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This 20-Minute Ham and Cheddar Chowder includes ham, potatoes and cheddar cheese and goes together in a flash. Cheddar Chowder with ham is the perfect meal for any busy weeknight or when you are trying to use up leftover ham from the holidays.
Table of Contents
Ingredient List for Cheddar Chowder with Ham
This stove top ham and potato soup recipe contains basic ingredients like ham, potatoes, onions and cheddar cheese. Why is it such a fast recipe? The potatoes are boiled in a small amount of water which makes the boiling process faster, AND you don’t even need to drain any excess water off the potatoes.
- Water
- Potatoes, peeled, washed and diced
- Onions, diced
- Salt
- Margarine (or butter)
- All Purpose Flour
- Milk
- Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
- Ham, diced (leftover holiday ham works great)
- Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
20-Minute Ham and Cheddar Chowder
Originally, this recipe came from Barbara’s college days when she lived in a cooperative at Purdue University called Glenwood. She remembers many lunches where she and her sisters ate this, most commonly served along side grilled cheese sandwiches.
This cheesy ham and potato soup is great to serve a crowd because it’s relatively cheap using potatoes leftover ham to make and it fast, only taking around 20 minutes total.
Some of her other favorite recipes from Glenwood include Mama Griggs Pumpkin Muffins, Thai Chicken Wraps, Cheesy Mexican Chicken, Chicken Bow-Tie Pasta Salad, Egg and Sausage Breakfast Casserole, Frozen Pumpkin Delight Dessert, Yellow Cake Mix Gooey Bars, and Pork Chop Potato Bake.
How to Make 20-Minute Ham and Cheddar Chowder
Step by Step Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Once boiling, add diced potatoes, diced onions and salt. Cover and bring back to a simmer. Keep at a full simmer for 10 minutes.
- As soon as you put on the lid to the potato pot, melt margarine in a second saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add flour and stir to make a roux. Heat the roux for 30 seconds while stirring to get rid of the raw flour flavor.
- Add milk slowly while constantly whisking. Continue to whisk the mixture until it starts to thicken and becomes a sauce. Add cheese until melted.
- Once the potatoes are done simmering and are fork tender, add the cheese sauce and ham. Heat until warmed through; do not bring to a boil.
Find the full recipe steps and ingredient amounts for ham and potato soup at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.
Recipe FAQs
- This cheesy potato soup recipe uses two saucepans. It is important to start step 2 with the second saucepan as soon as you beginning boiling the potatoes. This will ensure the two steps finish at the same time.
- DO NOT DRAIN THE EXCESS WATER.
- We used deli ham that was cut into this slices, but any type of ham will do. Leftover ham from Easter or Christmas would be perfect.
- You can adjust the amount of cheesiness by adding more cheese to the white sauce. Feel free to add as much as your cheesy heart desires. You can also change up what type of cheese you like, including sharp cheddar or a blend of many types of cheese. Use up what you have in the refrigerator.
- This recipe is easily doubled or tripled. At Glenwood, we fed 30+ girls, so we always at least quadrupled the recipe.
Recipe Variations
- Add fried bacon; it makes everything better.
- Veggies are a great addition including carrots, celery whole kernel corn, peas, etc.
- For more flavor, use chicken broth instead of water.
- Garnish with fresh chives or green onions before serving.
How doyou thicken potato ham soup?
Made a roux with equal parts melted butter and all purpose flour. Add a little milk or heavy cream, and stir constantly until thickened. Add the mixture to soup, and whisk until incorporated completely. As the soup heats up, the soup will start to thicken.
Leftover Ham Recipes
Looking for more recipes to use up leftover ham? Try our favorites:
Jambalaya with Ham
Ham and Beans using Randall’s
Instant Pot Ham and Beans
Make-Ahead Ham and Cheese Quiche
Linking up to Weekend Potluck.
Print Recipe
20-Minute Ham and Cheddar Chowder – Cheddar Chowder with Ham Recipe
This 20-Minute Ham and Cheddar Chowder recipe goes together in a flash making it the perfect meal for any busy weeknight or when you are trying to use up leftover ham from the holidays.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cheddar chowder with ham, ham and cheddar chowder, ham and cheddar soup, ham and potato soup, soup with ham, potatoes and cheese
Servings: 6
Calories: 353kcal
Author: Barbara
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 2 1/2 cups diced potatoes, washed and peeled
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup margarine (half stick)
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup diced ham
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Once boiling, add diced potatoes, onions and salt. Cover and bring back up to a simmer.
Simmer, covered for 10 minutes. Immediately begin the next step below.
In a second saucepan, melt margarine. Add flour and stir to make a roux. Heat while stirring for 30 seconds.
Add milk to the rue while whisking constantly. Heat over medium heat and continue to stir until the sauce begins to thicken.
Add shredded cheese, and stir until completely melted.
Once the potatoes have simmered for 10 minutes; check to make sure they are cooked through by piercing with a fork. DO NOT DRAIN. Add the cheese sauce and ham to the potatoes.
Cook over medium until warmed through; do not boil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Notes
- This recipe uses two saucepans. It is important to start step 2 with the second saucepan as soon as you beginning boiling the potatoes. This will ensure the two steps finish at the same time.
- DO NOT DRAIN THE EXCESS WATER.
- We used deli ham that was cut into this slices, but any type of ham will do. Leftover ham from Easter or Christmas would be perfect.
- You can adjust the amount of cheesiness by adding more cheese to the white sauce. Feel free to add as much as your cheesy heart desires. You can also change up what type of cheese you like, including sharp cheddar or a blend of many types of cheese. Use up what you have in the refrigerator.
- This recipe is easily doubled or tripled. At Glenwood, we fed 30+ girls, so we always at least quadrupled the recipe.
- Try making our 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Ham and Mustard Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, and you’ll have leftovers that are perfect for this soup.
- The nutritional information is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used.
Nutrition
Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 954mg | Potassium: 540mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 786IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 335mg | Iron: 1mg