Ham and Potato Casserole Pioneer Woman Recipe

Ree Drummond, the “Pioneer Woman,” is one of the most famous food writers and television personalities around when it comes to sharing incredible recipes, and fostering one of the most active cooking communities on the internet.

Her blog and food community always share some fantastic recipes, and a favorite amongst readers is her ham and potato casserole.

This is mainly because it’s the perfect way to use up any leftover ham from Christmas or Easter in a delicious comfort food casserole that’s sure to please the whole family.

Today we’re sharing with you exactly how you can make this recipe for yourself at home.

It’s nice and easy to cook and is big enough to feed everyone!

How to make Pioneer Woman Ham and Potato Casserole

Of course, this is generally made after a Christmas or Easter dinner when there is plenty of ham leftovers needing to be used up.

But if not, this meal is delicious enough to where it warrants buying some ham especially to make it.

Ideally, you should use Yukon Gold Potatoes, which are a tried-and-true spud that’s going to help this bake perfectly.

However, if you can’t source any, you can simply substitute it for another type of potato.

If they don’t have that nice buttery/waxy quality the Yukon Gold Potatoes have, then you can help their texture along a bit by boiling them beforehand and draining them thoroughly before assembling the casserole.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter
• A little more butter for the pan
• 1 diced whole yellow onion
• 3 cups of diced ham (pre-cooked)
• 1 ½ cups of half-and-half
• 1 ½ cups of heavy cream
• ¼ cup of flour
• Black pepper (to taste)
• 3 lbs of Yukon Gold potatoes, pre-washed
• 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
• 1 cup of grated Monterey Jack cheese
• Chopped parsley to taste (optional)

Number of portions: 12

Instructions

The nice thing about this meal is that it’s so easy to prepare, yet yields something so warming and filling.

With just 20 minutes of prep time and an hour in the oven, it’s done!

Plus, all the ingredients used are super simple, so it’s something even a beginner cook can do.

Scalloped potatoes with ham make a delicious combination, but of course, you can swap it out with another kind of meat (or combine the two together if you have more leftovers), as it’s a very adaptable meal.

Step 1:

Start by simply pre-heating the oven to 350 degrees F.

While it’s warming up, prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Step 2:

Next, grab a large skillet to which you will add the onions and some butter (not the two tablespoons, just some extra for the pan).

Sauté the onions for a few minutes until they start to go translucent.

Step 3:

Take the opportunity to butter a large casserole dish, as you’ll need it for later.

Step 4:

Once the onions are adequately cooked, add the ham and continue cooking them both together over medium heat.

Do this for 3-4 minutes until everything’s thoroughly heated.

Set the pan aside for later.

Step 5:

Next, get a microwave-safe container, and add the 1 ½ cups of half and half and warm it up for about a minute until it’s a little warmer than room temperature.

Step 6:

Using the same container, add in the flour and black pepper, and give it a good stir so they are thoroughly combined, and then set aside.

Pro tip: Depending on how salty your ham is, you can also add some salt at this stage, too.

Generally speaking, ham is already quite salty, so check the flavor first and use salt sparingly.

Step 7:

Using a small Tupperware or bowl, add in the grated cheddar cheese and grated Monterey Jack cheese, and give them a good mix.

Step 8:

Now you need to cut the potatoes.

Amandolin works best for this, but you can also just use a knife and cut them carefully. We are looking for extremely thin slices here at about 1/8th of an inch.

Step 9:

To arrange/combine everything together, take the casserole dish you buttered earlier and create a 3-stage layer using 1/3rd of the baked potato slices to line the bottom, 1/3rd of the onion and ham mixture, 1/3rd of the cheese mixture, and 1/3rd of the cream/seasoning mixture.

Repeat this two more times to create a 9-layer casserole.

Step 10:

Now it’s time to bake! First, cover the assembled casserole with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.

Step 11:

Cut into squares, top with fresh parsley, and it’s ready to serve!

Ingredient substitutions

The nature of this casserole is that it uses just good, hearty foods to make a delicious meal, and there’s nothing complicated about it.

Because of how many fairly standard ingredients are used here, there’s a ton of opportunity to substitute them for something else.

Whether you find yourself lacking a particular ingredient, or maybe you just want to explore some new flavors, we’ve got you covered!

Bacon

Bacon is another salty and equally as delicious substitute for the ham.

What’s really great about a bacon substitute is you can choose how much you want to fry it with the onions before assembly and baking.

You can make the bacon crispy and crunchy, which will add a wonderful bite to your casserole, or you can fry them with a bit of give so it finishes baking a little closer to the texture of ham.

Parmesan cheese

Not everyone has Monterey Jack Cheese on hand, so if you find yourself in need of a quick substitute, parmesan is one of your best options.

It’s quite firm, easily grated, and combines well with other cheese.

It also bakes nicely, so you’ll barely be able to tell the difference once it’s all finished.

White/red onions

The recipe calls for yellow onions due to their distinct taste that, when fried with the ham, really ups the flavor a lot.

But if you don’t have any, any white or red onion will work just fine.

However, you may want to consider increasing the amount of pepper and perhaps salt in the milk mixture to make up for that slight loss in flavor.

What to serve with Pioneer Woman Ham and Potato Casserole

Salad

As suggested by the wonderful Pioneer Woman herself, a fresh salad is a perfect accompaniment to offset the heavy carbs and protein offered by the potatoes and meat.

It’s also broad enough to where you can just throw in whatever you have around the kitchen and it will work just fine.

Rice

Rice is an ideal choice if you have too many guests or just didn’t have enough ingredients to make the portion large enough.

Rice is a nice and simple way to bulk up the meal.

Add in some broccoli, garlic, and salt, and it makes a delicious side dish.

How to reheat Pioneer Woman Ham and Potato Casserole

As the recipe calls for 12 servings, there’s a good chance you might have stored some and need to reheat it later on.

Here’s how to do it.

How to reheat Pioneer Woman Ham and Potato Casserole in a pot

If you’ve gotten the casserole from the fridge, let it warm up to room temperature first.

Then, take a pot with a tight-fitting lid, add a few tablespoons of water to the bottom, and place the casserole in the pot.

Heat it on a medium-high setting for 4-5 minutes and it should be adequately heated through.

Remove the lid and let the excess moisture dissipate before serving.

How to reheat Pioneer Woman Ham and Potato Casserole in a microwave

Place the casserole servings in a microwave-safe dish.

Place a damp paper towel over the food, as this will help stop it from drying out while reheating.

Heat it for 2 minutes and check if it’s warm in the middle.

If it’s not quite there yet, keep heating it using 30 second bursts until you’re happy with it.

How to reheat Pioneer Woman Ham and Potato Casserole in the oven

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the casserole in an oven-safe dish.

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil.

You can pierce the foil a few times to let the excess moisture dissipate.

Start cooking it and check every 10 minutes.

When it’s close to being done, remove the foil and let the top re-brown for 5-10 minutes.

How to reheat Pioneer Woman Ham and Potato Casserole in an air fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 350-400 degrees F, place the leftover casserole in the frying bin, and cook it for just 3-4 minutes.

It should be both warmed through and deliciously crispy.

How to store Pioneer Woman Ham and Potato Casserole

While cooked potatoes often don’t store the best, if you find yourself with extra leftovers, here are the best ways to store casserole and ensure it retains as much texture and flavor as possible.

Store in the fridge

Let the casserole first cool to room temperature, and then transfer it to an air-tight container.

Because of the potatoes, it will only store for 3-4 days, so try to use it fast!

Store in the freezer

Once again, make sure it’s not warm when you freeze it.

Place the leftovers in an airtight container, or an even better option is a freezer bag.

Once frozen, it will keep for up to 6 months, but try to use it by the 3-month mark, as it will start to lose some flavor after that time.