Cheesy Ham & Rice Casserole

This Cheesy Ham & Rice Casserole is an easy family friendly one dish recipe with cheddar, Parmesan and peas. It is the perfect to use up your leftover holiday ham!

Prep5 minutes

Cook1 hr 5 min

Total1 hr 10 min

Serves6

Published 23 Mar 2021

spoon scooping out ham and rice casserole out of pan

Easy Ham Casserole with Rice

If you are looking for an easy weeknight dinner, there isn’t anything much easier than tossing all your ingredients in a baking dish and popping it in the oven for an hour. That is exactly how easy this Cheesy Ham & Rice Casserole is!

ham casserole in white scalloped baking dish

Leftover Ham Casserole

Whether you have leftover roasted ham from the holidays or your pick up some chopped ham at the store to make this easy recipe, it is a must try.

I know when I am deciding how big of a ham to make for the holidays, I always err on the side of too much. Not only is it the worst to run out of food for your guests, but ham is such a versatile protein that is great for leftovers.

From cheesy ham & asparagus quiche for brunch the next day to quick bowl of ham & broccoli cheese soup, there are so many amazing leftover ham recipes to choose from. This Cheesy Ham & Rice Casserole is no exception!

cheesy ham and rice casserole ingredients in baking dish

ham and cheese casserole mixed in baking dish before baking

How to make Ham Casserole

My favorite part of this ham and rice casserole is how easy it is to make. Find a 3 quart baking dish, give it a quick spray with non-stick pan spray and add the following ingredients to the dish

1 cup long grain white rice (uncooked)

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups cubed ham

1/2 cup green onions or 1 Tbsp. onion flakes

1 Tablespoon dried parsley

2 cups milk

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

cheesy ham casserole with spoon scooping out ingredients

Can I use a different vegetable?

This recipe calls for frozen peas, but frozen asparagus and broccoli would both be great alternatives. I would stick to frozen vegetables though, because with the long bake time, fresh vegetables will overcook.

Fresh spinach would be another great option if your family likes spinach. Chop up a couple cups of baby spinach and you will load up your ham casserole with iron, calcium and vitamin k.

ham and rice casserole in white baking dish with spoon

What to serve with ham and rice casserole

Serve the ham and rice casserole all on it’s own as it is a well rounded meal with carbs, protein and vegetables. If you want to balance your plate out with more vegetables, here are a few side dishes that are perfect to serve with this cheesy casserole.

Roasted Lemon Broccoli

cheesy ham and rice casserole in white baking dish

More easy casserole recipes

If you love a simple casserole recipe as much as us Midwesterners, then be sure to check out some more of these great one dish recipes!

spoon scooping out ham and rice bake out of casserole dish

Ingredients

2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided

1 cup long grain white rice uncooked

2 cups cubed ham

1/2 cup green onions or 1 Tbsp. onion flakes

1 Tablespoon dried parsley

2 cups milk

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt

2 cups frozen peas

1/4 cup butter melted

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Steps

Preheat oven to 425°.

Spray a 3 quart baking dish with non-stick pan spray. Add half of the cheddar cheese to the pan along with the remaining ingredients. Stir just until combined.

Cover with tinfoil and bake at 425° for 60 minutes.

Carefully remove tinfoil and top with remaining cheddar cheese. Return to oven and bake for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Serve hot and store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.