Description
This easy cheesy ham and pea casserole is a creamy, comforting one-dish meal perfect for using leftover ham. It’s a family-friendly recipe that comes together quickly for a delicious dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked ham, diced
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 8 oz egg noodles or rotini pasta
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- A pinch of paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion until soft, about 4-5 minutes.
- Sprinkle in the flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute to create a roux.
- Slowly pour in the milk and chicken broth, whisking to avoid lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the shredded cheddar, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- In the greased baking dish, combine the cooked pasta, diced ham, and frozen peas.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta, ham, and peas. Mix gently to coat everything. This is your cheesy ham and pea casserole base.
- In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, melted butter, and paprika for the topping.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
- Let the cheesy ham and pea bake rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a gluten-free cheesy ham pea casserole, use gluten-free pasta.
- You can substitute other cheeses like Gruyère or Monterey Jack.
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or diced jalapeño to the sauce.
- This recipe is great for meal prep; assemble and refrigerate, then bake when ready.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg