Ham and Noodle Casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole is a superb combination of pasta, sauce and meat that provides a lovely family meal. This is ready from start to finish in 25 minutes and will become a firm favourite in your household. You can adapt it by adding finely sliced red chillies for a bit of heat – a personal favourite. I use cheddar cheese but you can use Swiss cheese as this also melts just enough. Also, I use this as a main dish for the family but during buffets, it makes a perfect side dish. Also baking the breadcrumbs creates a delicate crunchy topping over a smooth rich body.

Growing up, casseroles always seemed to appear at just the right moment: winter nights, unexpected relatives at the door, or whenever Mum needed a hands-off dinner that didn’t sacrifice flavour. The Ham and Noodle Casserole has that same energy. It’s reliable, unbelievably easy to put together, and it carries a nostalgic charm that modern dishes sometimes lack. It’s comfort food that doesn’t apologise for being simple, creamy, and satisfyingly old-school.

What makes this ham and noodle casserole especially loveable is how few ingredients you actually need to produce such an inviting result. You start with cooked noodles—soft enough to soak up flavour, but still sturdy enough to hold their shape. Then comes the ham: diced, cooked, and fabulously convenient. It brings a savoury punch that wakes the dish right up. The green bell pepper is its cheerful companion, offering a pop of colour and freshness that keeps everything from feeling too heavy. And of course, the cheddar cheese ties everything together with a mellow richness that only cheddar can give.

Part of the charm is the layering. There’s something almost meditative about spooning the noodles into the baking dish and sprinkling on the ham, cheese, and diced pepper. Then doing it all over again. The layers create little pockets of flavour throughout the casserole—some bites more peppery, some more cheesy, some with that perfect bit of ham. It’s slightly rustic, definitely homely, and exactly the sort of assembly that makes you feel like you’re building something wholesome.

Then comes the custard mixture, which adds a wonderfully silky texture once baked. Whisking together milk, eggs, and a sprinkle of paprika feels oddly satisfying—like the moment before magic happens. When this mixture is poured slowly over the layered noodles, it trickles into every nook and cranny. What emerges from the oven later is a casserole that slices beautifully, thanks to that gentle set from the eggs, but still feels creamy and comforting.

No casserole is complete without a topping, and here the breadcrumbs play their role magnificently. They turn beautifully golden in the oven, offering that irresistible contrast between the crispy top and the soft, savoury layers beneath. As the casserole bakes, the aroma begins to drift through the kitchen—cheddar melting, ham warming, bell pepper softening, and that subtle paprika warming everything with a hint of colour and spice. It’s the kind of smell that makes family wander into the kitchen, asking how much longer dinner will be.

What I love most about this Ham and Noodle Casserole is how adaptable it is, yet how perfectly satisfying it remains even when left simple. It’s a dish that doesn’t require fancy ingredients or complicated steps. It’s honest, homely food—ideal for feeding a family, using up leftover ham from the weekend roast, or preparing a meal that reheats beautifully the next day. Pair Ham and Noodle Casserole with a side salad if you want something lighter on the plate, or just serve it proudly on its own.

In a world where recipes can sometimes feel a bit over-engineered, a comforting casserole like this one is a gentle reminder of the beauty of simplicity. A handful of familiar ingredients, a bit of layering, a warm oven and you’ve created a dish full of nostalgia, comfort, and everyday joy. And really, isn’t that what home cooking is all about?

Ham and Noodle Casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole is a warm, comforting dish that brings together simple ingredients like noodles, ham, cheese, and peppers in cosy layered goodness. A creamy milk-and-egg mixture binds everything together, while a golden breadcrumb topping adds the perfect crunch. Ham and Noodle Casserole is an easy, nostalgic bake that feels both homely and satisfying on any day of the week.

4.54 from 78 votes

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Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Breadcrumbs, Casserole, Cheddar, Cheese, Dairy, Eggs, Ham, Ham and Noodle Casserole, Noodles, Spice

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 741kcal

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Ingredients

 

MetricImperial

• ▢ 3 cups noodles cooked 750 ml
• ▢ 1 cup ham 250 ml, diced cooked
• ▢ 1/2 cup cheddar cheese 125 ml, shredded
• ▢ 1 large green bell pepper diced
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups milk 375 ml
• ▢ 2 large eggs
• ▢ 1/2 tsp paprika 2 ml
• ▢ 1 cup breadcrumbs 250 ml

Instructions

• Place half the noodles in a greased baking dish and sprinkle with half the ham, cheese, and bell peppers.
  3 cups noodles, 1 cup ham, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1 large green bell pepper
• Repeat creating layers.
• Whisk together the milk, eggs, and paprika and pour over the noodles.
  1 1/2 cups milk, 2 large eggs, 1/2 tsp paprika
• Top with bread crumbs and bake uncovered in a preheated 350F (180C) oven until golden brown on top.
  1 cup breadcrumbs
• Serve the Ham and Noodle Casserole hot and enjoy.

Notes

Here are some suitable and complementary side dishes that would pair beautifully with a Ham and Noodle Casserole:

• Simple Green Salad: A crisp mix of lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette helps cut through the richness of the casserole.
• Garlic Bread or Dinner Rolls: Soft, warm bread is perfect for mopping up any leftover custard or cheese sauce.
• Sautéed Spinach or Kale: Quickly wilted greens with a hint of garlic or lemon complement the casserole without overpowering it.
• Pickles or Pickled Vegetables: Something lightly pickled, like gherkins or pickled onions, can add a subtle tang that offsets the richness of the ham and cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 741kcal | Carbohydrates: 90g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 1670mg | Potassium: 520mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g