Cheesy Ham & Rice

Cheesy Ham and Rice comes together quickly in a skillet, then bakes in a casserole until the cheesy topping is melted. This is a meal the entire family will love!

Make this easy meal with ham leftovers

This Cheesy Ham & Rice is a perfect way to enjoy a second meal using leftovers from a holiday ham served at Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. It can also be made with any other kind of cooked ham – such as a ham steak, or even a cooked smoked shoulder.

It’s also super easy to prepare. You’ll simmer the rice in a skillet along with a variety of chopped vegetables and seasonings – so the rice absorbs a ton of flavor as it cooks. Then bite-sized pieces of ham and cheese are stirred in.

To finish, you’ll pour the ham and rice into a casserole dish – then top it with more cheese. After a quick bake in the oven to melt the cheese on top, you are ready to serve your family an absolutely delicious meal!

• It’s a delicious way to use up leftover ham after the holidays.
• This family-friendly meal is quick and super easy to prepare.
• It’s a versatile recipe – feel free to swap in other vegetables you might have on hand or to suit your family’s tastes.

• Ham – The star of the show is cooked ham – and this recipe is an ideal option for using up leftover ham after the holidays. During other times of the year, buy a fully-cooked ham steak (sold in single slices in the refrigerated section of the supermarket) and cut it up into bite-sized pieces.
• Rice – We suggest using basmati or jasmine rice for the best flavor and a light texture. However, long grain white rice can be used. Avoid using brown rice since that takes much longer to cook and will cause the vegetables to overcook.
• Vegetables – We included a variety of vegetables in our dish including sweet onion (such as Vidalia), scallions, red bell pepper and fresh garlic.
• Herbs and Spices – This dish is simply seasoned with white pepper and fresh thyme. No salt is needed since the ham provides enough salty flavor.
• Butter – We typically cook with unsalted butter
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• White Wine – Used to deglaze the pan and add a little bit of flavor. If you prefer not to cook with alcohol, use broth instead.
• Liquids – The rice cooks in a combination of vegetable broth and heavy cream. If you want to make a homemade vegetable broth, see our recipe here. Canned stock or carton is also fine to use.
• Cheese – Sharp white cheddar cheeses gets stirred into the rice and ham mixture, while more cheddar and Parmesan cheese is sprinkled over the top.

You can also substitute cooked, smoked shoulder in place of the ham in this recipe. The smoked shoulder will add a smoky, saltier flavor to the finished dish – but it’s very delicious!

1. Melt butter and oil in the skillet, and add rice and sauté until the rice starts to get translucent.
2. Add bell pepper, scallion bottoms, and sweet onion. Sauté until the vegetables start to soften a bit.
3. Add garlic, fresh thyme, and white pepper. Sauté a little more.
4. De-glaze the pan with white wine.
5. Add stock and heavy cream, bring to a boil, then cover and turn burner to low.
6. Simmer mixture until rice is cooked and tender.
7. Stir in ham and one cup of the shredded cheddar cheese.
8. Pour mixture into a casserole dish, then top with the remaining cheddar and the Parmesan cheese.
9. Place the casserole (or pot) under the broiler to melt the cheese and lightly brown the top.
10. Top with scallion tops and serve.

• Can I make Ham and Rice Skillet ahead of time?  This is best served freshly-made, however, you can chop and measure the ingredients ahead of time.
• How do I store leftovers?   Store covered in the refrigerator for up to three days.
• How do I reheat leftovers? Reheat individual portions in the microwave.
• Can I freeze?  Rice tends to get mushy after being frozen and thawed, so we do not recommend freezing this dish.

---

---