These Cheddar Cheese Scones are filled with tender chunks of ham and herbs, making them a savory option to start your day. They’re equally delightful whether enjoyed as part of a full breakfast spread or paired with a comforting bowl of soup or a refreshing salad.

Four slices of scones ham and cheese on a piece of paper.
Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

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I threw a soup party and wanted to serve tomato soup with grilled cheese, but making enough sandwiches for everyone was way too difficult. So, I decided to make ham and cheese scones instead, which turned out to be a big hit; everyone loved them, and the scones went perfectly with the soup.

    If you are new to scone baking, they really are very quick and easy to make, and they bake in about 22 – 25 minutes.  Either sweet or savory, you can add a variety of ingredients to the basic dough, from fruits, nuts, cheese, and herbs.

    Cheese Scone Ingredients and Notes

    A list of ingredients for cheese scones with text overlay.
    • Ham – This is the perfect recipe to use leftover holiday ham or substitute it with crispy bacon.
    • Cheddar cheese – Use your favorite cheese or mix some to change the flavor. Try pepper jack, asiago, Monterey Jack or gouda for a few flavors.
    • Herbs – I use all types of herbs from my garden, so try what you like. Besides chives and rosemary, I like thyme and sage.
    • Optional – green onions would also be a delicious addition.

    How To Make This Easy Scone Recipe

    Reference the full recipe at the end of the post, but here is a quick overview for making tender scones into quite a savory delight!

    1. Heat the oven and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    2. Whisk the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
    3. Cut in cold, cubed butter in the flour mixture using two knives or a pastry cutter.
    4. Add the shredded cheese, cubed ham and herbs and mix.
    5. Add the heavy cream (alternately use whole milk) to the mixture and gently stir to make a batter.
    6. Turn the scone dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a circle or small rectangle, and cut it into 8-10 wedges.
    7. Place the scones on the baking sheet, brush the tops of the scones with cream, and bake for 22-25 minutes.
    A mixing bowl filled with ingredients for ham and cheese scones.
    Cut in the butter
    Ham, cheese, and chives in a mixing bowl with flour for scones.
    Add the cheese, ham and herbs
    Cheddar and ham scone dough on a floured marble board.
    The mixed dough
    Ham and cheese scones on a baking sheet.
    Brush the tops with cream

    Tip ~The secret to fluffy scones is not to overmix or overhandle the dough

    Ham and cheese scones on a baking sheet.
    Scones ready to bake
    A stack of baked cheese scones on a piece of paper.
    Golden brown and tender

    There’s nothing quite like waking up to the smell of freshly baked scones in the morning. And when those scones are infused with savory ham, gooey cheese, and fragrant herbs, you know it’s going to be a delicious treat. The golden-brown exterior of the scones, with their delicate, crumbly texture, promises a satisfying crunch with every bite.

    Two cheddar cheese scones on a piece of paper.
    Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

    What To Serve With Savory Scones

    Soup is always a good choice, and this Chicken and Noodle Soup and this Creamy Mexican Bean Soup pair well with these scones.

    Make this Caesar Salad Wedge for dinner, and add the scones on the side for a light dinner.

    Skip the toast and make a batch of these cheddar scones with scrambled eggs for breakfast or even dinner.

    More To Bake And Eat

    Rolling pin graphic with flowers.
    Cheesy scones with bacon and chives.

    Easy Cheddar Cheese Scones With Ham

    Jere’ Cassidy
    These easy to make savory Cheddar Cheese Scones are filled with tender ham and flavorful herbs. They bake up fluffy inside and golden outside and are delicious to serve for breakfast or pair with soups and salad.
    5 from 37 votes
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 22 minutes
    Total Time 42 minutes
    Course Biscuits
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 scones
    Calories 319 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups AP flour
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 5 tablespoons butter cold and cut into cubes
    • 1 cup ham diced small
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded, or use your favorite cheese
    • ½ teaspoon rosemary chopped fresh or dried
    • 1 teaspoon chives snipped
    • ¼ tsp. cracked pepper
    • ¾ cup heavy cream

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oven to 400 F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment.
    • In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.  Stir to combine
    • Cut in the cold cubed butter with two knives until the butter is in pea-sized pieces, or use a pastry blender.
    • Add in the ham, cheese, and herbs, and stir to combine.
    • Add the cream and stir to combine all the dry ingredients. If the mixture is too dry add a small amount of extra cream.
    • Turn the dough out on a floured board and bring together. Pat into a 7"  round disk or a small rectangle. Cut the dough into eight triangles and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with cream.
      Optionally, cut the scones into your desired shapes like rounds or squares.
    • Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the scones are golden brown.
    • Serve the scones warm so the cheese is still soft and melted.
    • If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate. 
      Reheat the leftover scones by wrapping them in foil and heating in a 300° oven until warmed

    Notes

    Try these variations:
    • Use fried crumbled bacon instead of ham.
    • Use your favorite cheese or mix some cheese.
    • Use your favorite herbs, or you can leave them out.
     

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    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Calories: 319kcalCarbohydrates: 26.8gFat: 16.3gCholesterol: 65mg
    Did You Try My Recipe?Follow me on Facebook @onehotoven and tag #onehotoven to show me your dish!

    First published: Jan. 2, 2019, Last updated: Aug. 31, 2023 for better readability.

    More Cheese Recipes To Try

    Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog.  Please leave a comment to say hello or tell me what you are baking; I always love hearing from fellow bakers. Have any questions or want to chat about the recipe? Please visit my About page for information, and I’ll be happy to help!

    About Jere’                             

    From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending.  Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.

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    39 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      This was a perfect snack for me yesterday, I love how cheesy and herby it was. I paired it with a homemade fresh orange juice recipe of mine and they paired perfectly, so delightful!

    5 from 37 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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