Delicious Ham and Cheese Waffles: Your Ultimate Savory Breakfast & Brunch Solution

Got leftover ham from a holiday feast or a weeknight dinner? Don’t let it go to waste! Turn it into something truly spectacular with these delicious and savory Ham and Cheese Waffles. Far from your typical sweet breakfast, these savory waffles are a game-changer. They’re not only incredibly flavorful but also remarkably versatile and freezer-friendly, making them ready for a quick breakfast, a delightful brunch, or even a fun ‘brinner’ (breakfast for dinner) in mere minutes.

Does this scenario sound familiar to you?

The alarm blares, you hit snooze a few (or five!) times, and eventually, you drag yourself out of bed. You go through the motions of getting ready – contacts in, clothes on, feeding the pets, doing your hair, and finally, making that much-needed cup of coffee.

You sit there, sipping your coffee, trying to summon even a tiny speck of motivation to prepare something for breakfast. Or perhaps you’re in a mad dash, with only 30 minutes to eat before rushing out the door, and you find yourself staring blankly into the fridge, too tired to figure out what to make.

This is a common morning struggle for many, whether it’s getting ready for a demanding workday or needing to be somewhere early. It’s no secret that not everyone is a morning person, and sometimes, a fulfilling breakfast feels like an insurmountable task. While the allure of decadent chocolate chip pancakes is strong, daily indulgence isn’t always the goal.

Often, the default breakfast becomes something quick and simple, like yogurt or a piece of fruit. While perfectly fine, a truly satisfying meal can set a better tone for the day. The secret to enjoying a better, more substantial breakfast, especially on those hectic mornings, is having something delicious and homemade ready to go from the freezer at a moment’s notice.

Think about the convenience of homemade waffles. Typically, sweet varieties like chocolate chip waffles or even rich chocolate waffles are a favorite. But as delightful as they are, eating dessert for breakfast every day isn’t always practical. The beauty of waffles lies in their ease of preparation: just pop them into the toaster, and they’re ready. The question then becomes, how can we make them more appropriate for any meal without feeling like we’re having a sugary treat?

Elevate Your Mornings with Savory Ham and Cheese Waffles

The answer is simple: by transforming them into savory delights! These Ham and Cheese Waffles offer the perfect solution. Imagine the delightful combination of salty, flavorful ham and rich, melty cheddar cheese, all encased within the perfectly crispy exterior and fluffy interior of a freshly made waffle. It’s a truly mouthwatering way to kickstart your day.

While ham and cheese waffles are a natural fit for breakfast, their savory profile makes them incredibly versatile. You can enjoy them not just for breakfast, but also as a special treat for brunch, or even as a comforting and satisfying dinner (affectionately known as ‘brinner’). Many find ‘brinner’ particularly appealing because, let’s face it, we’re often more awake and able to fully appreciate a delicious meal later in the day! Plus, any leftovers can be easily frozen, ensuring a quick and easy breakfast for the next morning – a win-win situation!

Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Ham and Cheese Waffles

Crafting these delectable savory waffles from scratch requires a few key ingredients, each playing an important role in achieving that perfect taste and texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to gather:

• All-Purpose Flour: This forms the base of your waffle batter, providing structure and helping to create that satisfying crispness on the outside and fluffiness within. For an added nutritional boost, you could experiment with a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour, though it might slightly alter the texture.
• Granulated Sugar: While these are savory waffles, a small amount of sugar is crucial. It doesn’t make the waffles sweet, but rather aids in the Maillard reaction during cooking, resulting in those beautiful golden-brown, caramelized edges that are so irresistible.
• Baking Powder: This is your primary leavening agent, responsible for giving your waffles their light, airy, and fluffy texture. Ensure your baking powder is fresh for optimal rise.
• Salt (preferably Kosher): Even with salty ham, seasoning the batter itself is essential to balance all the flavors and enhance the overall taste. It brings out the best in both the savory and subtle sweet notes.
• Whole Milk: Milk helps to thin out the batter to the perfect pourable consistency. Whole milk is recommended for its richness, which contributes to a more tender and flavorful waffle. You can use lower-fat milk, but the waffles might be slightly less rich.
• Melted Unsalted Butter or Vegetable Oil: Butter is highly recommended for its superior flavor, adding a wonderful richness to the waffles. However, if you’re looking for convenience or a dairy-free option, vegetable oil works perfectly well too. Ensure the butter is cooled slightly before adding to prevent cooking the egg prematurely.
• Large Egg (room temperature): The egg plays a vital role in binding the ingredients, adding richness, and contributing to the waffle’s rise and overall fluffy texture. Using a room temperature egg helps it incorporate more smoothly into the batter.
• Finely Chopped Ham: This is where the savory magic truly happens! Whether you’re repurposing leftover holiday ham steak from Easter, Christmas, or simply buying pre-chopped ham from your local deli, ensure it’s finely diced. This allows for even distribution throughout the waffle and a burst of flavor in every bite. Smoked ham or even a good quality deli ham works wonderfully.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese (room temperature): Cheddar is a classic pairing with ham, offering a sharp, tangy, and wonderfully melty element. However, feel free to experiment with other melty cheeses like Gruyère, Swiss, Monterey Jack, or even a smoked Gouda for different flavor profiles. Bringing the cheese to room temperature helps it melt more evenly into the batter.
• Chopped Green Onion (Scallions): A fantastic addition that introduces a fresh, mild oniony bite and a hint of vibrant color. It elevates the savory profile of the waffles, providing a pleasant contrast to the richness of the ham and cheese. Fresh chives can be used as an alternative.

Remember that waffle makers come in various shapes and sizes, which means your total yield might vary. For this specific recipe, I used a classic round waffle maker, which produced approximately 4 small batch, six-inch waffles. Adjust your batter portions accordingly if your machine is larger or smaller.

Step-by-Step Guide: How To Make Irresistible Ham and Cheese Waffles

Ready to create your own batch of savory breakfast perfection? Follow these simple steps to prepare your delightful Ham and Cheese Waffles:

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisking ensures that the leavening agents are evenly distributed, which is key for fluffy waffles.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate large measuring cup or another mixing bowl, whisk together the milk (ensure it’s at room temperature), melted butter (cooled slightly to avoid cooking the egg), and the room temperature egg until well combined.
3. Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir them together gently until they are just blended and smooth. Be careful not to overmix the batter; overmixing can develop the gluten too much, resulting in tough waffles instead of light and fluffy ones. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.
4. Add Savory Mix-Ins and Rest: Gently stir in the finely chopped ham, shredded cheese, and chopped green onion. Once incorporated, let the batter rest for about 5 minutes. This brief resting period allows the flour to fully hydrate and the baking powder to start working its magic, contributing to a lighter texture.
5. Preheat and Cook Waffles: While the batter rests, preheat your waffle maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Lightly grease the waffle plates with cooking spray or a little butter if necessary (some non-stick waffle makers may not require this). Once hot, pour roughly 1/2 cup of batter (or the appropriate amount for your specific waffle maker) onto the center of the hot waffle iron. Close the lid and cook until the waffles are golden brown and toasted to your liking, typically 2-3 minutes depending on your machine. Repeat this process with the remaining batter.

Serve your warm, golden Ham and Cheese Waffles immediately! They’re fantastic on their own, or you can elevate them with various toppings. For a classic touch, a pat of butter and a drizzle of maple syrup provide a delightful sweet and savory contrast. For a truly savory experience, a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt topped with extra fresh chives makes an excellent accompaniment.

Maximizing Convenience: Freezing and Reheating Homemade Waffles

One of the best features of these savory waffles is how incredibly well they freeze, making them a fantastic meal-prep option for busy individuals or families. Even if this recipe yields only four waffles, you might not want to enjoy all of them in one sitting. Here’s how to properly freeze and reheat them to maintain their deliciousness:

How To Freeze Homemade Waffles

1. Cool Completely: After cooking, allow your ham and cheese waffles to cool completely on a wire rack. This is a crucial step; freezing warm waffles will create condensation, leading to ice crystals and potentially soggy waffles.
2. Flash Freeze: Once fully cooled, place the waffles in a single layer on a baking sheet. Make sure they are not touching each other. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and flash freeze until the waffles are firm, which usually takes about 1 hour. This method prevents the waffles from sticking together when they are eventually stored in a stack.
3. Store in Freezer Bag: Once firm, transfer the frozen waffles to a heavy-duty, freezer-safe plastic bag or an airtight container. Remove as much air as possible from the bag to prevent freezer burn. Label the bag with the date. Frozen savory waffles can be stored for up to 3 months, ensuring you always have a delicious meal ready to go.

How To Reheat Frozen Waffles

Reheating frozen waffles is incredibly simple and can be done in a few different ways, depending on your preferred texture:

• Toaster (Recommended for Crispy Waffles): For the best results and to recapture that delightful crisp exterior, pop your frozen ham and cheese waffles directly into a toaster or toaster oven. Heat on a medium setting until they are thoroughly warmed through and crispy. This usually takes a couple of cycles.
• Oven (For Multiple Waffles or a Softer Texture): If you’re reheating several waffles at once, or prefer a slightly less crispy texture, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the frozen waffles directly on a baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through and lightly toasted.
• Microwave (Quickest, but Less Crispy): For the quickest reheat, the microwave can be used. However, be aware that this method will result in softer waffles, as it won’t crisp up the exterior. Heat for 30-60 seconds, or until warm. This is a good option if you’re really short on time and don’t mind a softer waffle.

Creative Culinary Ideas: Recipes Using Leftover Ham

Still finding yourself with extra ham after making these delicious waffles? Leftover ham is a versatile ingredient that can be transformed into a variety of comforting and flavorful dishes. Don’t let any of that precious ham go to waste! Here are a few other excellent recipes that make good use of leftover ham:

• Hearty Ham and Cheese Soup: A warming and creamy soup, perfect for a chilly day, combining the rich flavors of ham and cheese in a comforting broth.
• Baked Eggs with Ham and Cheese in Toast Cups: An elegant yet simple breakfast or brunch option where eggs are baked inside toast with ham and cheese.
• Old Fashioned Ham and Bean Soup from Foxes Love Lemons: A classic, wholesome soup that’s incredibly satisfying, making the most of a ham bone and leftover ham for deep flavor.

These savory Ham and Cheese Waffles truly redefine breakfast, brunch, and even dinner. They offer a delightful break from the usual sweet options, providing a satisfying, protein-packed meal that’s easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy thanks to their freezer-friendly nature. Give this recipe a try and discover your new favorite way to enjoy ham and cheese!

Ham and Cheese Waffles Recipe

Yield:
4 six-inch waffles

Prep Time:
20 minutes

Cook Time:
10 minutes

Total Time:
30 minutes

Turn your leftover ham into a delicious and convenient meal with these savory Ham and Cheese Waffles! Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or ‘brinner,’ these freezer-friendly waffles are a simple yet satisfying solution for any time of day.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 + 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (preferably kosher)
• 3/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
• 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter or vegetable oil
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 cup finely chopped ham
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, room temperature
• 1 green onion, chopped

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
2. In a large measuring cup or another mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, slightly cooled melted butter (or oil), and egg.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then stir together gently until well blended and smooth. Be careful not to overmix; a few small lumps are acceptable.
4. Stir in the finely chopped ham, shredded cheese, and chopped green onion. Let the batter rest for 5 minutes.
5. Preheat your waffle maker according to its instructions. Lightly grease with cooking spray if needed.
6. Once hot, pour roughly 1/2 cup of batter (or the amount recommended for your machine) into your waffle maker. Cook until golden brown and toasted, typically 2-3 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Notes

• To freeze leftover waffles: Allow them to cool completely. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze uncovered until firm (about 1 hour). Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
• To reheat frozen waffles: Use a toaster for crispiness, an oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes, or a microwave for a quicker, softer option.
• Looking for more waffle inspiration? Explore my Waffles For Two and Chocolate Waffles recipes.

Recommended Products

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• Round Waffle Maker

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First published on September 12, 2016. This article has been updated and expanded for clarity and comprehensive detail.