Ham Casserole with Broccoli and Rice
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!
Be sure to try my Pineapple Fried Rice and my Chicken and Wild Rice Soup recipes next!
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!
Try These Next
- Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
- Chicken in White Wine Sauce
- White Chicken Chili
- Split Pea Soup
- Fried Rice Balls
- Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
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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.
Love this recipe ty soooo much!
Thanks Katie so glad you loved it!!!😀😀😀 Thanks for the review!!!
Will this recipe still be really good with out the topping? I Don’t have ritz crackers.
Hey Steph! Absolutely, you will LOVE it without the Ritz! (But sometime you’ll have to try it with some, haha!)
Great taste! Will become a regular dish.
That’s great Pam! So happy you enjoyed it! I buy ham steaks all the time just to make this! ❤️
Love this recipe, the flavor is delicious! I’ve made it twice now, and making again tonight! I’m cooking for one, so I buy the ham steaks just to make this casserole. It freezes well, although half the pan is gone after one day! Thanks for a great and easy recipe.
Hi Paula! I’m so happy that you enjoy this recipe! I absolutely love it too, it freezes SO well yes! But I have the same problem, it’s usually mostly gone by the time we are ready to freeze it! 🙂 So happy you enjoy it, thank you so much for the review!
Can I freeze leftovers?
Leftovers freeze wonderfully!
I totally missed the note about trying to pre-cook the ham with the onions to help get some of the water out. Oops!! Good tip!! Everyone at our house either ate two servings or loved it. 😀 I’d say that’s a win. The ingredients I had though made it a little too salty. Next time I’ll get low sodium cream of chicken soup and try to pre-cook the ham or something so that I can get some of the salt out! Thanks for this!
Hey Kim! I’m so happy that you enjoyed this recipe! Yes, ham is so salty so low sodium ingredients are helpful, but I am SO happy that you and your family enjoyed the recipe- I really appreciate you taking the time to come back and leave a comment/rating! You’re the best. Take care and enjoy the long weekend ahead! -Stephanie
This looks delicious! Can I substitute yellow cheese with sharp white cheese? Have you tried it with white cheese?
Hey Amie! Yellow Cheese is FABULOUS with this and so is white, I think I’ve had this with every kind of cheese in the book and I love it every time! 🙂
Made this for dinner today and it was amazing. I added nothing extra but cheese. My picky girls loved it too. Will be making again for sure.
Hey Tisha! I’m always an advocate for adding extra cheese! I am so happy that you enjoyed it, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment and a review! You are the best! -Stephanie 🥰
Only have frozen broccoli. How many cups would you use?
Hi Tina! You can use two cups of frozen broccoli, make sure you let it thaw and pat it dry. They’re already blanched so no need to steam them. Enjoy!
Great recipe for leftover ham. I already had a lot of leftover rice too, so I was able to skip that step. I steamed the broccoli with the onions. My family really loved it and the Ritz cracker topping was surprisingly delicious.
Hey Barbara! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it and were able to make good use out of leftover ham AND rice! Thanks so so much for taking the time to leave a rating and a comment!