Cheesy Ham Broccoli Casserole (Printable Version)

# What You'll Need:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 300 g dried egg noodles
02 - 200 g cooked ham, diced
03 - 200 g broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
04 - 100 g carrots, sliced or diced

→ Sauce

05 - 400 ml whole milk (or 2% milk)
06 - 300 g cream of mushroom soup
07 - 150 g cheddar cheese, grated
08 - 80 g chive cream cheese
09 - 0.5 tsp black pepper, freshly cracked

→ Topping

10 - 50 g plain breadcrumbs or panko

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Cook egg noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - Bring a pot of water to the boil. Add broccoli florets and carrot pieces, blanch for 2–3 minutes until just tender but still vibrant, then drain and set aside.
03 - In a large saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the milk and cream of mushroom soup until smooth. Add cheddar cheese and chive cream cheese; cook, stirring constantly, until both cheeses are melted and sauce is silky. Season with freshly cracked black pepper.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked noodles, diced ham, blanched vegetables, and cheese-mushroom sauce. Mix gently until all components are well coated.
05 - Transfer the mixture into a lightly greased 23 × 33 cm baking dish. Spread evenly and sprinkle with breadcrumbs or panko for a crispy topping.
06 - Preheat oven to 180°C. Bake casserole in the centre of the oven for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is golden and filling is bubbling.
07 - Allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavours to set.

# Helpful Notes:

01 - This dish can be assembled ahead and refrigerated (unbaked) for up to 24 hours. For easy weeknight preparation, use frozen or pre-cut vegetables and leftover ham.