Broccoli Ham and Cheese Casserole is a classic family favorite. Fresh broccoli tossed with diced ham and tender pasta in a homemade cheese sauce then baked until bubbly. A great way to use up leftover ham, this broccoli and cheese casserole is the perfect easy dinner recipe any night of the week!
Everyone needs an amazing, easy meal that is quick to put together and can satisfy an entire household all with one 13 x 9 baking pan. Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ham is THAT dish.
Looking for more easy dinner recipes? You have to try my Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs, my Chicken Enchiladas and my Baked Tortellini Casserole.
Who could not love hearty chunks of ham and gentle broccoli florets mixed with curly pasta and a creamy cheese sauce? Exactly!
This is the easy dinner recipe my husband has been asking me to make for … um … years.
Every time I made an excuse or there was another recipe I wanted to try, always something more exotic/spicy/different/newer …
I never had time for anything so ‘regular’ as throwing together and writing a recipe for Broccoli Ham and Cheese Casserole.
My bad.
WHY THIS IS THE BEST BROCCOLI CHEESE CASSEROLE
- This is an awesome way to use up and re-purpose leftover ham. #holidays
- Kids are picky little creatures and this broccoli casserole is an easy and tasty way to sneak in some veggies. Trust me, this is one cheesy dinner recipe that is always kid approved.
- It takes all of 10 minutes to a make a homemade cheese sauce. Tastes better than anything in a box or a jar.
- This is basically glorified macaroni and cheese with ham and broccoli .. yessss!!
- This whole casserole is basically made in just one pot prior to baking. That means less dishes and more time to drink wine.
To make this easy Broccoli and Cheese Casserole, you will need:
- Butter
- Flour
- Chicken stock
- Milk
- Seasonings
- Parmesan cheese
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Curly rigatoni pasta (or any pasta you prefer)
- Broccoli
- Ham
HOW TO MAKE BROCCOLI AND HAM PASTA
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray.
In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon of melted butter and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine and set aside.
While you are making your cheese sauce, start a large pot of salted water to boil.
Once boiling, cook your rigatoni macaroni pasta per your package instructions, minus 2-3 minutes. Add broccoli in with your pasta and cook for 2 minutes until tender crisp.
Once pasta and broccoli are cooked, drain your pasta and set aside.
To make your cheese sauce, add your butter to a large skillet and melt over medium high heat and once your butter is melted, add in the flour.
Whisk together and continue whisking while your flour cooks for 1-2 minutes before slowly pouring in the milk and chicken stock. Whisk together to combine and break up any flour clumps.
Add in spices, salt and pepper and bring almost to boil, stirring often.
Turn heat down to medium and stir in the Parmesan cheese and the sharp cheddar cheese and continue to stir until all of your cheese has melted.
Pour your cooked pasta, broccoli and diced ham into your cheese sauce and stir to combine.
Move your casserole to your prepared baking pan, sprinkle the top of your mac and cheese with the breadcrumb mixture and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Remove your Broccoli and Cheese Casserole from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
I know waiting is hard but that molten lava cheese sauce needs time to cool a bit and set up 🙂 Trust me, wait the 10 minutes!
PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT CASSEROLE
- Fresh broccoli can be substituted with frozen broccoli but be sure to let it thaw first and pat it dry before adding it with the other ingredients.
- Crispy fried onion pieces, Ritz crackers, saltines and breadcrumbs make great toppers for this Broccoli and Cheese Casserole if you are looking for a bit of crunch.
- You can easily add in rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey or cooked bite sized chicken pieces to this recipe instead of ham if you want.
- Don’t stress over what cheese to use.. get creative! Mix and match your favorite cheeses.
- When you add your flour to the butter, be sure to continuously whisk them together to make a roux and to ensure your flour will not stick to your pan.
- Be sure to remove your pasta from cooking 2 minutes prior to the time stated on your pasta box. This helps the pasta from getting mushy when cooked in the oven.
- You can substitute the broccoli with cauliflower or even use a mixture of them both.
DOES YOUR HAM HAVE WATER ADDED?
Some ready to eat ham (like ham steak) will say on the label that water has been added.
You can certainly use it in this Broccoli and Ham Casserole but I would suggest you take a minute and saute the ham to get rid of the extra moisture before adding the ham to this recipe.
Simply cook it over medium high heat for a few minutes and then drain away the excess liquid.
If the ham you are adding to this recipe has been previously cooked (like ham you serve for the holidays), you don’t need to take this extra step before adding it to the casserole.
MORE MUST HAVE EASY DINNER IDEAS
- Pasta Primavera
- Spicy Korean Chicken
- Baked Crispy Chicken Parmesan
- Swedish Chicken Meatballs
- Oven Broiled Mexican Flank Steak
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
Enjoy!!
If you’ve tried this Broccoli and Cheese Casserole, please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you it came out in the comments below.
Share a photo of your creation on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM or save it to PINTEREST and tag #AWICKEDWHISK. I can’t wait to see your work!
Broccoli Ham and Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 3 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups pre-cooked ham diced or cubed
- 3 cups raw broccoli florets about 1 head of broccoli
- 16 ounce rotini pasta
Breadcrumb Topping
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray.
- In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon of melted butter and 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese. Stir to combine and set aside.
- While you are making your cheese sauce, start a large pot of salted water to boil. Once boiling, cook your rigatoni macaroni pasta per your package instructions, minus 2-3 minutes. Add broccoli in with your pasta and cook for 2 minutes until tender crisp. Once pasta and broccoli are cooked, drain your pasta and set aside.
- To make your cheese sauce, add your butter to a large skillet and melt over medium high heat and once your butter is melted, add in the flour.
- Whisk together and continue whisking while your flour cooks for 1-2 minutes before slowly pouring in the milk and chicken stock. Whisk together to combine and break up any flour clumps.
- Add in spices, salt and pepper and bring almost to boil, stirring often. Turn heat down to medium and stir in the Parmesan cheese and the sharp cheddar cheese and continue to stir until all of your cheese has melted.
- Pour your cooked pasta, broccoli and diced ham into your cheese sauce and stir to combine. Move your casserole to your prepared baking pan, sprinkle the top of your casserole with the breadcrumb mixture and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove your Broccoli and Cheese Casserole from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. I know waiting is hard but that molten lava cheese sauce needs time to cool a bit and set up 🙂 Trust me, wait the 10 minutes!
Notes
PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT CASSEROLE
- Fresh broccoli can be substituted with frozen broccoli but be sure to let it thaw first and pat it dry before adding it with the other ingredients.
- Crispy fried onion pieces, Ritz crackers, saltines and breadcrumbs make great toppers for this Broccoli and Cheese Casserole if you are looking for a bit of crunch.
- You can easily add in rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey or cooked bite sized chicken pieces to this recipe instead of ham if you want.
- Don’t stress over what cheese to use.. get creative! Mix and match your favorite cheeses.
- When you add your flour to the butter, be sure to continuously whisk them together to make a roux and to ensure your flour will not stick to your pan.
- Be sure to remove your pasta from cooking 2 minutes prior to the time stated on your pasta box. This helps the pasta from getting mushy when cooked in the oven.
- You can substitute the broccoli with cauliflower or even use a mixture of them both.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March of 2016 but was republished with an updated recipe, new photos, step by step instructions and tips in March of 2020.
Wow, this looks AMAZING, PackMomma! My family would devour this with zero complaints.
I quite look forward to a quiet dinner table, with mouths full and bellies being nourished!
Thanks Kylee!!! It’s definitely been put on my list of favorite Go-To quick meals ..
This looks amazing, pinned and sharing!
Thank you Sara!!!