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    The Life Jolie » Main/Entree » Leftover Ham and Potato Soup Recipe

    Leftover Ham and Potato Soup Recipe

    Published: Jan 18, 2021 · Modified: Aug 31, 2022 by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    An overhead image of two black bowls of potato soup on a rattan placemat with a spoon next to them and bowls of chopped green onion and shredded cheddar on either side of them.

    Leftover Ham and Potato Soup is the most delicious recipe to use leftover ham. It's cheesy, thick and creamy but also seriously easy to make- the ultimate comfort food!

    Try some other awesome soup recipes like Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup and Bean and Sausage Soup.

    A close up image of potato soup in a black bowl on a rattan place mat with another bowl behind it.

    Leftover Ham and Potato Soup

    This post contains Affiliate Links. Please see the disclaimer here.

    I seriously love leftovers. And I also can't stand food waste. So repurposing leftovers, makes me very happy. Especially because I'm married to a man who is only lukewarm about leftovers (see what I did there?). And there's only so many ham sandwiches you can eat, amirite?!

    Being that my love affair with soup is seemingly endless, using leftover ham in a soup seemed like a natural next step. So it was, this Potato and Ham Soup was born. And it's a keeper and I cannot wait to show you how to make potato soup the easy way!

    Milk and greek yogurt help make a deliciously cheesy potato soup without being overly heavy (because there's no heavy cream in this recipe!) and cheddar cheese adds a certain decadence that we all know and love. Throw in the savory ham and you've got yourself a meal that's as comforting as it is easy.

    An overhead image of this Potato soup recipe in two bowls topped with ham on a rattan place mat with bowls of green onion and cheese nearby and a spoon on the side.

    Tips for making Potato Soup:

    • I like to use salted butter because it adds even more great flavor.
    • I gave a range for the amount of flour to use depending on how thick you want it. If you find that it's thinner than you had hoped you can always mix a little flour with a little water and mix it in as it simmers to make it thicker.
    • Shredding the cheese yourself allows it to melt easier than pre-shredded (but both work!).
    • This makes tasty leftovers but be aware that it gets a lot thicker when it cools. This is easily remedied by adding a little milk or water when you reheat it.
    • Be sure to taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.

    A side angle image of easy potato soup topped with ham, cheese and green onion with a bowl in focus up front and a second bowl behind it with a small bowl of green onions and shredded cheese in the background as well.

    What are the best potatoes for this easy potato soup?

    I used red potatoes but russet potatoes are also a great option.

    What if I don't have ham?

    If you don't have ham, you can always start by cooking a few slices of bacon and then cut the butter in the recipe down by one Tablespoon.

    Can you freeze ham and potato soup?

    Yes, this freezes well in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in your refrigerator when ready to cook.

    Can I use sour cream instead of yogurt?

    Sure, I just used yogurt to keep it lighter but they are interchangeable.

    What if the soup is too thick?

    No problem, thin it out with a little milk.

    Ingredients for making this potato soup recipe:

    • Salted butter
    • Ham
    • Onion
    • Flour
    • Chicken broth
    • Milk
    • Potatoes
    • Sharp cheddar cheese
    • Kosher salt
    • Black pepper
    • Green onion

    Ingredients to prep ahead:

    • Chop ham (or bacon)
    • Chop onion
    • Shred cheeseA close up image of a spoon holding a scoop of creamy potato soup with bowls of it in the background.

    Helpful tools:

    1. Measuring cups
    2. Measuring spoons
    3. Wooden spoon
    4. Cast iron dutch oven or this kind of dutch oven
    5. Chef's knife
    6. Cutting board
    7. Peeler
    8. Immersion Blender

    A close up of the side of a bowl of cheesy potato soup recipe with another bowl behind it and small bowls of green onion and shredded cheese on either side of it.

    A square image of a spoon holding a scoop of creamy potato soup with bowls of it in the background.

    Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup Recipe

    Jessy Freimann
    Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup is the most delicious way to use leftover ham. It's super creamy and cheesy but also seriously easy to make!
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Inactive time 15 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Soup
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 Tablespoons salted butter, divided
    • 2 cups leftover ham, diced
    • 1 cup onion, diced
    • 3-4 Tablespoons flour
    • 2 cups chicken stock
    • 2 cups milk
    • 4 cups potatoes, peeled and diced
    • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded + extra for topping
    • ½ cup greek yogurt
    • Kosher salt, to taste
    • Black pepper, to taste
    • Chopped green onions, for garnish (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a dutch oven over medium-high heat.
    • Add ham to the pot and saute until golden brown stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan.
    • Add the remaining 2 Tablespoons butter and melt.
    • Add onions and saute stirring periodically to soften, about 3-4 minutes.
    • Sprinkle flour onto the onions and stir to fully coat.
    • Add chicken stock, milk and potatoes and bring to a boil then reduce to medium low heat and simmer for 15 minutes. It will thicken a bit during this time.
    • Add greek yogurt and cheese and use an immersion blender to puree the soup until it's partially blended (so there are still some chunks of potato but its also thicker).
    • Add 1 ½ cups of diced ham into the soup.
    • Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
    • Serve topped with remaining diced ham, extra cheese and chopped green onions.

    Notes

    I gave a range for the flour depending on how thick you want it. You can always whisk together a little flour and water after it's simmered if you want it thicker (although the blended potato also thickens it).
    This will last for 5 days in an air-tight container and also freezes well. It does thicken when cooled but you can add a little milk or water when you reheat the get the desired texture.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it 🙂 I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions!

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    Comments

    1. Jennifer says

      December 27, 2019 at 4:55 pm

      The ham and potato soup recipe is excellent! I don't really like to cook, but had a huge spiral ham to eat up. I had to make a couple of changes to the ingredients list as I forgot them when shopping. Instead of the chicken broth, I boiled and steamed the ham bone for the broth. I also had to use almond milk. It still tasted great. Thanks!
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        December 28, 2019 at 12:42 pm

        So glad you loved it! The substitutions you made sound fantastic! <3
        Reply
    2. Lauren says

      December 29, 2019 at 8:26 pm

      I loved this recipe! I used the leftover Christmas ham and it tasted great. I didn’t have Greek yogurt so I just omitted that and instead put some extra cheese about about 4 1/2 tbps of flour; turned out great!
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        January 08, 2020 at 4:31 pm

        It sounds like you made some delicious substitutions- so glad you loved it!
        Reply
    3. Elisabeth says

      March 01, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      This is a very filling and wholesome recipe. I added carrots and a bay leaf, for extras flavors.
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        March 01, 2020 at 9:44 pm

        That sounds amazing! So glad you liked it!
        Reply
    4. Amy says

      March 11, 2020 at 12:49 am

      Ok! I NEVER leave comments or rate or post anything, but I made this recipe today! OMG! It was probably the best soup I have ever had. My husband, daughters and parents agreed! Thank you for sharing this recipe
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        March 11, 2020 at 10:22 am

        Awwwwww I'm so glad to hear that Amy! And I'm so appreciative that you commented- thank you! <3
        Reply
    5. Heather says

      April 14, 2020 at 7:25 am

      I don’t have an immersion blender. Can I just use a hand held mixer? Help!
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        April 14, 2020 at 2:24 pm

        Hi Heather! You can use a regular blender or food processor. A hand mixer might work, but perhaps not as well.
        Reply
    6. Brittany says

      April 14, 2020 at 3:22 pm

      Hi! What can I use as a substitute for the Greek yogurt? We don't have any and don't really want to go to the supermarkets right now
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        April 14, 2020 at 3:37 pm

        Hi Brittany- I totally understand- You can sub with sour cream, creme fraiche or even heavy cream or coconut milk, just use your best judgement if you use the latter two. Let me know how it goes!
        Reply
    7. bbkeef says

      April 15, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      I've made many potato soups, but this is the easiest, least ingredients hands down winner! I added a diced carrot for some color. I used full fat sour cream and sharp cheddar. My husband loved it. It's a great way to use the leftover Easter ham.
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        April 19, 2020 at 1:51 pm

        Sounds like you made some seriously delicious substitutes- I'm so glad you loved it <3
        Reply
    8. Sara says

      April 30, 2020 at 6:09 pm

      I love this recipe. Actually my kids love this recipe and finding something to feed the masses can be tricky! If I have it on hand I also add carrots, celery, asparagus, corn or whatever I need to use up in the crisper.
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        May 03, 2020 at 9:54 pm

        I hear that- feeding kids is tough- so glad it was a hit! I love the idea if throwing in what you have on hand- so smart!
        Reply
    9. Hilary says

      October 21, 2020 at 7:42 pm

      This potato soup is SO good and even better... it’s SO simple. I had a ham left over and am not a fan of split pea soup so was looking for other alternatives when I came across this. We like our potato soup a little more on the chunky side so I actually just used my masher before adding the ham in instead of the blender and it was perfect. I added a smidge of garlic (I just can’t help myself when it comes to cooking with garlic) as well as the tiny bit of scalloped potatoes we had left over from last night as well - zero waste woohoo! I definitely wouldn’t do 4 TBSP of flour. It was nice and thick with three.
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        October 27, 2020 at 10:47 pm

        So glad you liked it Hilary! Sounds like you made some delicious changes, thank you for sharing them :)
        Reply
    10. Allison says

      December 29, 2020 at 7:13 pm

      This was so good and so easy! My husband went to culinary school so I usually don’t even try but this seemed easy enough and I wanted to use the leftover ham from Christmas. Everyone asked for seconds, even our extremely picky eater. Thank you for sharing!
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        December 29, 2020 at 10:52 pm

        Awww, what a great compliment- thank you! I'm so glad you loved it! Also, I feel your pain with picky eaters- my husband is soooo picky!
        Reply
    11. Ken says

      February 14, 2021 at 2:10 pm

      I'm a guy and don't cook that much but this looked so easy and it was! It came out delish! I used sour cream and just hand mashed the potatoes. I love it thanks!
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        February 15, 2021 at 1:24 pm

        Hi Ken! I'm so glad you loved it- it sounds like you made some awesome substitutes :) I hope you keep cooking, it sounds like you have some good instincts! Thanks for sharing!
        Reply
    12. Latara says

      December 28, 2021 at 3:37 am

      The dish came out delicious. I used my potato masher instead of the blender and it came out with a great consistency.
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        January 13, 2022 at 8:13 pm

        So smart- thank you for sharing <3
        Reply
    13. Marian says

      January 12, 2022 at 5:24 am

      Can't wait to try this! Can this recipe be adapted to the Instant Pot?
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        January 13, 2022 at 8:06 pm

        Hi Marian- I haven't tested this so it may or may not work, but if Ito try it in the instant pot- I'd do the beginning part on the sauté setting. Once you add all the broth and other stuff, I'd do it on manual high pressure for 5-7 minutes (instead of simmering) and do a quick release in when the time us up. And then blend and thicken and add the ham. I don't think it will make it much quicker but I hope this helps- please let me know if you try :)
        Reply
        • Marian says

          January 14, 2022 at 3:57 am

          Thanks Jessy, will give it a try and let you know :)
          Reply

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