Turn off heat and add chopped ham, peas and rice. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
3 cups ham, 1 ½ cups frozen peas, 3 cups cooked rice
Place in a greased casserole dish (I used an 11 x 7 inch dish)
Topping
Add panko crumbs, melted butter and remaining parmesan in a bowl. Stir just until combined.
¾ cup panko bread crumbs, ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon butter
Sprinkle topping over casserole
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes until browned and bubbly
Let rest for 10 minutes before serving
Notes
Salt has not been added to this recipe. The ham and parmesan cheese add a lot of salt to the dish. Taste mixture before adding to casserole dish and add salt if you think it's needed.
If you like a creamier casserole, increase the flour to ⅓ cup and increase the milk to 2 cups of milk
To make ahead of time, cover and refrigerate casserole dish after assembled. To bake, remove covering and bake as directed. Increase baking time by 10-15 minutes.