Macaroni And Cheese With Ham
Creamy stovetop mac and cheese with ham, and cheddar. Quick, easy, and perfect for family dinners, ready in 30 minutes.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 464kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup chopped bacon small dice
- 1 cup cubed ham
- ½ cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1½ cups shredded cheese a combination of mozzarella and cheddar
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni cooked and drained
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped bacon and cook for 1–2 minutes, just until it begins to render and lightly brown.
- Add the cubed ham, chopped onion, and fresh thyme.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and fragrant, about 3 minutes total.
- Remove the mixture from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the butter.
- Once melted, add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute to form a smooth roux.
- Slowly whisk in the milk, followed by the salt and black pepper.
- Increase heat slightly and bring to a gentle boil, whisking constantly.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese, mixing until fully melted and smooth.
- Add the bacon and ham mixture along with the cooked macaroni.
- Stir until everything is evenly coated and heated through.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Any type of ham may be used, including leftover baked ham, ham steak, thick-cut deli ham, or canned ham. Avoid thin-sliced sandwich ham, as it tends to dissolve into the sauce.
- Smoked bacon provides the best depth of flavor. Turkey bacon may be substituted if preferred.
- Elbow macaroni is traditional, but other short pasta shapes such as shells, cavatappi, or rotini work equally well.
- When reheating leftovers, add a splash of milk and reheat gently to maintain a creamy consistency.
Nutrition
Serving: 6serving | Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 777mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 492IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 324mg | Iron: 3mg
