Cheesy Ham And Noodle Casserole Recipe

Casseroles are a beloved foodie classic — and for good reason. According to Allrecipes, these meals rose to popularity in post-war America, with housewives enticed by the promise of an easy meal that's flavor was replicable every single time. The secret? Their reliance on prepared foods like condensed soup, cornbread mix, chips, or freeze-dried onions.

These nostalgic meals remain incredibly popular today, thanks to how easy they are to put together, how convenient they are to slice up and serve for a family meal, and of course, their scrumptious and hearty flavors that are difficult to beat. With this particular ham and noodle casserole recipe, Carlos Leo of food blog and gourmet online shop Spoonabilites is ready to deliver all of that. 

This cheesy casserole is made with a base of egg noodles tossed with ham, cheddar cheese, and broccoli. A combination of condensed soups add creamy texture, while puréed ham adds even more flavor to the noodle base. The end result is a super satisfying dish that, Leo says, "is inspired by a casserole made by my father. That casserole is my all-time favorite dish."

If this recipe sounds absolutely mouthwatering to you, below is a step-by-step guide on how you can whip it up in your own kitchen. It's sure to become a new family favorite.

To make this tasty ham and noodle casserole, you will first need to round up the necessary ingredients. The best part is, you probably have most of them in your kitchen pantry and fridge already. And once you make this casserole, you'll want to have all of these items on hand so you can easily whip up this cheesy dish whenever your heart desires.

You'll need to gather an eight-ounce package of egg noodles, which you'll season with a sauce made with cubed deli ham, milk, and chicken broth (made from a bouillon cube). Condensed cream of mushroom (or 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup) and cheddar cheese soup add richness to the sauce, while Dijon mustard adds a delicious kick. Before baking the casserole, you'll stir in even more cubed ham and shredded cheddar cheese, in addition to frozen peas and broccoli, for loads of texture, flavor, and color.

The topping of this casserole is made with seasoned croutons, which add both flavor and an amazing crunch. Some fresh parsley for garnish, and you're ready to get cooking!

To make this cheesy ham and noodle casserole, start by preheating the oven to 400 F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and then set it aside.

Now, it's time to turn your attention to the base — aka the egg noodles — which you can go ahead and cook according to package instructions until they are al dente. Once the egg noodles reach the desired texture, drain and set them aside.

Meanwhile, make the casserole sauce by warming the milk and bouillon in the microwave, stirring to dissolve the bouillon cube. Combine the milk mixture and 2 cups of the diced ham in the blender, and blend for a minute, or until it comes together into a loose paste.

Now that the different components for the dish are prepped, it's time to assemble this cheesy ham and noodle casserole. Add the cooked noodles to the baking dish, and top them off with the Dijon mustard, ham mixture, remaining ½ cup of cubed ham, both soups, 1 ½ cups of the cheese, and the veggies. Stir to combine, and then top with the remaining cheese and the croutons. The casserole, Leo notes, can be prepared to this point a day in advance and stored in the fridge until you are ready to bake and serve it.

Whether you are prepping this casserole in advance or on the same day you plan to serve, about 40 minutes before dinner, it's time to pop this baby in the oven to bake! Make sure the oven is preheated to 400 F. Then, cover and bake the cheesy ham and noodle casserole for 35 minutes. After that, remove the foil, and bake five minutes more, or until it's lightly golden brown on top.

That's literally it! Your casserole is ready to garnish with parsley and serve to the family or your guests. You should feel accomplished, because you just prepared a hearty, delicious meal that anyone you serve it to will likely request time and time again. Whether you're looking for an easy recipe to prepare for a summer potluck or casual birthday get-together, this casserole definitely fits the bill.

Any leftovers, Leo notes, can be frozen in individual portions and reheated as necessary. But if you're serving this cheesy casserole to a hungry group, we highly doubt there will be any leftovers. It's just that delicious!