Mac and Cheese with Ham

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Mac and Cheese with Ham is the ideal family meal. The ultimate comfort food that everyone will love.

Close up of a white pan of macaroni and cheese with ham

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Mac and Cheese with Ham is a meal that on a cold winter night, when you just want a cozy, warm home cooked meal that screams comfort and goodness.

Great for using leftover ham. Easy to make and a real crowd pleaser. If you are like me and wonder who created such goodness find out here.

  • Easy Ingredients: Most or all of these ingredients you have on hand.
  • Family Friendly: This a true crowd pleaser in my house!
  • Adaptable: Can make it low-carb if you like.
  • Makes Great Leftovers: Make lots and enjoy the leftovers.

What You Need to Make Mac and Cheese with Ham

macaroni in a bowl with cheese, milk and butter

Ingredients

Equipment

How to Make Ham Mac and Cheese – Step by Step

Cooked Macaroni, diced ham, and a whisk
  • Oven: First, preheat oven 350 degrees 
  • Pasta: Second, prepare pasta according to the directions drain and transfer pasta into a casserole dish prepared with nonstick spray.
  • Dice: Meanwhile, dice the ham and set it aside.
  • Sauce: Next, in a sauce pot melt butter and then add flour, dry mustard, garlic powder, onion powder and whisk together for two minutes.
Serving of mac and Cheese with Ham on a white plate with a white napkin and fork.
  • Milk: Slowly add milk to saucepan and whisk until smooth add in ham and cheese.
  • Pour: Then pour sauce over the cooked pasta and next top with remaining cheese.
  • Bake: Finally, bake at 350 degrees for thirty minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden

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Common Questions About Ham Macaroni and Cheese

CAN I MAKE MAC AND CHEESE WITH HAM HEALTHIER?

Certainly, Use low fat milk, low fat cheese and a lean or low fat ham.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE HALVED OR DOUBLED?

Definitely, if you have a small family or a large gathering just adjust the amounts to suit your needs.

WHAT TYPE OF PASTA CAN I USE?

I use elbows but any type of pasta can be used, try fun shapes like Orecchiette,Gemelli or anovelty pasta shape.

CAN THE RECIPE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes, I love to prepare this in advance and then just bake it the night that I need it.

HOW DO I STORE THIS RECIPE?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days

HOW DO I KEEP MY PASTA FROM GETTING DRIED OUT?

Due to the nature of baking, it is imperative to cover your dish well with foil for the first 20 minutes of baking. Additionally, reserve a little of the cheese sauce top top the dish if you require it.

Close up on white baking dish of mac and cheee with ham

Expert Tips for Making Mac and Cheese and Ham

  • Add Vegetables: Sneak in some broccoli, mushrooms or grilled onions.
  • Short cut tip: Use pre shredded cheese and packaged diced ham.
  • Variation tip: So many different cheeses out there, try a different cheese or a cheddar blend to mix up the taste
  • Alternate ingredient: There are some great chic pea and lentil pasta varieties out there now.
  • Alternate cooking method tip: Feel free to make in the instant pot. Cook the pasta for 5 minutes do a quick release and add the sauce fixings and cook on the saute function until combined. Then place in broiler with more cheese on top until melted.
  • Try Hot Sauce: A dash of your favorite hot sauce is so very good in tis recipe too.

⭐⭐⭐ RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐⭐⭐

If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it in the comment section below.

Close up of a white pan of macaroni and cheese with ham
4.90 from 59 votes

Macaroni and Cheese with Ham

Yield: 8 servings
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
If you have a house full of mac and cheese lovers, then you have got to try this macaroni and cheese with ham. Absolutely delicious!
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups ham, diced
  • 16 oz elbow macaroni
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon dry mustard
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 ½ cups milk
  • 2 cups Sharp Cheddar, shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat oven 350 degrees 
  • Prepare pasta according to the directions drain and transfer pasta into a casserole dish prepared with nonstick spray.
  • While the pasta is cooking dice the ham and set it aside. 
  • In a sauce pot melt butter and then add flour, dry mustard, garlic powder, onion powder and whisk together for two minutes.
  • Slowly add milk to saucepan and whisk frequently until smooth. When mixture is smooth and completely free of lumps remove the pot for heat and add in ham and cheese stirring until combined and the cheese it melted.
  • Pour sauce over the cooked pasta, (give it a stir to make sure the sauce it evenly distributed)
  • Top with remaining cheese.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for thirty minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden. 

Expert Tips

  • Add Vegetables: Sneak in some broccoli, mushrooms or grilled onions.
  • Short cut tip: Use pre shredded cheese and packaged diced ham.
  • Variation tip: So many different cheeses out there, try a different cheese or a cheddar blend to mix up the taste
  • Alternate ingredient: There are some great chic pea and lentil pasta varieties out there now.
  • Alternate cooking method tip: Feel free to make in the instant pot. Cook the pasta for 5 minutes do a quick release and add the sauce fixings and cook on the saute function until combined. Then place in broiler with more cheese on top until melted.
  • Try Hot Sauce: A dash of your favorite hot sauce is so very good in tis recipe too.
 

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 496kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 652mg | Potassium: 354mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Calcium: 304mg | Iron: 1.4mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American

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10 thoughts on “Mac and Cheese with Ham”

  1. 1 star
    Wasn’t impressed with this recipe. First, the ingredients and instructions don’t match. There were no measurements for divided cheese. I had to keep the the milk mixture on heat to melt the cheese. The dish was dry and I had to add milk to serve. Disappointed.

    Reply
    • This is an old fashioned mac and cheese and it is a little drier than traditional mac and cheese, If you use preshredded cheese it does make it harder to melt as it is coated with an anticaking agent, try shredding your own cheese. However, I will adjust the recipe to reserve some cheese for topping.

      Reply
  2. I’m making this recipe tonight. There are a couple of things that I had a question about. First, the recipe did not mention onion powder or how much, so I’m putting in the same amount as the garlic. Second, the recipe state that you stir the mixture until smooth and free of lumps, then add the ham and cheese. Once it’s combined, add it to the pasta and top it with the remaining cheese. The recipe did not state how much cheese to put in with the ham, so I’m adding 1 cup of cheese with the ham, and I will top the casserole with the second cup of cheese. I have no idea if it will turn out, so I’m winging it as the recipe is not complete.

    Reply
    • There is no onion powder in the recipe but truly you can add whatever spices your family enjoys. Use One and half cups in the sauce and 1/2 cup for on top.

      Reply
  3. 4 stars
    Loved the recipe however ingredients list did not say how much onion powder. Also as I am a beginner cook could you please list size of casserole dish etc. to use.

    Reply
    • 5 stars
      Di, bless your heart. The first lesson to learn about cooking is that it is not baking. Cooking is not about precise measurements or casserole dish sizes or anything like that. How many recipes have you looked at that say, “salt and pepper to taste.” To taste, that’s what cooking is about… to your taste. Cooking recipes give you a base plan to work from so you can create your own meal… to your taste.

      Baking is all about specifics… cooking is not. Cooking is about creating and making it your own, ie., to your taste. No baking recipe EVER says, “to taste.”

      So relax, enjoy, make this recipe and all the rest, “to taste.” Make them your own. Have fun!

      Reply
  4. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for this very delicious and super easy to make macaroni cheese ham recipe! Will surely have this amazing recipe again! Highly recommended!

    Reply

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