Turn Your Holiday Leftovers Into the Easiest Weeknight Meal

When it comes to leftovers, it’s a race against the clock. Especially during the holidays, you likely have more food than you can eat in a few short days.

If you’re already dreaming up the perfect everything-on-it turkey sandwich and looking forward to turkey pot pie, it’s a good idea to make a plan for your other star entrée: the glazed ham. This highly-rated Ham and Potato Casserole is the perfect dish for a cozy, weeknight dinner.

The Best Casserole for Leftover Ham

One of our community members reviewed this comforting Ham and Potato Casserole and described it as “warm fuzzies in a bowl,” and we couldn’t agree more. 

Each bite is filled with tender chunks of potato, savory pieces of baked ham, and a velvety homemade cheese sauce. This recipe uses less than 10 ingredients, most of which are leftovers or pantry staples, so it’s easy to whip up at a moment’s notice. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes of active prep time, so you can kick back and let the oven do most of the work. 

The best part? You can freeze the assembled casserole for a future meal—just take it out when you’re ready to bake. Here’s how to do it:

• Freeze leftover ham: Keep your leftover ham tasting fresh and avoid spoilage by freezing it until you’re ready to use. Chop it into bite-size pieces and spread it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pop the baking sheet into the freezer for one hour, or just until the ham is firm. Scoop the ham into an airtight container or zip-top bag and store it for up to four months.
• Freeze the whole casserole: Do your future self a favor and freeze the entire dish for an easy weeknight dinner. Our guide on how to freeze casseroles will tell you everything you need to know to keep your meal fresh and ensure it thaws and bakes to perfection. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that leftover cooked ham be used within four days, so freezing it can extend its life for months. If you cook a new dish with leftovers, you should consume or freeze the dish within this period based on the initial cooking of the ham, not the secondary recipe you made with it.

How to Make Ham and Potato Casserole 

The first step to making this ham and potato casserole is boiling potatoes. It’s another great opportunity to use up the odds and ends from Thanksgiving—gather up those spuds you didn’t end up needing for your holiday dinner. Leftover baked potatoes would work great, too.

Next you’ll sauté the ham and onion together until they’re slightly caramelized. If you want, add some extra veggies or a sprinkle of seasoning.

Finally, whisk together a quick cheese sauce, layer the casserole, add a simple topping, and bake. It’s that easy!

Tips for Making a Casserole with Leftover Ham

• Add some veggies: Leftover sautéed green beans or roasted carrots add color to the dish and are a smart way to use up your holiday sides. If you have them on hand, add a few handfuls of chopped spinach or broccoli, or frozen vegetables.
• Swap the topping: Instead of Italian breadcrumbs, feel free to use panko, homemade breadcrumbs, or even pile on extra shredded cheese. Some of our Allrecipes community members have suggested using crushed Ritz crackers and fried onions as flavorful alternatives. 
• Streamline the cooking: Turn this dish into a slow cooker ham and potato casserole so it’s ready to eat when you arrive home on those extra-busy evenings. Or, you can make an overnight ham and cheese breakfast casserole.

Be sure to browse our other Thanksgiving leftover ideas and freeze anything you don’t plan to use right away so you can enjoy all your holiday cooking efforts for weeks to come.