Cheddar Ham Chowder is a cheesy, creamy chowder filled with veggies and potatoes. We have this every time I make a ham. Every. Single. Time.
When I say that I make this soup every time I make my baked ham, I’m not kidding. My whole family knows that when we have a big ham, there are two things that are going to happen.
One is my Scalloped Potatoes and Ham. The other is this creamy soup.
This soup is quite simple to make and takes advantage of a package of frozen mixed vegetables to make it even easier.
While the vegetables and potatoes cook, you make a thick creamy sauce that you melted the cheese in. As soon as the vegetables are cooked, you add in that sauce and diced ham and, just like magic, you have a rich and creamy soup that everyone will love.
Cheddar Ham Chowder isn’t just something that I’ll make with leftover ham. We’ll enjoy this thick soup all winter long with some diced ham from the store.
Either way, this soup will warm you up on a cold day. You’ll find out quickly why this is one of our family’s favorite soups.
If you like this soup, you will probably also love my Creamy Italian Style Potato Soup or this creamy Tomato and Chicken soup from Wholesome Skillet.
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Cheddar Ham Chowder
Ingredients
- 3 c red or yellow potatoes
- 16 oz frozen mixed vegetables
- 4 c water
- 1/4 c butter
- 1 1/2 – 2 c diced cooked ham, leftovers are ideal
- 1 small onion
- 1/4 c flour
- 1 1/2 c milk
- 2 c grated sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- Extra shredded cheese for topping
Instructions
- To begin, cut up the potatoes into 1 inch pieces.
- Toss the potatoes into a Dutch oven along with the frozen mixed veggies.
- Add about 4 cups of water – just enough to cover the veggies.
- Bring the contents to a boil, reduce the heat, and cook on medium heat until the veggies are just done.
- While the veggies are cooking, in a small sauce pan melt the butter.
- While it is melting, finely dice a small onion and dice up about 1 1/2 – 2 cups of your leftover ham.
- When the butter is melted, toss in the onion. Let it cook in the butter for a couple minutes, until it is tender.
- Stir in the flour. Cook for just a minute.
- Whisk in the milk. Cook it over medium heat, stirring continually until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat as low as it goes.
- Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and then pour it into the Dutch oven with the cooked veggies.
- Stir in your cooked, diced ham, the salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Cook for a few more minutes until the ham is heated through. Serve with some extra shredded cheese on top.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
If nutritional values are provided for this recipe, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste or for serving. If nutritional values are very important to you, I suggest using your favorite nutritional calculating tool with the brands you use.
Note: I no longer eat pork, however I am leaving recipes like this one up for those who enjoy it. Many pork recipes can be easily converted to turkey or chicken recipes, with little or even no other changes. Recipes with bacon or sausage can use alternatives like beef or turkey bacon. Many of those recipes are being updated with the changes. Article: Why I Quit Eating Pork
This recipe was shared in Meal Plan Monday.
Do you pour the water off cooked veggies before adding creamy mixture? Drain Veggies? Thanks I have been looking a good ham chowder recipe!
Hi Elizabeth! No, I just leave the veggie liquid in the soup and then add the thick, creamy sauce to it.
YES and so will I, soups are always good, and especially love them in the winter….
I also make a vegetable soup, and add a can of sauerkraut…juice and all, add a little sugar and this makes a wonderful soup….if you can find a soup bone at your meat market, get one, really flavors the soup….my grandmother always added sauerkraut to her veg. soup……delicious…..
Ok so, I need to keep this for next Easter. Since my husband and I are both only child, our family holiday gatherings are very small. And hams are never very small. So thus, more leftovers than we can usually get through. To be fair, I've never been very creative, and have mainly just stuck with ham sandwiches. But now I have this beautiful recipe for next year!
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Oh yum, it's soup season again! Absolutely wonderful step by step photos with such beautiful clarity too!
Thanks so much for a delicious comforting soup recipe!
Roz
Yummy
Now that is a big bowl of goodness! I'm so making this the next time I bake a ham.
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