This skillet 5-ingredient ham sterling is the kind of supper that comes from stretching what you have and making it taste like plenty. Around our way, meals like this were built from pantry potatoes, a bit of ham, and whatever cheese could be spared, all browned together in one hot skillet until the edges turned crisp and the middle stayed hearty. It is simple, thrifty, filling, and just the thing for a busy weeknight when you want supper on the table without much fuss.
Serve this warm skillet with buttered green beans, a dish of applesauce, sliced tomatoes in summer, or a little cabbage slaw for something crisp beside it. If you want to make it go even farther, set out biscuits, toast, or a pan of cornbread to catch every cheesy bite, and a pot of coffee or tall glasses of iced tea fit right in.
Skillet 5-Ingredient Ham Sterling
Servings: 6 to 7
Ingredients
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and diced small
2 cups thick-cut ham, cubed
1 small onion, diced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
1. Melt the butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the diced potatoes and onion, stir well, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning every few minutes, until the potatoes are tender and developing a golden crust.
2. Add the cubed ham to the skillet and cook for 5 to 7 minutes more, stirring now and then, until the ham is heated through and the edges begin to caramelize.
3. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over the skillet, reduce the heat to low, and cover for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted. If you like a crisper bottom, uncover and let it cook another minute before serving.
4. Spoon onto plates or serve straight from the skillet while hot, making sure everybody gets some of the crispy bits from the bottom.
Variations & Tips
Add a little seasoning: Ham often brings enough salt on its own, but a good shake of black pepper or a pinch of paprika can wake up the whole skillet nicely. Taste before adding extra salt.
Use leftover holiday ham: This is one of the best ways to turn a bit of baked ham into a whole new supper. If your leftover ham has a sweet glaze on it, those little browned edges can be mighty tasty in this skillet.
Try another cheese: Colby, Monterey Jack, or a simple American cheese will melt beautifully here if that is what you have in the icebox. Sharp cheddar gives the strongest flavor, but any good melting cheese will do.
Make it extra crisp: The secret is not stirring too often once the potatoes start browning. Give them time to sit against the hot skillet so they can build that crust everybody reaches for first.
Stretch it further: If you need to feed a few extra mouths, serve smaller portions with eggs for breakfast-for-supper, or set it alongside toast or biscuits. It is a humble trick, but it has helped many a family table feel full.