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cheesy pasta with onions and smoky ham

Linky1 avatar
Recipe by
Carolyn Haas
@Linky1
Whitewater, WI

Macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food and this is just a little tweak. You can use ham, smoked pork chop or even left over corned beef. If you used grated cheese from a package, it may not melt as smoothly as if you grate it yourself.

yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 25 Min
cook time 20 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For cheesy pasta with onions and smoky ham

  • 8 oz
    rigatoni, fusilli or similar pasta
  • 2 Tbsp
    olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp
    butter
  • 1/2 lg
    onion, sliced very thinly
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt (or to taste)
  • 1/3 c
    flour
  • 2 c
    milk (1% or skim)
  • 1/2 c
    1/2 and 1/2
  • 1 tsp
    tabasco sauce, or your favorite hot sauce
  • 1 c
    shredded white cheddar cheese (3 oz.)
  • 1 c
    shredded swiss cheese (3 oz.)
  • 1 1/2 c
    finely chopped smoky ham, smoked pork chop or corned beef
  • chopped parsley and green onions to garnish

How To Make cheesy pasta with onions and smoky ham

  • 1
    Mise en place. (Get everything ready) Heat salted water to boil and add pasta. Cook until al dente, still chewy, not soft. Keep 1 cup of pasta liquid and drain the rest.
  • 2
    Meanwhile, heat olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the thin onion slices and cook until onion is turning a golden brown - about 5+ minutes.
  • 3
    Sprinkle the flour over the browned onions, cook and stir for 1 minute. Then add the milk and 1/2 and 1/2 along with the salt. (If you're concerned about it being too salty, add less and then adjust later).
  • 4
    Cook the milk mixture until the milk thickens, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes. Add your desired kind of hot sauce and stir together.
  • 5
    While pasta drains, stir the cheeses into the white sauce. Add the drained pasta and the meat, stir together gently. You may add some of the reserved pasta water if it seems too thick. Taste for salt.
  • 6
    Sprinkle with parsley and green onion, and serve.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!

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