Mac and Cheese with Ham is the ideal family meal. The ultimate comfort food that everyone will love.
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
Ingredients
- ham
- elbow macaroni
- flour
- dry mustard
- House Seasoning Blend
- butter
- milk
- Sharp Cheddar
Equipment
How to Make Ham Mac and Cheese – Step by Step
- 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.
- 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
LOOKING FOR MORE CASSEROLE? TRY THESE FAVORITES
- Instant Pot Green Chicken Enchiladas Casserole
- Cheesy Bacon and Corn Casserole
- Spaghetti Casserole with Meatballs
Looking for more? Check out all of the Quick and Easy Recipes on It Is a Keeper.
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Common Questions About Ham Macaroni and Cheese
Certainly, Use low fat milk, low fat cheese and a lean or low fat ham.
Definitely, if you have a small family or a large gathering just adjust the amounts to suit your needs.
I use elbows but any type of pasta can be used, try fun shapes like Orecchiette,Gemelli or anovelty pasta shape.
Yes, I love to prepare this in advance and then just bake it the night that I need it.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days
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.
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.
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If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it in the comment section below.
Macaroni and Cheese with Ham
Ingredients
- 2 cups ham, diced
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 1/2 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.
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.
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.
Is there an alternative for the dried mustard
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard = 1 teaspoon dry mustard
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.
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!
Kids were big fans of this one!