How to Make Holiday Ham and Potato Casserole - A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to holiday meals, nothing beats a delicious and hearty casserole that can feed a crowd and satisfy everyone's appetites. This holiday ham and potato casserole is the perfect dish to serve at your next gathering. It's a comforting and flavorful combination of succulent ham, tender potatoes, and a creamy sauce that's sure to be a hit with both kids and adults.

One of the best things about this casserole is that it's incredibly easy to make. With just a few simple ingredien...

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Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 4 ½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 8 ounces grated sharp white Cheddar cheese
  • 1 pound thinly sliced ham

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr 45 mins
  • Rest Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
  • Servings: 8
  • Yield: 1 9x13-inch casserole

  • Gather ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Heat butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté with a pinch of salt until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add flour and cook, stirring, just to take off that starchy, raw edge, about 2 minutes.
  • Pour in heavy cream and whisk to combine. Whisk in milk. Cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until it just starts to simmer and thicken up.
  • Add 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and cayenne. Grate in nutmeg.
  • Turn off heat. Stir in Worcestershire and fresh thyme leaves. Reserve until needed.
  • Cover the bottom of a deep 10x15-inch casserole dish with about 25% of the reserved sauce.
  • Add a layer of sliced potatoes, seasoning the tops with some of the remaining salt as desired; ladle over 1/3 of the sauce and sprinkle over 1/3 of the grated Cheddar cheese. Layer in ½ of the sliced ham.
  • Place another layer of sliced potatoes on top and season with salt. Ladle over ½ of the remaining sauce; repeat layering with Cheddar cheese and ham.
  • Place last layer of potatoes on top. Ladle over remaining sauce and spread out with a spatula. Sprinkle over remaining Cheddar cheese.
  • Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until browned, bubbling, and potatoes are very tender, about 1 ½ hours. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
  • Nutrition

    765 cal.

    • Total Fat: 49g
    • Saturated Fat: 28g
    • Cholesterol: 163mg
    • Sodium: 1329mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 56g
    • Dietary Fiber: 4g
    • Protein: 27g
    • Potassium: 1446mg