Author: Milisa Armstrong | Miss in the Kitchen
Leftover ham is a beautiful thing in my opinion. My family is not always wild about leftovers, so I try to come up with creative ways to enjoy them, especially after the holidays. Today I’m sharing a quick and easy Ham and Garlic Cheddar Pasta Bake that the whole family will love.
Growing up I was an extremely picky eater. One of the few things that I would always eat was mac and cheese and I never thought about making it homemade until a few years ago. Mac and cheese is still one of my favorite dishes but I like to fancy it up a bit these days. This casserole is a definite upgrade from the boxed variety without being overly complicated. The addition of Petit Jean Ham makes this dish incredibly delicious and one of my go-to comfort food dishes.
This casserole is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and you could change it up easily with different add-ins like: broccoli, spinach, roasted red peppers or jalapeños for a spicy kick. You could also change up the cheddar cheese with Colby-jack, Pepper-Jack, Swiss or throw in a bit of smoked cheese. The possibilities are endless you can’t go wrong with the base of pasta and Petit Jean Ham.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound Petit Jean Ham, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 pound medium shells pasta (or your favorite pasta)
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided use
- 1 medium- sized onion sliced thin
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups milk
- 4 oz cream cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Cook pasta for 4 to 6 minutes and drain. Set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter to a skillet and place over medium- high heat. Add onions, sauté for 8-10 minutes or just until onions start to brown. Set aside.
- Add 2 tablespoons butter to a saucepan and place over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook about 1 minute, whisk in flour and salt. Cook for about 2 minutes and whisk in milk and cream cheese. When cream cheese is melted and sauce starts to thicken, stir in shredded cheddar until melted and well combined.
- Stir pasta, onions and cheese sauce together and add to a 9" x 13" baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through.
- Garnish with fresh thyme and serve immediately.