Ham and Rice Casserole

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 01/17/19
Ham and rice bake in a baking dish.
Diana Rattray
  • Total: 45 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
690 Calories
35g Fat
72g Carbs
21g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 690
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 35g 45%
Saturated Fat 21g 103%
Cholesterol 105mg 35%
Sodium 588mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 72g 26%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Protein 21g
Calcium 430mg 33%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

No matter the holiday or occasion, there always seems to be leftovers. It gets a bit tiresome to eat a repeat of the dinner over and over, so turning some of the dishes into an interesting entree is more than welcome at mealtime. This ham and rice casserole includes leftover baked ham, cooked rice, and mixed vegetables, which are all mixed together with a rich sauce and baked with a buttered breadcrumb topping. It is an incredibly easy preparation, an excellent way to use leftovers, and a dish the whole family will love.

It takes just minutes to throw the ingredients together, making it the perfect meal for a busy day. The casserole is quite versatile as well. Feel free to replace the ham with diced leftover turkey or chicken, and use your family's favorite vegetables. If you're a cheese lover, add an extra 1/2 cup of shredded cheese to the breadcrumb topping.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups rice (cooked)
  • 2 cups ham (cooked, diced)
  • 1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables (or peas, green beans, etc., cooked and drained)
  • 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (or cream of celery)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese (4 ounces, shredded)
  • Kosher salt (to taste)
  • Black pepper (to taste)
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (soft, fresh)
  • 2 tablespoons butter (melted)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for rice and ham casserole.
    Diana Rattray

  2. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Spray an 8-inch square baking dish or similar 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole with cooking spray.

  3. In a large bowl, combine cooked rice, ham, vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, milk, and salt and pepper to taste.

    Combine rice and ham casserole ingredients.
    Diana Rattray

  4. Fold in the shredded cheese; taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.

    Fold the cheese into the rice, ham, and vegetables.
    Diana Rattray

  5. In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and melted butter; mix thoroughly. Make sure all of the crumbs are well coated with butter.

    Buttered breadcrumbs.
    Diana Rattray

  6. Spoon rice and ham mixture into the casserole and spread evenly. Top the mixture with buttered breadcrumbs.

    Ham and rice casserole ready for the oven.
    Diana Rattray

  7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. For a crunchier topping with more color, place the casserole under the broiler for about 2 to 3 minutes.

Tips

  • To Make It Ahead: Cook the rice and vegetables and chop the ham the day before; Refrigerate them in separate containers until the next day. Just combine the ingredients and pop it in the oven!
  • The recipe calls for soft breadcrumbs, not the fine dry breadcrumbs you find in canisters. Whenever you have leftover stale bread, process it in the blender or food processor to make crumbs. Freeze the crumbs in freezer bags and you will have breadcrumbs on hand for casseroles, meatballs, meatloaf, and other dishes.

Recipe Variations

  • The casserole can be made a little healthier with some simple substitutions. Instead of white rice, choose brown rice. For the soup, choose a lower fat or low sodium cream of mushroom soup, or use cream of celery or cream of chicken soup. Or, if you prefer a homemade sauce, make about 1 1/2 cups of basic seasoned white sauce or a mushroom sauce.
  • Vary the vegetables with leftover veggies, or choose what your family likes. Corn, artichoke hearts, chopped, lightly cooked broccoli, and chopped spinach are some excellent options.
  • Use a packet of your favorite flavor of pre-cooked "ready" rice in the casserole.