This Ham and Pasta Skillet Dinner is among the best and most scrumptious weeknight dinners! Tender pasta, savory ham, candy peas, and a light-weight lemon-parmesan sauce come collectively in a single skillet for a fast household meal that everybody loves.
Why This Leftover Ham Pasta Recipe Works
After holidays like Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, it’s widespread to have additional ham sitting within the fridge. This recipe is ideal for busy weeknights as a result of it makes use of easy components, cooks rapidly, and solely requires one pan. In about half-hour, you’ll have a comforting dinner on the desk that the entire household will love.
Households love this recipe as a result of it’s:
- Fast and simple – prepared in about half-hour
- One-skillet pleasant – fewer dishes to scrub
- Nice for leftovers – excellent approach to make use of up ham
- Child-approved – easy flavors children get pleasure from
- Balanced – pasta, protein, and veggies in a single meal
The lemon juice brightens the dish whereas Parmesan cheese provides richness, creating a light-weight sauce that coats the pasta fantastically.
Suggestions for the Greatest Ham Pasta Skillet:
- Don’t overcook the pasta — al dente works finest because it continues cooking within the skillet.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for higher melting and taste.
- Add pasta water if wanted to loosen the sauce.
- Cook dinner the sauce down correctly so it coats the pasta as an alternative of turning into watery.
Straightforward Variations
This recipe is extremely versatile relying on what you might have in your fridge.
Add Extra Greens
Attempt including:
- asparagus
- spinach
- broccoli
- mushrooms
Make It Creamy
Stir in ¼ cup heavy cream or cream cheese for a richer sauce.
Swap the Pasta
This dish works properly with:
- penne
- rotini
- shells
- complete wheat pasta
Add Contemporary Herbs
Contemporary parsley or basil provides a brilliant final touch.
Storing and Reheating
Fridge: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.
Reheating: Heat gently in a skillet with a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.
Freezing: Whereas doable, pasta dishes are likely to lose texture when frozen, so this recipe is finest loved contemporary.
Extra Straightforward Skillet Dinners:
Ham and Pasta Skillet
This Ham and Pasta Skillet Dinner is reassuring, flavorful, and an ideal solution to rework leftover ham right into a contemporary, satisfying dinner.
Servings: 6
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Cook dinner pasta in response to bundle instructions till al dente. The pasta will proceed cooking barely within the skillet later. Drain properly and put aside.
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In a big skillet, warmth olive oil and butter over medium warmth till the butter melts. Add chopped onion and garlic and prepare dinner for 4–6 minutes, till the onion turns into gentle and translucent.
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Stir in diced ham, basil, and oregano. Cook dinner for an additional 2–3 minutes, permitting the ham to heat and launch its taste.
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Add hen broth and lemon juice to the skillet and convey to a boil. Scale back warmth and simmer about 10 minutes, till the liquid reduces by roughly half.
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Stir in frozen peas and prepare dinner till heated by. Add the drained pasta and ½ cup Parmesan cheese, tossing every thing collectively so the pasta absorbs the flavorful sauce.
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Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on high and serve instantly.
