There is so much to love about this One Pot Ham and Cheese Pasta recipe. It is a perfect way to use up that leftover holiday ham that we always seem to have lurking in the freezer. It is also a quick and easy recipe that’s loaded with pasta, cheese, and will be loved by kids and adults alike!
See, lots to love.
Please tell me I’m not alone in loving holiday leftovers more than the actual dinner. I suspect this has a lot to do with all of the work that goes into the original dinner leaving one too knackered to actually enjoy it.
However, I do have a few rules for holiday leftover recipes:
- Has to be quick and easy.
- Can’t make a mess.
- Must be DELICIOUS!
Enter this one pot ham and cheese pasta! It’s super quick and easy, made in one pot for easy cleanup, and it’s SO GOOD!
I was a bit skeptical of this recipe and know Italians would cringe at the thought of cooking the pasta in the same water as everything else. i was also concerned that there would be no flavour what with all of the said water and all. I should have just put my worries aside and got on with it.
The results were every bit as good as the recipe promised. The only thing I didn't like was it was too cheesy. Now before you think 'Jerry has lost the plot here . . . there is no such thing as too cheesy.' I think the problem was i misread the amount of cheese required and used double the cheese called for. It was also a fine aged Jarlesberg that i had languishing in the fridge so the flavour overpowered a bit.
I'm a rebel and refused to use the bow-tie pasta that the recipe called for - I have 12 bags of pasta in the pantry and none of it is bow-tie and I refused to buy more until I make a dint in the existing stockpile.
I also had a bag of baby spinach that I added to the recipe for no reason other than i wanted to use it up before it went slimy. I added it near the end and the heat from the dish cooked it nicely.
Enjoy!
One Pot Ham and Cheese Casserole
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 large yellow onion sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound cooked ham diced
(16 oz) box bow tie pasta
4 cloves garlic minced or pressed
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup white wine or 1/2 cup water, but wine adds more flavor
4 1/2 cups water
3/4 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
1 (8 oz) block swiss cheese shredded
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
Melt butter over medium heat in a large stockpot.
Once melted, add in onion, salt and pepper and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until tender.
Add in ham, pasta, garlic, mustard, wine (if using), water, and additional salt
Bring to a simmer and simmer for 9-13 minutes, stirring regularly, until pasta is al dente
Remove from heat and stir in swiss and parmesan.
Taste and re-season, if necessary, and enjoy
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