Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
If desired, heat the oil in a pan over medium high heat. When hot, add ham and crisp briefly. Remove to a plate lined to absorb any excess oil, and set aside. Melt butter and set that aside to cool as well.
Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder in a mixing bowl and whisk briefly to combine. Add in milk, melted butter, cheese, and ham.
Fold and stir gently until dough has no more dry spots of flour and the ham and cheese are dispersed evenly.
Scoop or drop 8 biscuits onto the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the bottom is golden and the tops appear dry and slightly firm to the touch.
Remove to a cool rack to cool briefly, then serve warm. Store in an airtight container once cool for up to 3 days.
Notes
*crisping the ham is completely optional, omit oil if skipping that step.