Budget Easter Dinner: Ham and Potato Casserole Recipe

If you have a big family or entertain a lot, Easter dinner can be quite pricey. The National Retail Federation estimates that consumers spend approximately $20 on candy and $45 on food during Easter. This is partly due to escalating food prices. Thankfully, many supermarkets have sales during this season and key Easter ingredients like ham and eggs are very cheap. If you’re looking for a bargain Easter recipe, this is it. Use these instructions from All Recipes to make it.

Budget Easter Dinner: Ham and Potato Casserole

Your guests will love it!

Image via: Taste of Home

Ingredients

¼ cup of butter

¼ cup of breadcrumbs

1 package of shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces)

1 small onion

1½ cup of soy milk

2 cups of fully cooked ham (cubed)

3 tbsp. of all-purpose flour

3 tbsp. of butter

6 small tomatoes (peeled and cubed)

Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Put the potatoes in a big pot and add water and salt. Cook until boiled. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, until the potatoes become tender. Drain the water.
2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
3. Grease a large, rectangular baking dish.
4. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add 3 tbsp. of butter. Add the ham and onion and cook until the onion becomes soft and has a translucent appearance (for about 5 minutes).
5. Add the potatoes to the ham mixture. Stir then transfer the entire mixture to the baking dish.
6. Heat a pan over medium heat and add the ¼ cup of butter. Add the flour and stir until smooth.
7. Add the milk to the flour mixture then add pepper and salt. Continue stirring until the mixture become thick (for about 2 minutes).
8. Reduce the heat to low and add the cheddar cheese to the white sauce. Cook until the cheese melts.
9. Pour the flour mixture over the ham and tomatoes and sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top.
10. Bake the casserole in the preheated oven until the white sauce becomes brown (for 20-25 minutes).

The foods that symbolize Easter – strawberries, eggs, lamb, ham, asparagus – can put a dent in your budget in these tough economic times. The secret is to look for specials, substitute ingredients, and stretch costly ingredients. Alternatively, you can look for tasty recipes like this one. Ham and potato casserole makes for a great Easter dinner and will be loved by everyone. It is easy on your food budget.

What is your favorite budget Easter dinner?