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Ham and Potato Casserole (Cheesy Main Course or Side Dish)

This ham and potato casserole with gooey cheese, or Gattò di Patate (as it’s called in Italy) is a comfort food that will be a family favorite the first time you make it. Directions for a vegetarian recipe are included.

piece of cheesy potato casserole with ham on a plate

My mother made this ham and potato casserole for my brother’s high school graduation open house. Everyone raved about it, but she never made it again. 

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text box with quote:"Definitely comfort food... Creamy, buttery, smoky..."- Judy N.

Shall I add that my brother is now 43? I still remember how much I loved this and I was only 21 when he graduated. Why my mother never made it again, and why I never made it until now, boggles my mind. My mother is just as mystified, but we’re making up for lost time!

Another mashed potato recipe you’ll love: potato croquettes!

Potato Balls and croquettes

Recipe source

The recipe comes from Il Cucchaio D’Argento (The Silver Spoon) which is a fabulous Italian cookbook. It’s sort of a bible of Italian cooking the way Americans have the Betty Crocker Cookbook, I suppose. Although I found the recipe online, for some reason, it’s been changed from the original recipe. My mother used the version from the hardcover copy of the old book she still has, so I stuck to the original recipe as that’s the one we had enjoyed so much.*

ham and potato casserole ingredients

If you’ve ever had duchesse potatoes, you’ll know that they are light and fluffy in the center and have a lovely, crisp crust. Well, think of this cheesy potato casserole, or gattò di patate, as a duchesse potato lasagna with ham and mozzarella cheese filling!

Looking for more fun and delicious ways to use potatoes?
Check out my Italian Potato & Roasted Red Pepper Salad, and Springtime Garlic Scape Potato Salad!

Why is this Ham and Potato Casserole called Gattò di Patate?

The reason given in Il Cucchaio D’Argento, for the name of this dish being “gattò”, is the mispronunciation, by Italians, of the French word, “gateaux”, which means “cake” (not to be confused with the Italian word for cat).

I have to make this again very soon, because my husband, daughter and I devoured the first one I made!

piece of cheesy potato casserole with ham on a plate

*In the recipe photos, I show full slices of ham, but it was difficult to cut into the pieces after being baked, so  I now layer pieces of chopped ham. This can also be made vegetarian just by omitting the ham. Remember to use leftover mashed potatoes to make this whenever you have them.

Ham and Potato Casserole with Cheese
(Gattò di Patate) 

Adapted from Il Cucchaio D’Argento.         Serves 6 (large servings)

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs potatoes (I used Gold) try to use similar sized potatoes
  • 1/3 cup (3 oz) milk, room temperature or heated 
  • 1 stick (4 oz) butter, softened/slightly melted (few extra pats of butter, to top the dish)
  • 1/2 cup (2 oz) grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 3 eggs
  • 5 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
  • 4 oz (about 5 slices) ham, nitrate/nitrite free (I used Applegate’s Black Forest ham) or thinly sliced leftover ham
  • breadcrumbs
  • Kosher or sea salt

Special equipment: An 9 x 9 ovenproof dish (I used an 8×8 pan and 2 ramekins)

Directions

Butter the inside of the dishes to be used.

potatoes in pot of water

Begin by scrubbing the potatoes and putting them in a pot; fill with water and add about 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer until a knife inserted into the center of a larger potato goes in easily.

Peel the potatoes after draining them (the skins slip off easily) and either put through a potato ricer (preferable) or mash them. Taste the potatoes and add salt if needed. They should be really tasty, just with added salt.

Preheat oven to 350º F (180º C).

ricing potatoes for ham and potato casserole

Stir in the butter and milk.

adding butter and milk

Then the grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

combining cheese with potato

Then the eggs, one at a time.

adding egg to potato mixture

Assemble the Ham and Potato Casserole

Add about 1/4 tsp more salt (for the added eggs). Next, sprinkle breadcrumbs over the bottom of the buttered dish and spread about one third of the potato mixture onto the breadcrumbs.

spreading mashed potato in tray

Now, add the chopped ham. 

adding ham to casserole

Then top with slices of mozzarella.

adding mozzarella to casserole

 

Repeat; ending with a layer of potatoes on top. Sprinkle with more breadcrumbs, and dot with butter. I made a little pattern to make it look pretty!

cheesy potato casserole with ham ready to bake

I also ended up making two vegetarian versions (no ham) in a couple of ramekins.

mashed potatoes and cheese in a ramekin

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (place on a higher rack in the oven towards the end of baking, if you like a more golden brown crust on the potatoes). And this photo will prove that you can make this ham and potato casserole ahead of time and reheat it to serve!

slice of gatto di patate

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For another Italian potato recipe, check out my friend, Frank’s site at Memorie di Angelina for a Basilicata potato casserole.

 
Potato, Ham and Mozzarella Bake: Gattò di Patate (Vegetarian Version too)

Potato, Ham and Mozzarella Bake: Gattò di Patate (Vegetarian Version too)

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

An Italian ham, cheese and potato dish that's absolutely delicious. Perfect as a side or even a main.

Ingredients

  • 3lbs potatoes (I used Gold) try to use similar sized potatoes
  • 1/3 cup (3 oz) milk, room temperature or heated (few extra pats of butter, to top the dish)
  • 1 stick (4 oz) butter, softened/slightly melted
  • 1/2 cup (2 oz) grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 3 eggs
  • 5 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
  • 4 oz (about 5 slices) ham, nitrate/nitrite free (I used Applegate's Black Forest ham)
  • breadcrumbs
  • Kosher or sea salt

Instructions

  1. Butter the inside of the dish(es) to be used.
  2. Begin by scrubbing the potatoes and putting them in a pot; fill with water and add about 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer until a knife inserted into the center of a larger potato goes in easily.
  3. Peel the potatoes after draining them (the skins slip off easily) and either put through a potato ricer (preferable) or mash them. Taste the potatoes and add salt if needed. They should be really tasty, just with added salt. (Preheat oven to 350º F (180º C))
  4. Stir in the butter and milk.Then the grated Parmigiano cheese. Then the eggs, one at a time.
  5. Add about 1/4 tsp more salt (for the added eggs). Next, sprinkle breadcrumbs over the bottom of the buttered dish and spread about one third of the potato mixture onto the breadcrumbs.
  6. Now, add the chopped ham (I used whole slices here, but prefer smaller sized pieces for easier serving). Then top with slices of mozzarella.
  7. Repeat; ending with a layer of potatoes on top. Sprinkle with more breadcrumbs, and dot with butter. I made a little pattern to make it look pretty!
  8. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (place on a higher rack in the oven towards the end of baking, if you like a more golden brown crust on the potatoes). You can make this ahead of time and reheat it to serve!

Notes

I also ended up making two vegetarian versions (no ham) in a couple of ramekins.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 338Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 345mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 5gSugar: 3gProtein: 15g

Nutrition information is only estimated.

Did you make this recipe?

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38 Comments

  1. I was looking for a recipe with sliced potatoes that I’ve made in the past and googled “potato ham mozzarella bake,” looking at google images and then I spotted this recipe pictured. Well, this looked and sounded better than the recipe I was thinking of so I gave it a whirl tonight.

    Oh. My. God. Just like you said, this is destined to be a family favorite! When I served my daughters a generous piece, they took one bite and said, “Yum! Is there more?”

    I’ll be trying many more of your recipes!

    1. Thank you so much, Leah! It’s really hard to imagine how such simple ingredients combine to make such a tasty dish, but trust the Italians! (I’m in Italy right now!) So glad you tried it and love it, and hope you find many more to enjoy! Thanks so much for the lovely review! CC

  2. Definetly comfort food! Made tonight for hubby & me, used 8×8, and have a lot left! Creamy, buttery, smoky, all wrapped up in one dish! So easy to make!!! Maybe to jaxx it up I might add a pinch if dry mustard to the potatoes next time… : ). This recipe, its a keeper!

    1. I’m so happy you tried it, Judy! You’d never know it tastes so good without making it, right? Don’t know why, but I love it so much! Thanks for coming back to let me know! :)