh. Let it thaw and pay it dry.
- Other vegetable options include diced carrots, celery, peas, and green beans.
- Cheese: Shred it from a block if possible, it will melt and taste much better than packaged shredded cheese. Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow Cheese melts very well.
- Other cheese options include cheddar jack, mozzarella, and smoked gouda. A combination of different kinds of these cheeses may also be used.
- For different variations, be sure to try my Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole, One Pot Sausage and Rice Casserole, and Ground Beef and Rice Casserole!
Storage:
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. This freezes and reheats very well, it's one of my favorite freezer meals!
Make Ahead Method:
- Assemble as outlined but don't add Ritz topping.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. (You can also freeze it and let it thaw for 24 hours prior to following the remaining steps below.)
- If possible, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Add an additional 25 minutes of covered baking time, until the cheese is melted and the dish is hot. Add Ritz topping and bake for 10-15 more minutes, uncovered.
Delicious and very easy to make. My husband commented that this “fills the casserole shaped hole in his heart.” Will definitely be adding to my binder of favorite recipes!
That’s GREAT Crystal!! I’m so happy to hear that it was a hit with you and your husband! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie 💗
Was very good, everyone loved it.
I’m so happy that you loved the casserole Chris, thank you so much!!
This was really good. Everything just works in this recipe. Very tasty!
Wahoo! Thanks so much Tara 💗, I’m so happy you liked it! It’s one of my favorite recipes for leftover ham.
YUM! Our whole family loved it & it felt easy & stress free!
Next time I might try out the cream of broccoli soup that has been in my pantry and I don’t know what to use it in. I feel like it would work.
I didn’t have ritz so I used Panko! Also worked great.
I had no idea you can release rice from the bottom of the pot by letting it sit! I’m definitely going to use that hack in the future.
I’m so happy the whole family loved it Nicole! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
Very creamy. Will make again
I’m so happy you liked it Kathy! Thanks so much for the great review!💖
Love all your stuff! This one is my go to for comfort and my whole family loves it
Hey KG!! I am sooo happy to hear that! This is definitely one of my favorites too, I have a chicken version too, but I love using ham! Sometimes I’ll do ham and green beans instead of broccoli! 🙂
Can I double this recipe?
You can! I would bake it in 2 (9 x 13 inch) baking dishes.
Also just note that if you increase the serving size in the recipe card, the ingredient quantities in the ingredient list will change, but the written instructions will stay the same. So any measurements in the written instructions are based on 1 casserole.
I made this yesterday morning and we ate it last night , it was delicious! I put dried fried onion bits on top, very tasty.
I love it with fried onions too! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Sonia, thanks so much for the great review!💖
Is there a way we could convert this to a dump and bake? I’ve made it your way and it is tasty, just wonder if we could make it more “hands off”.
Hi Samantha, I haven’t tested it as a dump and go, rice can be tricky so I prefer to cook it “traditionally” in chicken broth, this way you can ensure it’s fully cooked through before mixing with other casserole ingredients 🙂
Made this recipe. It was easy and my family love it.
I’m so happy the family loved it Tracy, nice work! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖