Did you serve a ham along with the turkey at Thanksgiving like I did? Do you have a ton of leftover ham like I do? Are you tired of ham sandwiches and looking for something a little more interesting to use up the last of your leftover ham?
Well if you are a fan of Mac & Cheese you are going to love this recipe! It’s a cheesy casserole that your family is going to love. They will be scraping their plates clean and asking for seconds!
So how do you make this delectable dish? Start by cooking a box of bowtie pasta. Get a large pot of salted water boiling on your stove top and cook pasta until al dente. You don’t want to overcook it, it will cook for an additional time in the oven.
Al dente describes pasta that is cooked to be firm to the bite.
While the pasta is cooking, it’s time to get started on the cheese sauce. Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a large saucepan.
Once the butter has melted add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Whisk in flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until smooth.
Add a little milk at a time, stirring constantly. Stir until you have a smooth and creamy sauce.
Add the mustard and shredded cheddar cheese, reserving about a cup of the cheese.
Stir until the cheese is completely melted and you have a nice thick creamy cheese sauce.
When pasta is done cooking, drain and combine with the cheese sauce and diced ham. Stir well to combine.
Spread mixture out evenly into a 2 quart oven safe casserole dish.
Top with Parmesan cheese and reserved cheddar cheese.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and casserole is hot and bubbly.
Ham & Cheese Bowties
- 12 ounces farfalle (bow tie) pasta
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 2 1/2 cups shredded Colby cheese
- 4 ounces cooked ham, julienned
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
Saute garlic 30 seconds.
Whisk in flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until smooth.
Pour in milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil for 1 minute.
Stir in mustard and cheddar cheese. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.
Remove from heat and stir in pasta and ham.
Pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with reserved cheddar and Parmesan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
This is a satisfying delicious meal. I hope you decide to give it a try!