Macaroni and Cheese with Ham

4.43 from 7 votes

Macaroni and Cheese with Ham

A cheesy baked macaroni and cheese casserole that works as a meal on its own, thanks to the addition of diced ham. The whole family will love this cozy dish.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword baked ham, kale, macaroni, macaroni and cheese

Prep Time 45

Cook Time 20

Total Time 1 5

Servings

Calories 391.33kcal

Author Lisa Lotts

Ingredients

4 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter divided
1 cup onion diced
2 large cloves garlic minced
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon dried mustard powder
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
3 cups milk
1 cup cheddar shredded
2 cups ham diced
8 ounces macaroni
1 slice bread
¼ cup parsley fresh

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with vegetable spray and set aside.
Before making the cheese sauce, begin to heat a pot of water to a boil for the noodles. Cook 8 ounces macaroni to 1 minute less than al dente, according to package instructions.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat in a large skillet until it begins to melt and add 1 cup onion and 2 large cloves garlic, cook for 3-5 minutes until tender and translucent.
In a large saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Add 3 tablespoons flour1 teaspoon dried mustard powder, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and cook, stirring constantly to ensure that all the dried bits are coated with the butter and it forms a paste (called a roux).
When the roux begins to bubble, cook for one minute (to prevent having a raw flour taste), then gradually whisk in 3 cups milk a little at a time. Stir the sauce constantly, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan so it doesn't stick. As the sauce thickens, stir in more milk and continue in this manner until all the milk is used. Gently bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 1 minute until the sauce is thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup cheddar until melted, then stir in 2 cups ham. Set aside.
Add the cooked noodles to the cheese sauce and stir until well coated. Transfer the macaroni and cheese with ham to the prepared casserole dish.
Tear 1 slice bread into chunks and add them to the mini prep food processor. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of butter and ¼ cup parsley and pulse until bread crumbs are formed. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the casserole and bake for 15-20 minutes, until bubbly and browned on top. Serve.

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