Merry Christmas Eve-eve! Are you all ready for the big day, if you celebrate? Packages wrapped, cookies baked, Fruit Christmas Trees assembled, wines tied with a bow, and baby’s first Christmas photo opps exhausted? “How much longer do I got to sit here in front of this tree, Ma?”
I had myself a Whitehaven + wrapping party a couple nights ago and for the first time in a long time I’m feeling totally prepared, and frankly pretty awesome, about the gifts I got for Ben and the boys, plus our families. I can’t take all the credit though – thanks to Amazon Prime I literally didn’t have to leave my house to purchase one single gift this year. Forget 2017 – cheers to technology! Speaking of technology, have you seen this selfie drone? Welcome to the (slightly disturbing) future people. Anyway, I can’t wait to tell you about the fabu gift we got each member of Ben’s family for Christmas – check out this Instagram post for a hint. ?
That said, I’m not dodging all the last minute holiday hustle and bustle. Ben and I have a ton of friends in town, plus my brother and his fiance Kelly are here through Monday, so we’ll be on the move for the next 72 hours trying to see everyone and do it all. I’m certainly glad there’s a big pot of Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup sitting in the fridge because it’s going to be super easy to reheat and eat in the midst of dashing off to here, there and everywhere this weekend!
This soup recipe, you guys…THIS SOUP RECIPE. It is so luxurious!
I created it to use up your leftover Christmas ham and mashed potatoes, but holy buckets I will not be waiting around for another holiday to make it again. I gave my Mom a tupperware of it to take home after watching the boys for a bit earlier this week and I got a text 2 minutes after she got home saying “soup is sooooo good!!” I replied with a big, fat “I TOLD YOU SO!”
Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup is truly a cinch to stir together, and is made even easier if you have leftover ham and mashed potatoes on hand. Vegetables are sauteed in butter then simmered in a combination of milk and chicken broth, thickened with prepared mashed potatoes, then jazzed up with freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese and cubed ham. If you are making this outside of the holidays, buy a big ol’ ham steak and dice that piggy up, which is what I did. Super easy. Plus, like I said the soup reheats fabulously.
If you like cheesy soups, this one is going to be your jam. It’s decadent, thick, and creamy, and the ham bobbing in each spoonful is such a treat. Trust me and steer hungry Uncle Jim away from taking thirds of ham and mashed potatoes at the holiday dinner table this year – you’ve got soup to make!
Start by adding 2 large carrots, 1 rib celery, 1 large shallot or small onion, and 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme to 4 Tablespoons butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper then saute until softened 8-10 minutes. If the vegetables are taking forever, place a lid on top then let them simmer covered for a few minutes. Add 2 cloves minced garlic then saute for 30 seconds.
Sprinkle in 3 Tablespoons gluten-free flour (or all-purpose flour if you don’t need to eat GF,) then stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Next add splashes of 2 cups each chicken broth and milk (I used skim) while stirring to create a smooth sauce, then pour the rest in. Turn the heat up to medium-high to bring the soup up to a bubble while stirring frequently, then turn the heat back down to medium and simmer until the soup is slightly thickened, 3-4 minutes.
Next add half of 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes (made from 3 large russet potatoes,) then whisk vigorously to combine before adding the remainder and whisking until smooth. Note that these prepared mashed potatoes already have butter, milk, and salt mixed in – vs being plain cooked potatoes that have been mashed.
Last step is to pull the soup off the heat then sprinkle in 8oz freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese a little bit at a time, stirring until the cheese is completely melted before adding more. Finally add 2-1/2 cups cubed ham and stir to combine.
FYI – if you’re going the ham steak route you’ll want a 1-1/2 – 2lb ham steak.
Let the soup sit off the heat for 10 minutes to thicken, then taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary, and then ladle into bowls. I’m telling you – there is nothing better than this decadent, thick and cheesy soup. I hope you love it, and you guys? MERRY CHRISTMAS! Have a wonderful and blessed holiday – talk to you on the flip side!
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Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup
Description
Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup is a thick and hearty gluten-free soup recipe that's perfect for cold nights. Use leftover ham and mashed potatoes to make this simple soup even easier to whip up!
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 2 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
- 1 large shallot or small onion, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- salt and pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tablespoons gluten-free flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups milk (I used skim)
- 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes (from 3 large Russet potatoes)
- 8oz freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2-1/2 cups cubed ham steak
Directions
- Melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, shallot, and dried thyme. Season with salt and pepper then saute until vegetables are tender, 8-10 minutes (place a lid on top to help speed up softening if vegetables are taking too long.) Add garlic then saute for 30 more seconds.
- Sprinkle in flour then saute for 1 minute. Slowly pour in chicken broth while whisking to create a smooth sauce. Add milk then turn heat up to medium-high and bring soup to a simmer, stirring frequently. Turn heat down to medium then cook, stirring frequently, until soup is slightly thickened, 3-4 minutes. Add half the mashed potatoes then whisk until smooth. Add remaining mashed potatoes then whisk until smooth.
- Remove pot from heat then stir in small handfuls of cheese one at a time, stirring until completely melted before adding more. Stir in ham then taste soup and add salt and pepper if necessary (remember ham will add a bit of salt to each bite of soup.) Let sit and thicken off the heat for 10 minutes then serve.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
hahaha…Alexa helped me figure out what to get my brother in law, too. :) Not a ham-eater but this soup sounds dope even if its just on vegetables. Do you think diced chicken would have the same affect or nah?
Such a great, affordable gift! And yep, chicken would be just fine!
This looks so good! And a great way to use leftover ham from the holidays.
For convenience do you think store bought mashed potatoes would work? Like the prepared ones you just heat in the microwave. Thanks for any insight.
Definitely! Any mashed potatoes will work great. :)
OMG- that soup is what dreams are made of!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
Thank you Jen, same to you! :)
Ths looks delicious! Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas =)
Made this last night with leftover ham. It was delicious. Just the 2 of us here but I’m so glad I made the full batch. I think I will throw in the leftover broccoli when I warm up the left overs. Can’t wait to try it again.
I’m so glad to hear it, Luanne!! If you want to try just a broccoli cheese soup, without the potatoes, here’s a recipe to try! http://iowagirleats.com/2014/09/22/perfect-broccoli-cheese-soup/
Can I ask where you purchase Whitehaven? The Hy-Vee in Ankeny doesn’t have it and after reading your picks for Sauv blanc I wanted to try both that and I think it was Decoy and also can’t find that.
We purchase both at HyVee or Costco. Did they say they don’t carry it or were you just unable to find it? I’m surprised they don’t carry it, but would try another HyVee as we can find them at several on the west side of town!
Amanda I thought of you yesterday when I went to buy a bottle of Whitehaven – it was in the “New Zealand” section of wines at HyVee vs the general “Sauvignon Blanc” section. Take a look there and I bet you’ll find it!
This soup was so yummy! My husband who won’t eat carrots or celery said he would gladly overlook both once he dug in! Not a drop left and no veggie remnants! Great quick weeknight dinner using Bob Evans mashed potatoes and a ham steak. IGE for the win!
That’s awesome, Jackie! So glad to hear you both loved it – thanks for the feedback!! :)
Delicious, quick and easy peasy. It was hit with my family ! Your blog makes planning meals so easy and painless. Thanks so much !
This soup is so good! My husband mentioned he might prefer it with cubed potatoes vs. mashed potatoes. Would I just boil the potatoes in the soup or separately? Think it would taste the same? Thanks so much!
I would boil the potatoes in the soup and maybe decrease the amount of liquid!
[…] Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup | Iowa Girl Eats […]
From your photos it looks like cubed potatoes were used too, but none in ingredients list.
It’s just lighter colored chunks of ham. You could leave your mashed potatoes chunky if you like that texture better!
Ok thanks
This soup was amazing! I’m down for any recipe that starts with “cheesy”!!
Same girl, same! So glad you loved it!
Creamy & luscious! Dinner & next day’s lunch for my fam of 3. Take that, holiday ham leftovers!!
[…] Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup ~ Iowa Girl Eats […]
excellent! added some smoked bacon.
Made this tonight and WOW! It is lucious! I made exactly as directed, using prepared Bob Evans mashed potatoes. It was awesome. My husband said “restaurant quality” and my son faked a swoon! Will definitely make again!
It was a hit with my family! Your blog makes planning meals so easy and painless. I think I will throw in the leftover broccoli when I warm up the leftovers. this soup was amazing.
I’m SO happy to hear that, Sedna! Thank you for your feedback and recipe review!
I don’t leave a lot of blog comments, but I just wanted to let you know that my family LOVES this soup. We had a very pared down holiday meal this year but we made sure to include ham and mashed potatoes for the sole purpose of having this soup later in the week! I like a lot of your soups, actually, but this is definitely the favorite. So freaking good.