Macaroni and Cheese with Ham

There’s nothing quite as comforting as a bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese, with its creamy, cheesy goodness. This recipe for Macaroni and Cheese with Ham takes it up a notch by combining sharp white cheddar, Gruyere, and savory chunks of leftover holiday ham for a dish that’s both indulgent and practical.

About this Recipe

What do you think of when you’re asked to describe what “comfort food” means? I recently had to think about this a bit because my husband said that he had never heard the term prior to knowing me.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese is the definition of comfort to me. I have fond memories of enjoying a bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese as a child and still love the cheesy, gooey pasta now as an adult. Though I do choose to fancy it up a bit with different cheese choices.

In this Macaroni and Cheese with Ham I’ve used sharp white cheddar and Gruyere cheese to add extra interest to the flavor of the sauce. This recipe is a great use of leftover Holiday ham. Add some broccoli and it’s a great one pot meal – a favorite of the many ways to use the Le Creuset French Ovens!

What is your favorite comfort food? I hope you’ll share it here for a chance to win a Le Creuset 5 quart French Oven – the perfect pot to cook your comfort food in. Check out Jamie’s delicious Beef Stew Recipe that she shared for this recipe exchange.

Macaroni and Cheese with Ham

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

There’s nothing quite as comforting as a bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese, with its creamy, cheesy goodness. This recipe for Macaroni and Cheese with Ham takes it up a notch by combining sharp white cheddar, Gruyere, and savory chunks of leftover holiday ham for a dish that’s both indulgent and practical.

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Ingredients

• 1 pound rotini
• 2 shallots, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 4 ounces sharp white cheddar, grated
• 4 ounces gruyere, grated
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt, according to taste
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup diced ham
• 2 large crowns of broccoli, cut into florets

Instructions

1. Cook pasta one minute less than package instructions. Drain and set aside. Steam the broccoli till tender-crisp and set aside (you can also add it into the pasta water during the last 1-2 minutes of pasta cooking).
2. In a large French or Dutch oven, melt the butter. Add the shallot and garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook over medium heat till golden.
3. Slowly whisk in the milk while cooking over medium heat. Stir in the cheese, 4 ounces at a time, whisking until melted and creamy. Add the nutmeg, cayenne, pepper, and salt (if desired). Bring to a slow simmer, then stir in the ham and let cook until ham has heated through and flavors have developed, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Stir in the pasta and heavy cream, followed by the broccoli. Cook for 1 additional minute to reheat the pasta and broccoli. Serve immediately.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 432Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 681mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 19g

GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.

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