Ham and Cheese Macaroni: Easy Recipe

Whether you have some leftover ham from a gammon joint that you want to use up or you want a simple but tasty meal to make, ham and cheese macaroni is a fantastic choice. The addition of ham to a classic macaroni cheese dish completely transforms this meal. It is a great budget option and really easy to make. Furthermore, it will probably be a hit with all the family. Here is an easy recipe for ham and cheese macaroni.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6
Vegetarian/ vegan: NO
Dairy-free: NO
Gluten-free: NO

Ingredients for Ham and Cheese Macaroni

• 18 oz/ 500 g dried pasta (macaroni or a similar variety of pasta)
• 3 slices of leftover ham
• 1 oz/ 25 g butter
• 1 oz/ 25 g plain flour
• 3 oz/ 80 g cheese for the sauce
• 2 oz/ 50g cheese for the topping
• 600 ml/ 1-pint milk
• 2 tsp English mustard (optional)
• White pepper and salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Measure your ingredients first and preheat the oven to 180C/ gas mark 4.
2. Cook the pasta in a saucepan according to pack instructions. I would remove a few minutes from the cooking time so it is al dente as the pasta will continue to cook in the cheese sauce. 
3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan over low heat. 
4. Sieve the flour into the melted butter and stir.
5. Cook for two minutes.
6. Remove the pan from the heat and add the milk a little at a time continuously stirring until you have created a smooth sauce.
7. Season with the salt and white pepper, add the mustard (optional) and stir through.
8. Simmer gently over low heat for approximately eight minutes.
9. Remove from the heat and stir in the grated cheese.
10. Drain the pasta when cooked and transfer to either a large ovenproof dish or individual ovenproof dishes.
11. Using a ladle, spoon over the cheese sauce evenly.
12. Shred your ham and stir into the mixture.
13. Sprinkle your remaining cheese over the top of the dishes. 
14. Transfer to the oven and cook for approximately 15 minutes or until the cheese on top is golden and bubbling.
15. If you have cooked one large macaroni cheese, spoon onto plates. If you have cooked individual portions, transfer the individual bowls to plates. 
16. Serve with salad, vegetables, or garlic bread. 

You might also like our recipes for chicken, chorizo, and tomato pasta bake, spinach and cream cheese cannelloni, eggplant parmigiana, lasagne, and Croque Monsieur recipes.

Tips for Making Ham and Cheese Macaroni

TIP- If you are not a fan of English mustard, try using one of the other mustard varieties in this ham and cheese macaroni recipe.

TIP- Try adding breadcrumbs to the top for extra crunch.