cheesy pasta with onions and smoky ham

Name: Cheesy Pasta with Onions and Smoky Ham
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 ounce(s) rigatoni, fusilli or similar pasta; 2 tablespoon(s) olive oil; 1 tablespoon(s) butter; 1/2 large onion, sliced very thinly; 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt (or to taste); 1/3 cup(s) flour; 2 cup(s) milk (1% or skim); 1/2 cup(s) 1/2 and 1/2; 1 teaspoon(s) tabasco sauce, or your favorite hot sauce; 1 cup(s) shredded white cheddar cheese (3 oz.); 1 cup(s) shredded swiss cheese (3 oz.); 1 1/2 cup(s) finely chopped smoky ham, smoked pork chop or corned beef; chopped parsley and green onions to garnish

4 Pinches

Carolyn Haas

Whitewater, WI

Updated on Sep 17, 2021

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.

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prep time 25 Min

cook time 20 Min

method Stove Top

yield 6 serving(s)

Ingredients

8 ounces rigatoni, fusilli or similar pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 large onion, sliced very thinly
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/3 cup flour
2 cups milk (1% or skim)
1/2 cup 1/2 and 1/2
1 teaspoon tabasco sauce, or your favorite hot sauce
1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese (3 oz.)
1 cup shredded swiss cheese (3 oz.)
1 1/2 cups 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

Step 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.

Step 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.
Step 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).
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 6

Sprinkle with parsley and green onion, and serve.
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