Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole

Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole - Step 6

Anyone out there have fond memories of green bean casserole?

In a lot of places, this dish is a year-round staple, and an absolute must for Thanksgiving. For those who didn’t grow up with it, it’s just a mixture of green beans and cream soup, topped with French-fried onions and baked…but somehow, when you put those three simple ingredients together, magic happens.

The only problem with this super-simple side dish is that it’s not really enough to make a meal by itself. For busy moms (and dads, and anyone else who cooks), a one-pot meal is a lot easier.

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Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole - Cooked ham casserole in a white dish

So I got to thinking, how could you turn that classic green bean casserole into a whole meal? It’s already got plenty of veggies, and there’s starch in the soup and the onions…all it really needs is some protein. How about just adding some diced ham? And since ham goes so well with cheese, why not throw in some of that, too?

Here is the result: Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole. It’s got all the flavor of the green bean casserole we know and love, but with that extra oomph from the ham and cheese that turns it into a complete, hearty, comforting meal.

 

Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole

6-8 cups water (for boiling green beans)
2 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half (fat free half and half is ok to use)
4 oz cream cheese, room temp
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup finely chopped cooked ham
1 container (2.8 oz) French-fried onions, divided

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large saucepan, heat 8 cups water to boiling.  Trim ends of green bean. Add green beans. to boiling water and cook 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole - Fresh green beans trimmed and on a paper towl

Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole - how to blanch fresh green beans

 

2. In  a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add in flour and salt and garlic powder. Stir until well combined. Gradually stir in broth and half-and-half and cook for about 5-6 minutes until smooth and sauce starts to thicken.

3.Turn heat down to low/simmer.  Next add in cream cheese and cheddar cheese and stir until cheeses are melted. Once melted, stir in all but 1/2 cup of French-fried (save that 1/2 cup for a topping) onions and the ham. Remove from heat.

Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole - mixing in shredded cheese and cubbed cream cheese.

3. In a large bowl, combine green beans and cheese mixture. Stir to coat green beans. Spray a baking dish (13×9-inch)  with cooking spray.  Spread mixture in baking dish. Top with reserved 1/2 cup French-fried onions.

Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole - mixing in fried onions, and cubed ham

 

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole - Cooked casserole recipe from family fresh meals

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Corey, Darryl, Big D & Little D

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Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole

Author Corey Valley
This Cheesy Ham Green Bean Casserole got all the flavor of the green bean casserole we know and love, but with that extra oomph from the ham and cheese!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 6-8 cups water for boiling green beans
  • 2 lb fresh green beans trimmed
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup half-and-half fat free half and half is ok to use
  • 4 oz cream cheese room temp
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup finely chopped cooked ham
  • 1 container 2.8 oz French-fried onions, divided

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large saucepan, heat 8 cups water to boiling. Trim ends of green bean. Add green beans. to boiling water and cook 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.
  • In  a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add in flour and salt and garlic powder. Stir until well combined. Gradually stir in broth and half-and-half and cook for about 5-6 minutes until smooth and sauce starts to thicken.
  • Turn heat down to low/simmer.  Next add in cream cheese and cheddar cheese and stir until cheeses are melted. Once melted, stir in all but 1/2 cup of French-fried (save that 1/2 cup for a topping) onions and the ham. Remove from heat.
  • In a large bowl, combine green beans and cheese mixture. Stir to coat green beans. Spray a baking dish (13x9-inch)  with cooking spray.  Spread mixture in baking dish. Top with reserved 1/2 cup French-fried onions.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 716mg | Potassium: 389mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1540IU | Vitamin C: 19.5mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 1.8mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

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4 Comments

  1. Can you make this with diced deli ham?

  2. Debbie Chasteen says:

    Can this be made with canned green beans and how many cans would you need?

    1. I would use 3-4 cans, drained Debbie. Start with 3 and go from there.