Creamy Ham Peas and Pasta

Creamy Ham Peas and Pasta is a quick-cooking dinner recipe that's creamy, satisfying, and made with everyday ingredients. As filling as it is delicious!

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword gluten free

Method saute, Simmer

Servings

Calories 544kcal

Ingredients

12 oz medium-cut pasta casarecce, rotini, penne, or bowties recommended
2 Tablespoons butter
2-1/2 cups (12oz) diced ham steak from a 1lb bone-in ham steak
2 cloves garlic pressed or minced
1-1/4 cups frozen sweet peas
1 cup (1/2 pint) heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then add the pasta and cook until it’s just shy of al dente – the pasta will finish cooking completely in the sauce. Before draining: carefully scoop out 1 cup pasta cooking water then drain the pasta and set it aside.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet with high sides over medium-high heat. Add the ham then saute until hot, 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic then saute until very fragrant, 1 minute. Add the peas then saute until hot, 1-2 minutes.
Add the heavy creamy then bring to a simmer while stirring constantly. Once simmering, turn the heat down slightly then cook while stirring until the cream has slightly thickened and reduced, 2-3 minutes. Add the parmesan cheese then stir to combine.
Add the drained pasta plus a splash of pasta cooking water (start with 2-3 Tablespoons) into the skillet then cook while stirring until the pasta is cooked through and the sauce clings to the pasta, 4-5 minutes. Add more pasta cooking water as needed to cook the pasta through and create a light sauce. Add pepper and a little salt then let the dish sit and the sauce thicken for 5 minutes before serving. The pasta will continue to absorb the sauce as it cools.

Notes

I like Frick’s bone-in ham steak, otherwise leftover holiday ham is great to use in this recipe.

Nutrition