This Mac and Cheese with Ham is creamy and the perfect family meal. My son runs to the table when we are having this meal. Imagine your favorite macaroni and cheese but with the addition of ham. It takes it to the next flavor level a perfect use for leftovers.
I love making this recipe with my leftover holiday ham. These are two of my family favorites, my slow cooker spiral ham and my ham in air fryer.
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Why this Mac and Cheese with Ham Recipe is a Keeper
My mac and cheese is a classic. This baked macaroni and cheese with ham recipe is a definite keeper for a multitude of reasons, making it a reliable and beloved comfort food staple:
- Ultimate Comfort Food: It’s a warm, creamy, and cheesy dish that evokes feelings of nostalgia and satisfaction. The addition of ham adds a savory depth that elevates it beyond basic mac and cheese.
- Effortless Versatility: This easy recipe is incredibly adaptable. You can easily customize it by using different types of cheese, pasta, or adding other ingredients like vegetables or spices.
- Perfect for Leftovers: It’s an excellent way to use up leftover ham, turning it into a delicious and satisfying meal.
- Crowd-Pleasing Simplicity: It’s relatively easy to prepare, making it ideal for busy weeknights, family gatherings, or potlucks.
- Budget-Friendly Cheesy Macaroni Meal: Using readily available ingredients, it’s a cost-effective way to feed a family or a crowd.
- Prep-Ahead Convenience: You can assemble the classic mac casserole ahead of time and bake it when needed, making it a great option for entertaining. especially when you shred your cheese ahead of time.
What Pasta is Best for Making Macaroni and Cheese?
In this pasta and cheese recipe we used elbow macaroni but some other great options include rigatoni, small shells or cavatappi.
Pro Tip Macaroni and Cheese Baked in the Oven
Don’t overcook the pasta: Cook it al dente, as it will continue to cook in the oven.
Ingredient Notes and Recipe Variation Suggestions for Baked Mac and Cheese
Boxed macaroni and cheese hacks are super easy to customize. I like to take it to the next level by using different meats or trying different versions to make a new recipe.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Cheese: I love to use sharp cheddar cheese for the simple cheese sauce in this delicious recipe.
- Other Meat: Use cooked bacon or pancetta for a smoky, salty alternative. Make this dish with sausage or ground beef for a heartier dish.
- Vegetarian Version: For a vegetarian dish, omit the ham and add roasted vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower.
How to Make Mac and Cheese with Ham
This recipe comes together in 4 easy to follow steps. This ham mac and cheese is so easy and delicious, I come back to them again and again.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Preheat Oven and Prep Pan: Preheat the oven 350℉ and spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook Pasta and Dice Ham: Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Drain and transfer cooked macaroni into the prepared baking dish. While the pasta is cooking, dice the ham.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a sauce pan, melt butter. Whisk in flour, dry mustard, garlic and onion powder, and whisk together slowly adding milk. Remove from the heat, add ham and shredded cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour sauce over the cooked pasta, top with remaining cheese and bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Macaroni and Cheese with Ham
Prepare baked macaroni and cheese recipes ahead of time to be able to bake and enjoy it whenever.
- Cubed Ham: Dice fully cooked ham ahead of time. Smoky ham can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or so until you’re ready to use.
- Assemble: You can assemble the casserole and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Add a few extra minutes to the baking time if it’s cold. Pop the casserole to be baked in the oven.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover of this Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Storing: Store leftover mac in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or the whole dish in the oven. Add a splash of milk so the cheese mixture is not too dry.
- Using Leftovers: I love to bread the mac and cheese dish add a little cream cheese and deep fry for a delicious appetizer. Enjoy leftovers with Green Beans with Slivered Almonds.
Common Questions About This Pasta Recipe
Feel free to make instant pot mac and cheese. Cook the pasta for 5 minutes do a quick release and add the sauce fixings and cook on the sauté function until combined. Then place in broiler with more cheese on top until melted.
Yes, instead of just cheddar cheese try Monterey jack, Velveeta cheese, Gruyère or Gouda.
The best way to keep this recipe from drying out is to cover the dish with foil for the first 20 minutes of baking. Save a little of the cheese sauce for on top of the dish if needed.
Expert Tips for Making Ham Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can affect the sauce’s smoothness.
- Make a Smooth Roux: A well-made roux (butter and flour) is essential for a creamy sauce. Cook it until it’s a light golden color before adding the milk.
- Season Generously: Don’t be afraid to add salt, pepper, mustard powder or a dash of cayenne pepper to enhance the flavor.
- Let Rest: Allow the mac and cheese to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking. This helps the sauce thicken and the flavors meld.
- Richer Mac: To add some richness, try using heavy cream over milk.
- Veggies: Make mac n cheese with ham and peas or broccoli.
- Topping: Top mac and cheese with bread crumbs before baking. I can also top with more cheddar and parmesan cheese a few minutes before serving.
- Serve With: Enjoy creamy mac with Homemade Garlic Bread from Scratch, Italian Chopped Salad or a Starbucks Pink Drink.
More Recipes You Might Like
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Mac and Cheese with Ham
Video
Equipment
- Sharp Knife
- Nonstick Cooking Spray
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Ingredients
- 2 cups Ham, diced
- 16 ounces 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℉.
- 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.
- Slowly add milk to saucepan and whisk frequently until smooth. When mixture is smooth and completely free of lumps, remove the pot from heat and add in ham and cheese stirring until combined and the cheese is melted.
- Pour sauce over the cooked pasta, (give it a stir to make sure the sauce it evenly distributed).
- Top with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Christina’s Notes
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can affect the sauce’s smoothness.
- Make a Smooth Roux: A well-made roux (butter and flour) is essential for a creamy sauce. Cook it until it’s a light golden color before adding the milk.
- Season Generously: Don’t be afraid to add salt, pepper, mustard powder or a dash of cayenne pepper to enhance the flavor.
- Let Rest: Allow the mac and cheese to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking. This helps the sauce thicken and the flavors meld.
- Richer Mac: To add some richness, try using heavy cream over milk.
- Veggies: Make mac n cheese with ham and peas or broccoli.
- Topping: Top mac and cheese with bread crumbs before baking. I can also top with more cheddar and parmesan cheese a few minutes before serving.
- Serve With: Enjoy creamy mac with Homemade Garlic Bread from Scratch, Italian Chopped Salad or a Starbucks Pink Drink.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
I love this recipe. Very easy to make and delicious. I used my own special spices. It turned out great. Only thing missing is buttered bread crumbs on top. Will try that when we have the leftovers later in the week.
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.
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.
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.
The instructions do mention onion powder, but it is not in the ingredient list.
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.
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!
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!