One of my favorite ways to cook is to turn leftovers into a brand new meal. That’s how this Simple Ham and Cheese Soup came to be.
Did you see the recipe I recently posted for Easy White Queso? I simply took that recipe, added three more ingredients, and turned it into a most delicious and flavorful soup!
But you don’t often have leftovers, you say? Oh, I hear you. That’s why I often double recipes so that I create leftovers on purpose! That way we can have a Taco meal with White Queso one night, then have Simple Ham and Cheese Soup the next night with very little effort!
Simple Ham and Cheese Soup
- 8-ounces cream cheese
- 16-ounces pepper jack cheese
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 1 cup half-and-half or whole milk
- 10-ounce can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies)
- 1 pound ham, diced or cut into small bites
- 3-4 cups frozen hashbrown potatoes
- 32-ounces chicken, beef, or vegetable broth
- Whisk the cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, sour cream, half-and-half, and Rotel together in a large pot over medium heat until cheeses are melted and mixture is smooth.
- Add diced ham, potatoes, and broth.
- Cook and stir until soup is bubbly and potatoes are tender.

For the record, I don’t add garnish because as pretty as that is, who has time for garnish? So when I make this, it looks just like what you see in this picture except for the pretty green garnish. #realmom
Note: If your family doesn’t prefer much spice, substitute your favorite cheese (cheddar or Colby jack maybe?) for the Pepper Jack cheese. You can also skip the Rotel. We prefer both the Pepper Jack and the Rotel for the awesome flavor those add to this soup!
What to serve with Simple Ham and Cheese Soup
Need some ideas for tasty breads to serve with this soup? Here are a few ideas:
- Easy Stir and Pour Bread
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Applesauce Bread
- Lemon Bread
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
- Grain Free Peanut Butter Bread
- Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins
- Soft Pretzels
- Soft Pretzel Bites
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I made this soup a week ago, and my family loved it.
Made this last night. We substituted Mexican Blend cheese for the Pepperjack (it was what we had on hand) and added chopped broccoli. Very tasty and filling.