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This one pot ham and pea pasta recipe is quick, simple, and a perfect way to use up leftover ham from the holidays! Ready in under 30 minutes.
I made this creamy ham pasta recipe a one pot pasta dish because I wanted the pasta to cook in the half-and-half and work its magic to thicken the sauce. Full-fat cream is my usual go-to, but I want to explore making some of the creamy dishes I love a little bit lower in calories without sacrificing texture.
The issue I have with subbing half-and-half or milk in creamy dishes is that the sauce generally just isn’t the same. Watery cream sauces are sad sauces. I am happy to report though that the starch in the pasta did thicken the sauce to an acceptable level, and we saved some calories!
It’s also easier to just chuck it all in one pot, don’t you think? Fewer dishes too. 😉
This easy ham and pea pasta recipe really couldn’t be much simpler. Even developing this recipe went really well. It worked like a charm on my first try, which is really nice considering that does not always happen. 😀
The sauce is creamy but not too heavy. Prep time is minimal since you’re basically just chopping an onion and some ham.
I did intend this recipe to use leftover cooked ham, but if you really like ham, you could just make this for the sake of making it, of course!
Love ham? Try these recipes:
Hope you love this leftover ham pasta recipe! How do you usually use up leftover ham from Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving?
Ham and Pea Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (10 fluid ounce) can chicken broth
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 3 cups fusilli pasta
- 4 dashes Italian seasoning
- 1-2 cups cooked ham chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional) to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a fairly large pot. Add the onion and sauté for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant; about 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth, half-and-half, pasta, and Italian seasoning. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 10 minutes, giving it a stir every so often.
- The pasta should be about done - give it a taste, and if it's nearly cooked, add in the ham and peas. Cook it for another 5 minutes or so until the ham and peas are warmed through.
- Serve immediately with parmesan if desired.
Notes
- This recipe is accurate as tested on my stove. However, stoves (especially electric ones) can vary, so if you notice the pasta is not yet cooked and there doesn't seem to be enough liquid, I suggest using your best judgment and adding a bit more liquid as needed, a half cup at a time until the pasta is cooked.
- Some pastas absorb more liquid than others, so I suggest sticking to the type of pasta I recommend in this recipe.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Awesome! I used heavy cream (no half and half on hand) and frozen mixed veggies. Came out great! Not a bad dinner for having nothing planned 😃
I’m thrilled you enjoyed it!! 😀 Thanks for your review, Michele!