Go Back
+ servings
Logo of The Forked Spoon showing Spork
A dish is filled with ham and pea pasta
4.81 from 51 votes

Creamy Ham and Pea Pasta

A perfect way to use up all that leftover holiday ham, this Creamy Ham and Pea Pasta is easy, comforting, and completely kid-approved!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 563kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Ziti Pasta - (or another favorite pasta noodle) cooked to al dente
  • 6 tablespoon butter - divided
  • 1 onion - minced
  • 6 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 3 cups ham - diced into small pieces
  • 1 lb green peas - fresh or frozen
  • ¾ cup Parmesan Cheese - shredded
  • ½ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
  • Chopped fresh parsley - to garnish
  • Fresh thyme leaves - to garnish

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1-2 cups of the salted pasta water; drain well.
  • Prepare the cream sauce. As the noodles are cooking, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and saute, stirring often, for 4-5 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, mixing well to combine. Cook for 1 minute. Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Once melted, whisk in the flour, stirring continuously to prevent the flour from burning.
  • Finish the sauce. Once the flour is fully combined with the butter, slowly add the chicken broth, whisking continuously, until incorporated. Add the Italian seasoning and half-and-half and mix well to combine. 
  • Add the Ham and Peas. Add the ham and peas to the sauce. Bring sauce to a very low simmer, taking care not to boil. Allow sauce to simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until peas and ham are heated through. Add the cooked pasta, shredded Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper, and fresh herbs. Remove from heat and mix well to combine.
  • Season and serve. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water, as needed, until desired consistency is reached. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Not a fan of peas? Add other veggies like zucchini, broccoli, or spinach.
  • Make it cheesy with a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese. 
Originally published December 17, 2018

Nutrition

Calories: 563kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1175mg | Potassium: 530mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 915IU | Vitamin C: 24.7mg | Calcium: 188mg | Iron: 2.5mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @theforkedspoon and hashtag it #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section on this post.

Copyright © 2024 The Forked Spoon