Leftover Ham and Spinach Casserole
39 Comments
Posted: 03/29/18
Updated: 12/04/20
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Leftover Ham and Spinach Casserole ~ Delicious way to use your leftover ham up! This casserole is stuffed with spinach, ham, cheese and ziti noodles for a delicious dinner recipe! Perfect recipe to use leftover ham up!
This leftover ham and spinach casserole is hearty, comforting and delicious! In fact, it’s pretty much perfect. What isn’t to love about cheese and pasta? Add in ham and spinach and you have a home run. Do you struggle with what to do with leftover ham? I’m one of those people that always makes way to much food when entertaining and them I’m left with leftovers! A few of my other favorite leftover ham recipes include Ham Bone Soup, Ham & Cheddar Quiche Cups, Ham Salad, Ham & Green Bean Casserole, or One Pot Ham & Penne Skillet!
Contents
show
Ingredients Needed to Make Ham and Spinach Casserole Recipe
- Ziti
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Milk
- Extra sharp white cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic powder
- Pepper
- Ham
- Frozen chopped spinach
Another quick tip when you have ham that is leftover at the holidays is to dice it up and freeze it for omelets, egg muffin cups etc. I sometimes even double this Ham and Spinach Casserole and then freeze one of them for later.
I know I never complain when I have a casserole in the freezer for those busy nights! So handy!
How Do I Make Ham and Spinach Casserole?
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9” x 13” baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Prepare ziti according to package directions. Rinse and set aside.
- In a saucepan melt butter. Whisk in flour until smooth and gradually add milk. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes while stirring until thickened. Reduce heat and stir in cheeses, garlic powder and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese is melted.
- Add ziti to cheese sauce. Stir in ham and spinach. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Baked, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
My family isn’t a huge fan of spinach. I think it’s stuck in my husband’s brain from being a child, so I gifted this to my parents.
Let’s just say they RAVED about it. In fact my Dad told my Mom it was better than her recipe. Apparently she had just made something very similar.
Sorry, Mom! Although she wasn’t mad, she was just glad for the reprieve from cooking a few meals!
Tips for Making Ham and Spinach Casserole!
- Do you have spinach haters? Makes sure the spinach is chopped nice and small to sneak it by them
- If they really hate spinach just swap it out for peas or another vegetable
- Leftover casserole? Add a little milk if it gets dried out and it will get nice and cheesy again!
- Freezer friendly!
- Divide into two 8” x 8” baking dishes and freeze one or freeze an entire 9” x 13” casserole dish
Tools Needed to Make Leftover Ham and Spinach Casserole!
Complete this meal with these recipes!
Make sure you use up that leftover ham with this delicious Ham and Spinach Casserole!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Leftover Ham and Spinach Casserole
Spinach Ham & Cheese Pasta Casserole ~ Delicious way to use your leftover ham up! This casserole is stuffed with spinach, ham, cheese and ziti noodles for a delicious dinner recipe!
Ingredients
- 16 oz ziti
- 1/4 c. butter cubed
- 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 2 c. 2% milk
- 2 c. shredded extra sharp white cheddar cheese
- 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 3 c. cubed fully cooked ham
- 10 oz frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9'' x 13'' baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Prepare ziti according to package directions. Rinse and set aside.
- In a saucepan melt butter. Whisk in flour until smooth and gradually add milk. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes while stirring until thickened. Reduce heat and stir in cheeses, garlic powder and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese is melted.
- Add ziti to cheese sauce. Stir in ham and spinach. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Baked, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 929kcal (46%), Carbohydrates: 73g (24%), Protein: 59g (118%), Fat: 44g (68%), Saturated Fat: 24g (150%), Cholesterol: 182mg (61%), Sodium: 2330mg (101%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 8g (9%)
Norine says
This was a tasty casserole. I added fried onions and mushrooms, like someone else did. I will make this again!
Julie Evink says
Wonderful addition Norine! Thanks for commenting and rating it!
Mary Bogart says
Just out of the oven! Followed your recipe for the most part. I did add some sauteed onions and mushrooms and used taco cheese, topped with Panko crumbs and grated parm cheese and tomato slices. I wish I could post a picture since it’s so pretty and absolutely delicious. Thank You!!!
Julie Evink says
Great additions!! Thanks for coming back, rating the recipe and commenting!
Maria says
I used what we had in the house. whole wheat spaghetti noodles instead. 3/4 stick of butter, about 1/3 c of flour made a rou. then added about 2 c of plain Greek yogurt and abput 1/3- 1/2 c half and half (instead of milk) added about 1.5 c cheddar cheese. then seasoned with pepper, garlic powder and everything but the bagel seasoning. whisked until cheese was melted and added handfuls of freshed chopped spinach, about 1.5 cups chopped leftover ham. Drained spaghetti noodles and tossed them into the cheese mixture. poured into the casserole dish, topped with fresh diced tomatoe, panko bread crumbs and parmesean!
Julie Evink says
Sounds delicious!
Mary Bogart says
Maria, Thank you for your comments. I used many of your suggestions and my casserole was not only delicious but a thing of beauty!
Angela says
I had thick sandwich meat ham and some fresh spinach that I needed to finish. I found this recipe and my family just wanted to keep eating it. That Xtra sharp cheddar made it amazing!
Michelle Sperr says
Yay Angela! So glad to hear that you loved this recipe!
Gordon says
I love this recipe! I have made it multiple times now and can say its one of my favorite hot dishes of all time. Thanks for sharing this.
Julie says
Excellent! Glad it’s a hit!
Nancy Sadewater says
I buy baby spinach when it is on sale. I cut the stems off, roll the spinach leaves, cut small strips and lay out on dehydrator trays. I dehydrate them and use them in many many dishes. My house thinks it is parsley and no one fusses about it.
Julie says
That’s a great tip, Nancy! Thanks for sharing!
Donna says
I don’t know if I’m missing something but I don’t see any measurements for the one dish penne ham
Julie says
The recipe card is at the bottom of the blog post and all the measurements will be there.
https://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/one-pot-ham-penne-skillet-recipe/
Kim says
Made this with Penne and yellow cheddar because it was all I had In the house and came out great! Thank you for helping me mix up the routine and make good use of leftover ham!
Julie says
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you loved it!
Heather Mead says
Can this casserole be frozen ?
Julie says
Yes I think that would be fine. Freeze after transferring to a baking dish but before baking.
Hailie says
What is the serving size per nutrition information?
Julie says
I don’t have the exact serving size, it would be 1/6 of the entire 9×13 pan.
Renee Schouten says
Hi Julie,
Can I use rotini pasta instead of penne?
Thanks,
Renee
Julie Evink says
I think that will work fine!
Diane says
I was debating between two receipes using my leftover ham and by mistake used Swiss cheese from the other recipe by mistake instead of the cheddar. My husband loved it!!!!!!
Malinda says
I really wish I had some leftover ham just so I could make this casserole!
Julie Evink says
You’d love it!
Melissa Howell says
I’ve got a boatload of ham in my refrigerator right now just waiting to be used! This recipe is perfect!
Julie Evink says
Yes it is! I think there are a lot of us in that situation right now!
Danielle Green says
Perfect family meal – lunch or dinner, and one that everyone will love!
Julie Evink says
Yes they did love it!