This Ham and Potato Pot Pie combines cheesy au gratin potatoes, sweet peas, and smoky ham in a delicious casserole topped with flaky puff pastry.

A slice of Ham and Potato Pot Pie on a plate
chelsea

authorโ€™s note

This Is The Kind Of Dinner That Gets Zero Complaints!

I had leftover ham sitting in the fridge after a holiday dinner, and instead of doing the usual soup or sliders, I wanted to try something a little different. I started thinking about all my favorite comfort foodsโ€ฆ cheesy au gratin potatoes, a creamy savory filling, and a buttery, flaky crust. And it just clicked. Why not combine all of it into one dish?

After a few rounds of testing, this version was the clear winner. The potatoes cook right in the creamy sauce so they get super tender and full of flavor, the ham adds that perfect smoky bite, and the puff pastry bakes up golden and crisp on top. It feels a little elevated, but itโ€™s actually really simple to make.

Now itโ€™s one of those dinners I come back to anytime I want something cozy, filling, and guaranteed to get zero complaints at the table.

signature
Ingredients for this recipe prepped and ready to assemble, including potatoes, cheese, seasonings, ham, butter, milk, and flour.

Ham and Potato Pot Pie Ingredients

IngredientEasy swaps or tips
Yukon gold potatoesNaturally buttery and hold shape well; no need to peel
HamLeftover ham, ham steak, or pre-cubed all work
Whole milkBest for creamy texture; 2% works but thinner; avoid skim or plant-based
SeasoningsSalt slowly; ham and Parmesan add salt; taste and adjust
Flour & butterThickens the sauce; donโ€™t skip
Cheddar & ParmesanUse sharp Cheddar and freshly grate both for best melt and flavor
Puff pastryThere are 2 sheets per package and I only use one for this recipe. Use extras in cronuts, toaster strudels, or apple turnovers.
Frozen peasSwap for carrots, green beans, or corn
Whisking melted butter and flour in a pot while slowly adding milk to create the creamy base for ham and potato pot pie.

How To Make Ham And Potato Pot Pie

  1. Make base: Melt butter, whisk in flour, then slowly add milk until smooth and creamy.
  2. Add flavor: Stir in seasonings and sliced potatoes. Let simmer until fork tender.
  3. Stir in the good stuff: Add ham, peas, and cheese until everything is melty.
  4. Assemble: Pour into a greased pie dish and top with puff pastry.
  5. Bake: Brush with egg wash, cut vents, and bake until golden and bubbly.
Adding in seasonings and potatoes to the cream sauce and simmering it all together until everything is tender.

chelseaโ€™s recipe tip

My Top Tips For Success

  • Slice evenly: Cut potatoes thin (about 1/8-inch) or use a mandolin for quicker prep.
  • Thicken first: Make sure the filling is creamy before baking; it wonโ€™t thicken more in the oven. Add a splash of milk if too thick.
  • Puff pastry: Cut a few slits on top of the puff pastry so steam can escape.
  • Crust swap: Use a pie crust instead of puff pastry if preferred; bake ham and potato pot pie at 400ยฐF for 45 to 50 minutes until golden.
Adding the ham and peas to the potato cream mixture and then transferring it all to a pie dish, and finally placing the thawed puff pastry on top for this ham and potato pot pie.

Storage

  • Storage: Best enjoyed fresh. Store leftovers of this ham and potato pot pie covered in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat at 350ยฐF, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Make ahead: Make filling, cool, and refrigerate. Add puff pastry and bake, adding 10 to 15 extra minutes. Cover if browning too fast.

Ham and Potato Pot Pie before and after being baked.

More Comforting Meals:

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5 from 5 votes

Ham and Potato Pot Pie

This Ham and Potato Pot Pie is loaded with cheesy potatoes, sweet peas, smoky ham, and topped with golden, flaky puff pastry. Pure comfort food!
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Video

Equipment

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray
  • 3 cups thinly sliced baby gold potatoes see note 1
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1-3/4 cup whole milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cups chopped cooked ham see note 2
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen sweet peas
  • 1 cup freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese see note 3
  • 1 frozen puff pastry dough see note 4
  • 1 large egg
  • fresh thyme optional

Instructionsย 

  • Follow package directions to thaw 1 sheet of puff pastry dough. Preheat oven to 350ยฐF. Generously grease a glass 9- or 10-inch pie pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Scrub, dry, and thinly slice (1/8th-inch thick) all the potatoes. In a medium pot over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Briskly whisk in the flour and, whisking constantly, stir for 30 seconds. While whisking constantly, slowly add in milk and whisk until smooth. Allow to slightly thicken, about 2โ€“3 minutes (it will thicken more with potatoes) and stir in all the seasonings. (Add salt and pepper to taste; I typically add 1/2 teaspoon of each.) Stir in the sliced potatoes, cover the pot with a lid, and reduce heat to medium-low. Allow to cook for 10โ€“15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until potatoes are fork tender (fork pierces through nicely). Stir in the ham and peas to warm through.
  • Remove pot from heat and add in the Cheddar cheese. Stir gently until melted. Transfer contents of pot into prepared pie pan. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over top.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the egg with a fork until smooth. Using a pastry brush, brush egg wash around the edges of pie pan. Place thawed puff pastry on top of the pie and gently press down around corners. Generously brush the entire puff pastry with egg wash. Use a knife to cut several steam vents in the top. Place pot pie on a sheet pan (in case anything bubbles over) and bake for 35โ€“45 minutes or until puff pastry is deeply golden on top and pot pie is bubbling at the edges. Remove and let stand 5 minutes before serving.
  • Cut and serve. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired. Enjoy!
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Iโ€™ve made this with peeled and unpeeled potatoesโ€”didnโ€™t make much of a difference if using Yukon gold potatoes (the peel is so tender/unnoticeable). If peeling, thinly slice with a knife or mandolin slicer (1/8th-inch thick) for even quicker prep.
Note 2: Any leftover holiday ham works great, and if you donโ€™t have any, use pre-cubed ham from the store or a ham steak(s) to quickly chop and add in.
Note 3: Packaged grated Parmesan is very salty and wonโ€™t melt nicely in this recipe. I highly recommend using a block of Parmesan and a block of sharp Cheddar cheese, grating them on the large holes of the grater. Then measure. Pre-grated cheese contains preservatives that keep the shreds from clumping together in the bag, but also keep the cheese from melting smoothly and will cause a greasy pot pie.
Note 4: The puff pastry I recommend can be found in the freezer section of the grocery store, near the frozen bread or desserts. Use a store app if your grocery store has one. I love and recommend Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets.
Note 5: Before adding the filling to the pie pan, ensure itโ€™s thickened to your liking. The sauce wonโ€™t thicken further once the puff pastry is added, so cook the potatoes until creamy. If itโ€™s too thick, add a splash of milk.
Storage: Once baked, this pot pie is best enjoyed promptly. The puff pastry softens and loses texture over time. Cover leftovers and keep in the fridge for 3โ€“4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350ยฐF, covered with foil, for about 20โ€“25 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 712kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 1714mg | Potassium: 655mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 875IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 558mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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8 Comments

  1. Natasha says:

    This tasted great but for some reason it got very runny. So maybe more flour? I followed the recipe to a T.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I wonder if the filling just needed a bit more time or slightly higher heat to fully thicken before adding it to the dish. That could help. Otherwise, try adding a little more flour.

  2. Melanie Lawley says:

    5 stars
    So good! I make 2 at a time for 3 sons!

    1. Chelsea says:

      That makes me so happy! So glad you guys all enjoy!

  3. Rebecca says:

    5 stars
    This is one of our new favorite recipes. I would serve this over a traditional Easter dinner in a heartbeat.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I am so thrilled to hear this! I actually think youโ€™re on to something with the easter dinner idea!

  4. John Schmidt says:

    5 stars
    Hi,
    I made this for my daughter and the three granddaughters. The recipe went together easily and the photo series of step by step was very helpful. Every one loved it and finished the whole thing! Btwโ€ฆthe sauce thickened up nicely added a little milk as the potatoes were cooking. Delicious .

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Yay! Iโ€™m so thrilled this was a hit and it was enjoyed ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you for the comment John!