Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 10 x 12-inch baking dish with butter. In a saucepan, bring 4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth or water to a boil. Add 1 pound of trimmed and cut green beans, cooking until tender-crisp (5-6 minutes), then drain and save the broth.

In a large bowl, combine 2 cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup, ¾ cup half-and-half, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Stir in the green beans, ½ pound diced ham, ½ cup diced onion, 2½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, and ¾ cup of canned French fried onions.

Pour the mixture into the greased baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar on top and bake for about 40 minutes until it's bubbling and crusty. During the last 10 minutes of baking, add the remaining ¼ cup of fried onions. Let it sit for 5 minutes after removing from the oven before serving. Enjoy!