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Pasta with Ham and Peas

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You will love this Pasta with Ham and Peas recipe. With its meaty ham, sweet green peas, and parmesan cream sauce, it is a meal that’s hearty and elegant, making it an easy pasta dish for busy weeknights any time of year.

 

Main image for Pasta with ham and peas

 

If you need something to do with that leftover ham you made and just can’t keep eating, this recipe is for you. It fits in my stack of pasta recipes, but also works perfectly as a way to use that leftover holiday meal in a new way dish.

Or if you don’t have leftover ham, a ham steak will work perfectly too. Ham pasta doesn’t care what kind of ham you use, just that it gets mixed into the pea pasta recipe.

Beyond using leftovers, the best thing about this creamy ham pasta is how fast it is to make. If you need a last minute dinner or are suddenly feeding a crowd the next day, this pasta with peas and ham is a great thing to make. 

Ham and peas pasta is a delicious ham recipe you will come back to again and again. Put it in your favorite recipe card collection for a fast, easy, tasty pasta dinner anytime you want it.

 

All ingredients laid out, ready to cook

 

What Ingredients Are in Pasta with Ham and Peas?

  • Pasta: the base of the dish, giving you that comforting, hearty texture.
  • Onion: adds a sweet depth to the flavor of the sauce.
  • Butter: puts a rich, creamy flavor into the dish that we love more than olive oil
  • Ham: gives you a savory, meaty element.
  • Water: Helps to create the sauce.
  • Heavy Cream: the key to a creamy sauce, making it smooth and perfect.
  • Dijon Mustard: gives a hint of tanginess and adds to the flavor of the sauce.
  • Parmesan Cheese: this adds a salty, cheesy goodness.
  • Frozen Peas: the sweet and fresh burst of snap peas balances the richness of the sauce.

Pro Tip: Use high-quality Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.

 

Butter and onion cooked together

 

How to Make Pasta with Ham and Peas:

  1. Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until cooked al dente.
  2. Saute onions in butter over medium heat.
  3. Add diced ham and cook.
  4. Pour in water.
  5. Mix dijon mustard with cream and add to the dish.
  6. Add parmesan cheese.
  7. Add peas and combine.

Pro Tip: Start the pasta cooking, then make the sauce at the same time. It will keep things moving in your kitchen as you work.

 

Cooked, diced ham added to onions and butter

 

What kind of pasta should I use to make pasta with ham and peas?

You can use any kind of pasta shape to make this creamy pasta with ham and peas recipe! My kids love when I use bow tie noodles or medium shells. But this works great with penne pasta.

If you want to be super Italian restaurant authentic, use fettuccine noodles and call this dish “Fettuccine alla papalina” which means fettuccine for the pope. It is not an original recipe, but it is pretty close. 

Pro Tip: To make this pasta alla papalina more like the dish the pope requested, use prosciutto instead of diced ham.

 

heavy cream and mustard poured over ham mixture

 

How to Store Leftover Pasta with Ham and Peas:

Keep any leftover ham pasta with peas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve again, reheat gently on the stove top with a bit of cream to bring back that freshly made creamy texture.

Can You Freeze Pasta with Ham and Peas?

While you can freeze anything, we do not recommend freezing this pasta with ham and peas recipe. The creamy parmesan sauce does not thaw well. It will leave you a broken sauce as your end result instead of a smooth perfect dish. 

 

zoomed out image of ham and pea pasta in cooking pot

 

What to Serve with Pasta with Ham and Peas:

Sometimes I make pasta with peas and ham and let that be a quick dinner by itself. But pasta always pairs well with a green salad and bread. 

Try this Four Cheese Garlic Bread Recipe for a garlic bread everyone will love. Or this Pomegranate Spinach Salad. It has perfect tart and sweet flavors that will go great with the creamy pasta sauce.

 

wooden serving spoon full of creamy ham pasta mix

 

Can I Use Leftover Ham for This Ham Pasta Recipe?

Yes you can use leftover ham to make this pasta with ham and peas recipe. This is a great way to repurpose leftover holiday ham into a dish the whole family will love. 

Use any cooked ham you have on hand and turn it into something new with this easy recipe for ham peas pasta.

Can Dogs Eat Pasta with Ham and Peas?

While plain pasta is generally safe for dogs in moderation, do not feed your dogs this pasta with ham and peas recipe. 

Cooked ham can be too salty and the dairy in the sauce can cause digestive issues in some dogs. Better to feed this ham pasta recipe to your human friends.

 

Zoomed in large portion of cooked pasta with ham and peas in a serving bowl.

 

Additional Pasta Recipes You’ll Love…

This pasta with ham and peas recipe is a crowd favorite. With its deliciously creamy sauce that cooks in the same amount of time it takes the pasta to boil, you will have a delicious dinner in less than 30 minutes of cooking time.

 

wooden serving spoon full of creamy ham pasta mix

Pasta with Ham and Peas

Yield: 6 Servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Indulge in creamy comfort with our Pasta with Ham and Peas recipe. A delicious blend of pasta, ham, peas, and a velvety cream sauce.

Instructions

  1. Boil water for pasta.
  2. Once your water is boiling and you've added your pasta, start your cream sauce with the ham and peas.
  3. Saute chopped onions in butter until they become translucent.
  4. Add chopped ham to the onions and cook for a few more minutes, stirring a couple times.
  5. Add white wine. Allow to reduce slightly before adding cream mixture.
  6. Whisk together Dijon mustard with heavy cream. Add to mixture.
  7. Add parmesan cheese slowly, stirring while you are adding it.
  8. Add peas and cook until they are warmed through.
  9. Mix sauce with pasta.
  10. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 660Total Fat: 44gSaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 1226mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 26g
Originally Posted: December 14, 2015

Photos & Text Updated: September 25, 2023

Use up your leftover Christmas or Easter ham (or sub a few thick slices of deli ham from the grocery store) and make this Creamy Pasta wth Ham and Peas! It always gets rave reviews! #Pasta | #Ham | #Christmas | #Easter

Creamy Pasta with ham and peas...an easy weeknight dinner and great way to use leftover ham!

Lucy

Saturday 5th of January 2019

Can this be made the day before as a casserole?

Michelle Nahom

Saturday 8th of June 2019

We always save the extra to eat as leftover, so I don't see why not!

Kristine

Monday 3rd of December 2018

I read the comments. I did add a few cloves of minced garlic. However, my sauce did not thicken, and I quickly threw in 2 cups of grated cheese. It came out nicely, but next time I will have grated Jarlsburg and see how this tastes.

Janelle

Thursday 12th of October 2023

Thanks for the tips Kristine!

Ed Martin

Friday 31st of August 2018

This was to die for! I used a ham steak and added a touch of peppers and celery. I used whole milk, and it was STILL to die for! Loved it, thanks tons!! (Wish I could attach a picture!). Ed

Milady

Friday 30th of March 2018

Do I use cooking wine or drinking wine?

Michelle Nahom

Monday 2nd of April 2018

I always use leftover drinking wine.

Little Cooking Tips

Friday 8th of January 2016

Simple, and yet so damn delicious! Panos is going to love that one (he smiles in approval next to me):) We'll skip the peas as he doesn't particularly like those, and perhaps add some fresh chopped parsley instead:) Prosciutto sounds like a healthier choice (due to the more natural way it is cured) and we recently discovered Akrokolion, an ancient Greek style prosciutto, made in the mountains of Karpenisi. Amazing stuff, less salty than it's Italian cousin. So you just gave another fantastic idea on how to use it:) As for the Christmas shopping, we totally get it. We hate the crowds swarming the malls in this period. Those aren't conditions were you can enjoy shopping. It's even a mess to drive in the main streets of Athens the weeks before the holiday season. So we mostly buy online to avoid that!:) Lots of love from both, xoxo

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