Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 50 mins | Total time: 1 hr | Servings: 6
The perfect make-ahead meal and can be an easy one-pot meal. A scrumptious casserole packed with cheesy, creamy rice, and utterly cooked broccoli.
Ingredients
2 tbsp unsalted butter
½ c. yellow onion, finely diced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 c. chicken broth, low sodium
1 ¼ c. white long-grain rice, uncooked
2 c. cooked ham, diced
2 c. broccoli florets
10.75 ounces cream of chicken soup
½ c. sour cream
¾ c. milk
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, separated
Salt/Pepper
Ritz Cracker Topping:
1 c. Ritz Crackers, crushed into crumbs
2 tbsp butter, melted
How to make Ham Casserole with Broccoli and Rice
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees.
Step 2: In a large saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat.
Step 3: Once the butter has melted, cook the diced onions for about 5 minutes until soft.
Step 4: Into the pot, add another tablespoon of butter.
Step 5: To the pot with the butter, add the chicken broth, olive oil, and rice. Bring this to a boil, then decrease the heat to a simmer. Continue cooking for about 7 minutes, tightly covered.
Step 6: Add in the broccoli and cook for another 8 minutes, covered.
Step 7: Turn the heat off but leave the cover on. Allow the rice to sit for at least 10 minutes.
Step 8: Remove the cover, then add in the diced ham, condensed soup, sour cream, milk, and a cup of cheddar cheese. Stir well to incorporate.
Step 9: In a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish, spread the mixture and top with the rest of the cheddar cheese.
Step 10: Place inside the preheated oven. Bake for about 15 minutes, covered.
Step 11: Mix the Ritz cracker crumbs and butter, then spread this over the casserole. Bake for another 10 minutes, uncovered.
Step 12: Before serving, allow the casserole to sit for at least 5 minutes.
Notes:
For this recipe, avoid extra sharp or aged cheeses because they won’t melt so well. I suggest Heluva Good Cheese as it melts nice and creamy.
I prefer fresh broccoli but it’s okay to use frozen broccoli if necessary. Thaw, pat dry, then add to the mixture.
One-Pot Method (vs. casserole-style): To make this a one-pot meal, cook the rice for 18 minutes, add in the broccoli in the last 7 minutes of steaming, cover, and cook. As instructed above, combine the casserole, then top with cheese. Cover to let the cheese melt. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 1640mg | Potassium: 1022mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2018IU | Vitamin C: 188mg | Calcium: 468mg | Iron: 4mg