Who doesn't love repurposing leftovers into something yummy? This comforting meal idea for Creamy Leftover Ham Pasta isn't just simple & easy but no one will guess you didn't make it 100% from scratch. Now that is a winning dinner.
Why this Leftover Ham Pasta Recipe is the Best: This quick & cozy 20-minute pasta dinner is perfect for using extra holiday ham from Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.
I created this dish when I had extra cooked rigatoni that didn't fit into my casserole dish while making Baked Rigatoni al Forno. I peeked into my fridge to see what else I had - ham, cream, and inspiration struck.
Another great idea for leftover ham is my recipe for Slow Cooker Navy Bean and Ham Soup. Either of these dishes pair well with some fresh-baked Soft Dinner Rolls. Ok, now we cook!
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Ingredients
This is one of my favorite recipes for leftover ham. Whether it is extras from dinner or breakfast or packaged from the deli meat counter - it's a fast way to add protein to any pasta dish.
I am also using leftover precooked rigatoni. If you don't have that, you can cook it from dry in boiled water until al dente - see the note in Step 1 below.
Here are important notes for some ingredients:
- Cooked Leftover Ham - diced holiday spiral, country, honey-cooked/baked, or deli ham works.
- Short Pasta - any tube or similar shape rigatoni, penne, farfalle, rotini, etc.
- Salted Butter - for the sauce & pan cooking the ingredients.
- Heavy Cream - the full-fat ingredient makes the best thick sauce; nonfat or low-fat milk is not a good substitute.
- Onion - diced sweet white or yellow
- Frozen Peas - for a pop of flavor & color that pairs so well with salty savory ham.
- Parmesan Cheese - grated to flavor and thicken the sauce & topping.
See the recipe card for full list, quantities, & any substitutions/variations.
How to Make Creamy Leftover Ham Pasta
With just 15 minutes of cooking time, this a great busy weeknight meal idea. It's so simple to make on the stovetop, perfect for beginners, teens, or college students to whip up in no time.
Here are the easy steps for making pasta with ham using leftovers:
- Saute Veggies & Meat
- Make Sauce & Add Pasta
See the step-by-step instructions with photos below plus the recipe card at the end of the post.
1 - Saute Veggies & Meat
Before starting the sauce, if you are using dry pasta that needs cooking, start it now. Bring a pot of water to boil and get the pasta into the water to start cooking before you go to the next step.
NOTE: to make this a one-pan meal using leftover pasta, reheat the pasta in the microwave versus in a separate pot as seen below.
In a medium skillet melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and ham, cook until soft and tender for 5 minutes.
The ham should be slightly crispy brown on the edges and the onions will be soft and tender as seen here.
For leftover pasta as an ingredient: At this point, bring a medium pot of water to a simmer over medium-high heat and add leftover pasta to reheat for 2-3 minutes. Continue with the skillet saute while this comes to heat.
Next, add the peas to the skillet and stir to combine. Let them defrost and warm up for 2 minutes.
2 - Make Sauce & Add Pasta
While pasta is warming, time to finish the creamy pan sauce.
Add the heavy cream to the skillet and stir to combine with all the ingredients. Let it come to a low boil with a few bubbles then reduce to low heat.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the warm pasta from the water and add to the skillet with the ham, peas, and sauce. Stir or toss to coat.
Top with grated parmesan & stir. This will thicken the sauce and help it cling to the pasta. The pasta should be lightly coated, not too heavy or saucy.
It will look like this once done. If you want more sauce adjust with a few additional splashes of cream until you reach your desired amount... this is key since different pasta shapes will absorb different amounts of sauce.
Serving & Storing
Serve the pasta on plates or individual bowls. Top with addition parmesan and salt or pepper to taste. This is best enjoyed immediately while hot.
Leftovers store well for 1 day maximum in the fridge. (remember the main ingredients are already leftover to begin with). Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds with a splash of more cream if needed.
What to Serve with Creamy Leftover Ham Pasta : This is my go-to idea in fall or winter when I want some comfort food & have extra holiday ham that I don't want to go to waste. I like serving it with other seasonal favorites like Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccolini or Simple Spinach Salad.
Recipe Tips & Behind the Scenes
Here's my recipe for success - including what I learned when testing, fun stories, recipe history, and more.
- #1 Tip - get all the ingredient ready before you start cooking, this is a FAST recipe that cooks in 15 minutes!
- Don't have leftover pasta but no time to boil dry pasta, use quick cooking fresh pasta like tortellini or raviolis in the fridge section of your local grocery store.
- Any type of cooked smoked or fresh ham works; use honey-baked, Virginia, spiral, country, black forest, cured, or picnic.
- Cooked ham has different names in different countries such as gammon in the UK or prosciutto in Italy. Whatever you call it, it works in this recipe.
- I made this recipe originally for lunch for my husband and I and we devoured it. My husband was disappointed there was not more - it's that good!
FAQ
You can reheat the pasta in the microwave and then add it to the sauce so you only use one pan or pot. I prefer reheating it in hot water on the stove in a pot like restaurants do - I find it keeps the reheated pasta from getting chewy.
It can me, simply use your favorite cooked gluten-free pasta. There is no roux or wheat used to thicken the cream sauce so that is 100% gluten-free.
Creamy Leftover Ham Pasta
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked rigatoni any leftover short tube pasta like penne or mostaccioli
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- ½ cup onion chopped
- 1 cup cooked ham diced leftovers
- ½ cup frozen peas
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- NOTE: if you are not using leftover cooked pasta, start the pasta water now to get it boiling so you can cook it from dry. Do not start the pan sauce until the pasta if half way done cooking.
- In a medium skillet melt the butter over medium heat.2 tablespoons salted butter
- Add the diced onion and cook until soft and tender for 5 minutes.½ cup onion
- For leftover pasta as an ingredient: While the onions cook, bring a medium pot of water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- To the skillet with the cooked onions, add the ham pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes, just until the edges start to brown a bit.1 cup cooked ham
- Next, add the peas to the skillet and stir to combine. Let them defrost and warm up for 2 minutes.½ cup frozen peas
- Once the water has small bubbles, add the leftover pasta to the water to reheat and soften. This only needs 2-3 minutes.3 cups cooked rigatoni
- While pasta is warming, add the heavy cream to the skillet and stir to combine with all the ingredients. Let it come to a low boil with a few bubbles then reduce to low heat.½ cup heavy cream
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the warm pasta from the water and add to the skillet with the ham, peas, and sauce. Stir or toss to coat.
- Top with grated parmesan & add optional cracked black pepper to taste.¼ cup grated parmesan, black pepper
- SAUCE NOTE: If you want more sauce adjust with a few additional splashes of cream until you reach your desired amount... this is key since different pasta shapes will absorb different amounts of sauce.
Notes
- This is best enjoyed while fresh. Pasta sauces with cream do not store or reheat well.
- If you do have leftovers, store for 1 day in the refrigerator. To reheat, add a splash of fresh cream to the pasta and reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds - stir and enjoy.
- Use any short pasta shape; try it with macaroni, farfalle, fusilli, medium shells, etc. Long pasta types like spaghetti or linguini are not recommended.
- Add other leftover vegetables, frozen green beans or broccoli, or try sauteeing mushrooms with the ham instead of adding frozen peas.
- No fresh onion, substitute with a tablespoon of dry minced onion added along with the ham for a quick cook vs slow cooked and caramelizing fresh onion.
Nutrition
More Recipes that Use Leftovers
Here are some similar recipes that are great for repurposing leftovers. They cut down on food waste & save you $$ - what's not to love:
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