Ham and Cheese Monkey Bread – perfect for using leftover holiday ham or as a party appetizer for your holiday dinner!
This post was originally sponsored. All opinions are my own.
The holidays fill the kitchen with extra food, and leftover ham is one of the most useful items to have on hand. Whether you have slices from a spiral-sliced ham or a few cups of chopped ham after a holiday meal, this Ham and Cheese Monkey Bread is an easy, crowd-pleasing way to transform those leftovers into something new.
Monkey bread is a shareable, pull-apart bread that’s great for brunch, lunch, dinner, or as an appetizer at gatherings. This savory version recreates the flavor of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich in bite-sized rolls baked together in a bundt pan. It’s simple to assemble, easy to serve to a crowd, and works perfectly for holiday leftovers or casual entertaining.
You can use any cooked ham you have available; follow the package directions to cook or heat a larger ham before chopping. Once the ham is ready, this recipe is quick to pull together.
Ham and Cheese Monkey Bread
Yield: about 64 pieces | Prep time: 30 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour | Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped ham (about 64 small pieces)
- 3 cups cubed cheese (about 128 small pieces) — use your favorite melting cheese
- 16 refrigerated biscuits (uncooked)
- Cooking spray
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. If using a whole or packaged ham, cook or reheat it according to the package directions. Chop the ham into about 64 small pieces.
3. Open the refrigerated biscuits and cut each biscuit into four pieces.
4. Place two small pieces of cheese and one piece of chopped ham into the center of each biscuit piece. Fold the dough around the filling and seal to form a small ball. Repeat until all the biscuits, ham, and cheese are used.
5. Spray a bundt pan generously with cooking spray. Arrange the filled biscuit balls inside the pan, packing them fairly snugly but allowing room for the dough to expand.
6. Bake at 350°F for about 1 hour, until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through.
7. Remove the bundt pan from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Carefully invert the pan onto a serving plate or cake stand and release the monkey bread.
8. In a small bowl, melt the stick of butter and whisk in the garlic powder and dried basil. Drizzle the garlic-basil butter over the hot monkey bread.
9. Serve warm for best flavor. The monkey bread can also be enjoyed at room temperature.
This savory pull-apart bread is like a shared grilled ham and cheese — flaky, buttery, garlicky rolls filled with ham and melty cheese. It’s ideal for holiday brunches, game-day snacks, or any time you want a comforting, easy-to-serve dish that uses up leftover ham.
Serve immediately and encourage guests to pull apart the warm rolls. Leftovers can be reheated briefly in the oven to refresh the crust and melt the cheese again.
Enjoy this easy and delicious way to transform leftover ham into a shareable, satisfying dish.