Ham Potato Cheese Bake (Printable Version)
# What You'll Need:
→ Main ingredients
01 -
About 2 pounds (915g) of Russet or Yukon Gold spuds
02 -
Diced ham, roughly 2 cups (300g)
03 -
1½ cups (150g) shredded sharp white cheddar, split up
04 -
3 tablespoons (43g) of plain butter
05 -
Diced yellow onion, around 3/4 cup (100g)
06 -
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
07 -
3 tablespoons (24g) regular flour
08 -
2 cups (480ml) full-fat milk
→ Seasonings
09 -
3/4 teaspoon cooking salt
10 -
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
11 -
1/2 teaspoon smoky paprika
12 -
1/2 teaspoon powdered mustard
13 -
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes (or 2 teaspoons if using fresh)
→ Optional garnishes
14 -
Chopped fresh parsley leaves
15 -
Sliced green onions
16 -
Snipped chives
17 -
A dash of hot sauce
# Preparation Steps:
01 -
Cut peeled potatoes into 3/4-inch chunks (you'll end up with about 6 cups). Just boil them for 5-6 minutes until they're a bit soft but still firm. Drain thoroughly.
02 -
Toss the warm potato chunks, diced ham, and 1 cup of your shredded cheddar together in a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Put it aside for now.
03 -
Put butter in a big skillet over medium heat until melted. Toss in your onion and garlic, and cook them until the onions get soft, which takes about 3 minutes.
04 -
Sprinkle all your spices and flour into the skillet and stir everything together. Turn the heat down to low and slowly pour in your milk while stirring. Let it bubble gently for 3-5 minutes until it gets thick like gravy. Give it a taste and add more spices if you want.
05 -
Drizzle the hot sauce over your potato mix and gently toss everything to coat it well. Bake with foil on top at 375°F for 30 minutes, then take the foil off, sprinkle the rest of your cheese on top, and bake another 5-10 minutes until it's all bubbly with melted cheese.
06 -
Sprinkle with fresh herbs or add some hot sauce if you'd like. Let it sit for a few minutes before you dig in.
# Additional Tips:
01 -
You can make this a day ahead and keep it in the fridge until baking time
02 -
Try swapping ham for cooked sausage chunks or crumbled bacon bits
03 -
Feel free to use smoked gouda, gruyere, or pepper jack instead of cheddar
04 -
You can keep leftovers in your fridge for up to a week