Ham Potato Cheese Bake (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main ingredients
01 -
2 pounds (915g) of Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
02 -
2 cups (300g) of diced ham
03 -
1½ cups (150g) of grated sharp white cheddar, split up
04 -
3 tablespoons (43g) of unsalted butter
05 -
3/4 cup (100g) of diced yellow onion
06 -
3 cloves of crushed garlic
07 -
3 tablespoons (24g) of plain flour
08 -
2 cups (480ml) of full-fat milk
→ Seasonings
09 -
3/4 teaspoon of table salt
10 -
1/2 teaspoon of cracked black pepper
11 -
1/2 teaspoon of smoky paprika
12 -
1/2 teaspoon of powdered mustard
13 -
1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 2 teaspoons if using fresh)
→ Optional garnishes
14 -
Snipped fresh parsley
15 -
Sliced green onions
16 -
Chopped chives
17 -
Your favorite hot sauce
# Instructions:
01 -
Strip skins and chop potatoes into 3/4-inch chunks (around 6 cups total). Give them a quick boil for just 5-6 minutes till they're starting to soften but still firm. Drain thoroughly.
02 -
Grab a buttered 9x13-inch baking dish and toss in your warm potato chunks, diced ham, and 1 cup of the grated cheese. Mix them gently and put aside.
03 -
Warm up the butter in a big frying pan on medium. Throw in your onion and garlic, and cook till onions go soft, about 3 minutes.
04 -
Toss all your seasonings and flour into the pan, stirring till everything's mixed well. Turn down the heat and slowly pour in milk while stirring. Let it bubble gently for 3-5 minutes till it thickens like gravy. Give it a taste and add more seasonings if you want.
05 -
Pour your warm sauce all over the potato mix and stir gently to coat everything. Cover and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, then take the cover off, sprinkle the rest of your cheese on top, and bake another 5-10 minutes till it's bubbly and the cheese gets melty.
06 -
Sprinkle with fresh herbs or a dash of hot sauce if you'd like. Let it sit for a few minutes before you dish it up.
# Notes:
01 -
Great to make ahead and can be put together up to a day before cooking
02 -
Try swapping ham for cooked sausage chunks or crispy bacon bits
03 -
Tastes awesome with other cheeses like smoky gouda, gruyere, or spicy pepper jack
04 -
Keeps nicely in the fridge for up to a week