Cheesy Ham Casserole

Cheesy Ham Bow Tie Pasta is a quick and easy ham casserole perfect for dinner! Cheesy casserole recipe with noodles and ham. It’s perfect for when you have leftover ham. The creamy cheese sauce that smothers the pasta and ham is amazing!

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Casseroles are a mainstay in our house this time of year. When the whole family is running in different directions with after school activities and work stuff sometimes I think it’s a small miracle that we can all meet at the table for dinner! Having go-to recipes like this cheesy ham casserole makes it easy to get dinner on the table instead of ordering pizza or take-out.

After making one pot ham & penne skillet, I wanted to try this recipe with some leftover baked ham. Our family LOVES cheese, especially mac n cheese, so I figured this was the perfect recipe because it’s basically glorified mac n cheese with ham. My ham and cheese tortellini is another great way to use up leftover ham!

And if you love this recipe, then check out my post with a massive list of leftover ham recipes. So many great ways to use up that delicious ham!

Why You’ll Love Cheesy Ham Casserole

• This cheesy casserole is comforting, filling and only takes 20 minutes to prep before it goes in the oven.
• This ham casserole was super easy to whip up after work, and you should have most of these ingredients already in your house. You may not even need to run to the grocery store!
• Repurpose leftover ham with this simple recipe. It’s a wonderful way to ensure that your leftovers don’t go to waste!

Ingredients for Cheesy Ham Casserole

• Farfalle pasta – You can use any kind of small pasta, but I prefer bowtie pasta for this specific casserole recipe! Be sure to cook the pasta to al dente.
• Butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter in this recipe, both will work great!
• Minced garlic – Minced some fresh garlic cloves or some of that pre-minced garlic in a jar from the grocery store.
• Flour – A little bit of all purpose flour will help to thicken up the cheese sauce that makes this ham casserole so creamy.
• Salt and pepper – Enhance the flavor of this dish with a little bit of salt and pepper.
• Milk – I recommend using whole milk for the creamiest results. But you can also use skim milk or 2% milk if that’s all that you have on hand.
• Colby cheese – I like to use Colby cheese for this recipe, but any good melting cheese will work. You can substitute cheddar cheese, provolone, American cheese, and Swiss cheese. For a fancier twist, you could try Gruyere, Fontina or smoked cheddar!
• Cooked ham – This recipe is great for using up leftover ham, but you don’t have to wait until you cook a ham to make it! You can buy packages of diced ham at the grocery store. Look for it near the deli section.
• Mustard – Using a splash of mustard adds a little tang to this recipe that makes it so flavorful.
• Parmesan cheese – If I don’t have grated Parmesan cheese on hand I substitute breadcrumbs and sprinkle those over the top instead. Both work great!

How to Make Cheesy Ham Casserole

Begin by boiling the pasta until it’s al dente then drain the water from it once it is cooked. While the pasta boils, make sure the oven is preheating to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

To make the sauce, first, melt the butter in a large oven-safe pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook it in the oil for a minute or so. Sprinkle the flour and salt and pepper and whisk them with the butter until smooth.

While stirring constantly, slowly pour in the milk and whisk it with the flour-butter mixture. Boil the mixture for one minute. Then add the mustard and Colby cheese and stir until the cheese is melted. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Add the pasta and ham and stir until the pasta is coated in the sauce. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the top and then bake the casserole for 30 minutes until it’s bubbling and golden brown on top.

Remove and serve immediately!

How to Store Leftover Ham and Cheese Casserole

FRIDGE: For best results, transfer leftovers of this ham casserole recipe to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also cover the casserole dish tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store that way!

FREEZER: Leftovers will store well in the freezer too! Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that the texture may change a bit once reheated.

Can I make cheesy ham casserole ahead of time?

Yes! This casserole is a great make-ahead meal that you can freeze and then bake later. Make it all the way up to the baking process and leave off the parmesan cheese topping. When you’re ready to bake, remove the casserole from the freezer, add the topping and pop it in the oven! You may need to add some bake time to get it fully warm.

What to Serve with Ham and Cheese Noodle Casserole

This amazing casserole can be served all on its own, but theres also tasty sides that you can add to it too! Roasted vegetables and air fried broccoli are great to serve with this creamy leftover ham casserole.

Copycat Olive Garden breadsticks and dinner rolls are also perfect to serve with this comfort meal too! Air fried zucchini fries are a favorite side dish of mine too. But really, you can serve any tasty sides with this creamy casserole.

What can I add to ham and cheese noodle casserole?

While this casserole is perfect as is, you can add tons of different things to make it even more hearty. Frozen peas would be perfect, as well as frozen or fresh broccoli. Diced carrots would also be delicious mixed in with the cheese sauce and ham!

I hope you love this cheesy ham casserole with noodles as much as we do! It’s the best comfort food dish.

More Delicious Ham Recipes!

• Ham Salad is one of our favorite simple recipes that has the most incredible flavor.
• Make Egg Muffins for a quick and easy protein packed breakfast.
• This Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole is a wonderful easy recipe for those mornings when you want to make something filling that doesn’t require much effort.
• Linguine Casserole is another comfort food favorite. Such a fun recipe!

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

5 from 44 votes

Ham Casserole Recipe with Bow Ties

Comforting Ham Casserole recipe Loaded with Pasta, Ham and Cheese!

Prep:20 minutes mins

Cook:30 minutes mins

Total:50 minutes mins

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8

servings

Ingredients

• ▢ 16 oz farfalle pasta
• ▢ 1/4 c. butter
• ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
• ▢ 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1/2 tsp salt
• ▢ 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• ▢ 2 c. milk
• ▢ 1/2 tsp prepared mustard
• ▢ 2 c. shredded Colby cheese
• ▢ 2 c. cooked ham cubed
• ▢ 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta & cook 8-10 minutes or until al dente, drain.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Saute garlic for 30 seconds. Whisk in flour, salt & pepper. Cook & stir until smooth. Pour in milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Stir in mustard & Colby. Continue to cook stirring occasionally until cheese is melted. Remove from heat & stir in ham & pasta. Pour into a baking dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
• Bake 30 minutes or until bubbly & golden.

Tips

FRIDGE: For best results, transfer leftovers of this ham casserole recipe to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also cover the casserole dish tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store that way!

FREEZER: Leftovers will store well in the freezer too! Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that the texture may change a bit once reheated.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 653kcal (33%), Carbohydrates: 53g (18%), Protein: 36g (72%), Fat: 32g (49%), Saturated Fat: 19g (119%), Cholesterol: 112mg (37%), Sodium: 1498mg (65%), Potassium: 464mg (13%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Vitamin A: 930IU (19%), Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 574mg (57%), Iron: 2.5mg (14%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.