20-Minute Ham and Cheddar Chowder – A Cheddar Chowder with Ham Recipe

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.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Add milk slowly while constantly whisking. Continue to whisk the mixture until it starts to thicken and becomes a sauce.  Add cheese until melted.
4. 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.

​​​​​Ho​w do​ you 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.