Mac and Cheese with Ham

Total Time
Prep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min.

Updated Mar. 21, 2024

This baked mac and cheese with ham is creamy, comforting and rich. It's hearty enough to serve as a main course. Just add a green side!

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Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that tastes great out of the box, but it’s so much better when you make it from scratch. Luckily, the homemade versions are almost as easy to make as boxed mac and cheese! Take our baked mac and cheese with ham, for starters.

In this recipe, we start with a simple cheese sauce. We give the sauce creaminess from cheddar cheese and a nutty flavor from Parmesan cheese. We add smoky ham and pasta to the sauce, then pop the casserole into the oven. In about 20 minutes, the cheesy topping bubbles up to perfection, and you’ve got a hearty entree that everyone will love—picky eaters included!

Ingredients for Mac and Cheese with Ham

  • Elbow macaroni: This classic macaroni-and-cheese noodle has ridges that cling to the sauce and deliver cheesy goodness with every bite. Check out our Test Kitchen’s favorite macaroni brands.
  • White sauce: Our homemade cheese sauce starts with a basic white sauce known as “bechamel.” The creamy sauce is a combination of butter, flour and milk. Chicken bouillon granules boost the flavor even more. You can use low-sodium or sodium-free bouillon, and adjust the salt as needed.
  • Cheddar and Parmesan cheese: Cheddar cheese is a fantastic melting cheese that adds a smooth texture and sharp flavor to mac and cheese. Parmesan cheese adds a sharp, nutty edge.
  • Fully cooked ham: If you don’t have leftovers on hand, pick up sliced ham from the deli. You can also use leftover grilled ham steak or glazed ham from your favorite holiday ham recipe.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the macaroni

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Editor’s Tip: After you cook the pasta, don’t rinse it. Rinsing removes the starches that help the sauce cling to the noodles.

Step 2: Make a white sauce

Pepper and milk is cooked in a sauce pan TMB Studio

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Whisk in the milk, chicken bouillon and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cook and stir for two minutes or until thickened.

Step 3: Stir in the cheese, ham and macaroni

Remove the white sauce from heat. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese, ham, Parmesan cheese and the cooked macaroni.

Editor’s Tip: To make this dish ahead of time, store this pasta mixture in the refrigerator, covered, for up to two days.

Step 4: Bake the mac and cheese with ham

Pouring pasta in a large baking dishTMB Studio

Pour the pasta mixture into a greased 2-quart baking dish.

Sprinkling pasta with the cheddar cheeseTMB Studio

Sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Mac And Cheese With Ham served in a baking dish with pieces of breadTMB Studio

Recipe Variations

  • Use another pasta shape: Try another pasta shape, like spiral-shaped cavatappi, penne, farfalle (bowtie) or orecchiette.
  • Include vegetables: Add cooked zucchini, broccoli or cauliflower to your mac. You can also use thawed frozen vegetables like peas or spinach.
  • Add a crispy topping: Top the casserole with seasoned bread crumbs or panko breadcrumbs for a classic finish. Or experiment with other crispy toppings, such as crushed cornflakes, pork rinds, potato chips or Ritz crackers.
  • Change up the meat: If a baked mac and cheese with ham doesn’t speak to you, use another cooked meat. Crumbled bacon, cooked sausage, pulled pork and rotisserie chicken all taste great in mac and cheese recipes. Or just skip the meat, and enjoy unadulterated cheese!

Can you make mac and cheese ahead of time?

You can assemble this mac and cheese up to two days ahead, and bake it when you’re ready to eat. Stir together the white sauce, cheese, ham and cooked macaroni as directed, then transfer it to a storage bowl. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to two days.

When you’re ready to bake, let the dish come to room temp on the countertop while you preheat the oven. The pasta will absorb liquid as it sits, so stir in a little milk or cream to loosen the mixture if needed. Transfer the pasta mixture to a baking dish, and sprinkle on the remaining cheddar cheese. Bake as directed.

How to Store Mac and Cheese with Ham

Store your leftover mac in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can also freeze the mac for up to two months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Reheat leftover mac and cheese in a 350° oven, or simmer it gently on the stovetop. Be sure to add a splash of milk to return the mac and cheese to its original creaminess. Check out other reheating tips in our guide for how to reheat pasta.

Mac and Cheese with Ham Tips

Mac And Cheese With Ham in a baking dish on a wooden tableTMB Studio

How do you keep mac and cheese with ham creamy?

To keep mac and cheese with ham creamy, start by grating your own cheese. Packaged shredded cheese is convenient, but it contains additives that can make the cheese sauce gritty or grainy. To increase the creaminess of your mac and cheese, swap in heavy cream for half (or all) of the milk. You can also mix in creamy ingredients like cream cheese or sour cream.

What cheese makes the best macaroni and cheese with ham?

Cheddar is the classic choice for mac and cheese, but it’s not the only option. Some of our top mac and cheese recipes are made with Gruyere, Gouda, Brie, Monterey Jack, Havarti or Muenster. You can also add Velveeta cheese to mac and cheese to add a creamy, rich and smooth finish.

Watch How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese with Ham

Baked Mac and Cheese with Ham

Prep Time 20 min
Cook Time 20 min
Yield 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups 2% milk
  • 4 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1-1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in the milk, bouillon and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese, ham, Parmesan cheese and macaroni.
  2. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 434 calories, 26g fat (16g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 1414mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 22g protein.

The original comfort food, macaroni and cheese gets a makeover with the addition of cubed ham and grated Parmesan. Kids will love it! —Christy Looper, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Recipe Creator
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