Name: Pasta Alfredo with Ham (Easy Recipe)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter; 2 garlic cloves (minced or grated); 1 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup whole milk; 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; Pinch nutmeg (optional); 16 ounces pasta (fettuccine); 12 ounces ham (chopped)

Recipe

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This pasta Alfredo with ham is a quick, delicious dinner where the sauce comes together while the pasta boils, making it perfect for any night of the week.

Alfredo pasta is the kind of dinner that makes everyone happy. It’s filling, easy to make, and the ham adds flavor and protein.

Ham Alfredo with Heavy Cream

My classic Alfredo pasta is scrumptious, but when we invite ham to the party, we have something beyond EPIC! Easy dinners like this one allow me to make awesome food for my family in 20 minutes.

After sharing so many cheesy pasta recipes over the years, I know this creamy Alfredo will become a family favorite after the first bite!

Ingredients

The base of this recipe is ham and pasta (I use fettuccine, but you can use any shape you like, even tortellini!). For the delicious Alfredo sauce, you’ll need butter, garlic, heavy cream, whole milk (low-fat milk doesn’t yield the same creamy consistency), grated Parmesan cheese, and nutmeg (optional but highly recommended!).

Can You Use Leftover Ham?

Yes! You can make this pasta alfredo with deli ham or cooked ham leftovers. Simply chop it and add it to the sauce. Any ham will make this pasta dinner delicious!

How to Make Pasta Alfredo with Ham

Start by boiling the pasta, and while it cooks, make the sauce in a skillet by sauteéing the garlic first, which adds a lot of flavor. Then, add the rest of the sauce ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes. Once the sauce is done, add the ham and the pasta, toss it all together, and it’s ready to serve.

How to Make Alfredo Sauce More Runny

Before you drain the pasta, I always reserve ½ cup of pasta water in case I need it to make the sauce runnier. Add it gradually to thin out the sauce until you get the desired consistency.

What to Serve with Pasta Alfredo

Bring this pasta alfredo with ham right to the table, and everyone will be satisfied! You can also kick up the veggie factor by serving this pasta with an everyday side salad or spicy green beans, or stick to cheesiness with these tasty roasted Parmesan asparagus.

Pasta Alfredo with Ham (Easy Recipe)

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 20

This pasta Alfredo with ham is a quick, delicious dinner where the sauce comes together while the pasta boils, making it perfect for any night of the week.

5 from 8 votes

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Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, minced or grated
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup whole milk
1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Pinch nutmeg, optional
16 ounces pasta, fettuccine
12 ounces ham, chopped

Instructions

Cook the pasta:

Cook pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain the water out and set aside. While the pasta cooks, continue with the steps below.

Make the alfredo sauce:

Heat a large skillet (a pan with sides) over medium heat. Once hot, melt the butter on the hot skillet. Add the garlic, and sauté for about one minute, stirring so it doesn't burn.
Pour the cream and milk and stir, add the grated cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using) and combine. Reduce the heat to low, add the chopped ham, and simmer the Alfredo sauce for about 5 minutes.

Combine:

Add the pasta to the Alfredo sauce. Toss to combine and coat all the pasta with the Alfredo and ham sauce. Serve it with additional Parmesan cheese on top.