Rice, Ham, and Broccoli Bake

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ onion, chopped
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 5 cups milk
• 2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 3 cups chopped, cooked broccoli
• 2 cups chopped, cooked ham
• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 1 cup crushed buttery round crackers
• ½ cup sliced almonds
• 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

Step 1

Heat your oven to 350°F and greasing a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the chopped onion. Cook it for about 4 minutes until it smells amazing and is just starting to turn translucent. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir it in, cooking for another 3 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly to keep things smooth and lump-free. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens up nicely, which should take around 15 minutes.

Step 2

Once the sauce is thick, add the Colby-Jack cheese and stir until it melts and the sauce starts to bubble, then take it off the heat. In a big bowl, mix together the cooked broccoli, ham, and rice. Pour the cheesy sauce over everything and stir until it’s all combined. Transfer this mixture to your prepared baking dish.

Step 3

Sprinkle crushed crackers, sliced almonds, and crumbled bacon on top for a nice crunchy finish. Pop it in the oven and bake uncovered for about 30 minutes, until it’s bubbly and golden. Let it cool just a bit before serving, and enjoy!