This Mac and Cheese with Ham and Broccoli has everything you need for an easy dinner, including smokey ham, fresh broccoli, and pasta all in an amazing cheese sauce. Best of all, this simple pasta dinner is done and on the table in under 30 minutes!
Do you have go-to meals that you make for your family time and time again? Tried and true recipes that are easy to make that you know everyone at the table will love?
This Mac and Cheese with Ham and Broccoli is one of those meals for our family. Like many kids, my 7-year-old is a HUGE mac & cheese guy, and ham is his preferred meat, so this pasta skillet is one that he loves. My husband and I love pasta and the addition of the smokey, delicious ham is a bonus for us all!
This Macaroni and Cheese with Ham is super simple to make, and best of all is done in under 30 minutes making it perfect for a great weeknight meal.
How to make Mac and Cheese with Ham:
Step 1: Start with chopping your Ham and Broccoli
The ham that I use in this mac and cheese recipe is a thick-cut Black Forest Ham. I got this ham at my local grocery store at the deli section. I had the ham sliced extra thick, which makes for a wonderful addition to my pasta dish. You can also purchase ham steaks or a larger pre-cooked country or whole ham.
This recipe is also a great way to use leftover holiday spiral ham. Another great leftover ham recipe is our Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup. Check out my recipe for Orange Glazed Ham, which is a great way to prepare a spiral ham.
I also use fresh broccoli in this recipe. Frozen broccoli tends to get mushy when added to the pasta. Grab a couple of broccoli crowns in your produce section and chop into smaller bite-sized pieces.
Step 2: Cook the pasta
In a large stock-pot, bring water to a boil. Once the water comes to a boil, add your pasta to the water and cook to package directions. For this macaroni and cheese with ham and broccoli I chose a medium sized pasta, Gemelli. If you cannot find gemeli, any other medium sized pasta will do. Here are some good recommendations:
- Rigatoni
- Penne
- Farfalle (Bow-Tie)
- Fusilli
- Orichetti
- Macaroni
Making the Cheese Sauce:
In my pasta dish, I made a fantastic two-cheddar cheese sauce using white cheddar, and extra sharp cheddar cheeses. This makes for a fantastic sauce that coats the pasta, broccoli and ham perfectly. The sauce is flavorful, but doesn’t overpower the smokey flavors of the ham.
Step 4: Add the pasta, ham and broccoli to the cheese sauce
Once your cheese sauce is done, add the diced ham and let it warm for a few minutes in the sauce. Next, add the cooked pasta and broccoli and stir together. Make sure the cheese sauce evenly incorporates with the pasta and broccoli.
From here, your macaroni and cheese with ham and broccoli is ready to serve.
If you love cooking with broccoli, check out my Sauteed Broccoli and Garlic.
If you like your macaroni and cheese with some additional toppings, here are a few ideas:
- Additional shredded cheese
- diced ham
- pepper
- bacon
These are also great to add, and then place under your broiler to melt and warm further.
If you loved this delicious Mac and Cheese with Ham and Broccoli, be sure to check out some of my other Easy Dinner recipes:
- Ground Turkey and Spaghetti
- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
- Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
- Healthy Chicken Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Sour Cream Enchiladas
- Easy Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken
- Hawaiian Ham & Pineapple Kebabs
- One Pot Cheesy Italian Goulash
Here’s the recipe for my easy and delicious Macaroni and Cheese with Ham and Broccoli:
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Delightful E Made.
Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ham and Broccoli
Equipment
- Large Skillet This large Anolon 12" Skillet is ideal for making one-pan meals!
- Large Stock Pot or Dutch Oven This Le Creuset Dutch oven is one of my all-time favorite pieces of cookware. Super durable and versatile! Great for soups and stews.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Gemelli pasta or similar medium sized pasta, cooked & drained
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- 6 Tablespoons flour
- 4 cup milk
- 1 (8 oz. pkg.) white cheddar cheese, shredded (reserve 1/2 cup for topping)
- 1 (8 oz. pkg.) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (reserve 1/2 cup for topping)
- 3/4 lb. ham steak cubed
- 4 cups broccoli cut into small florets
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large stockpot, bring generously salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, to al dente. (One minute less than package directions.)
- While water for pasta is coming to a boil and pasta cooks, begin making the cheese sauce. Over medium heat melt the butter. To the melted butter add the flour. Stir together, and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture comes to a low simmer. In the microwave heat the milk for about 3 minutes or until very hot. Add the hot milk to the flour/butter mixture, and stir with a whisk. Increase heat to medium high. Continue whisking milk until is begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Once it starts to simmer and thicken, add the cheeses (remember to reserve 1/2 c. from each package for the topping.) Stir until the cheese melts.
- In the microwave, add the broccoli florets to a microwave safe bowl. Add about 1/2 c. water and steam for about 2 minutes on high.
- To the cheese sauce add the diced ham, steamed broccoli, and the cooked pasta. Stir together until all ingredients are incorporated. Top with the reserved cheeses. Remove from heat and add a lid to the top cheese melt for a couple minutes. Serve and enjoy right away.
Notes
Nutrition
that looks delicious! bet the ham adds nice flavor.
That looks tasty. Thanks for the recipe. Pinned to food.
This looks really tasty! My husband and I aren’t usually huge ham fans, but maybe I can talk him into this. 🙂
Yum Yum Yum. I think i might need to make this for dinner. Thanks for sharing with us at Family Joy Blog Link Up party. Hope to see you next week!
That is a perfect pot! It looks really delicious! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner Link up!
Thank you 😊 the recipe looks simple and delicious anxious to make it. Tks again
This recipe looks delicious! Would be a great way to use up leftover Easter ham. Love it!
This sounds so good, and something that my kids would love. I’m going to add this to next week’s dinner menu. So excited to try this! Beautiful photos too! Pinning now!!