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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Combine alfredo sauce with chopped ham and you'll have the most epic pasta dinner in just 20 minutes!

Learn how to make this easy recipe for a delicious pasta dinner in one skillet that everyone in the family will love.

Ham Alfredo with Heavy Cream

If delicious cheesy pasta makes you drool, wait to try this creamy Alfredo with chopped ham in every bite. Too good to be easy? Well, my friends, you just have to keep reading because we’re about to prepare this tasty meal in 20 minutes. No typo, I mean 20 minutes, just like my famous Mac & Cheese Alfredo recipe.

A 20-minute dinner is one you can enjoy any given day, including those busy midweek nights when pulling out a restaurant-like pasta sounds like it’s never going to happen. Spoiler alert: it will!

I mean, you just have to boil pasta, add a few basic staples in a skillet and stir. Heavy cream makes the pasta super creamy, the cheese adds incredible flavor and texture, and the ham, oh! the ham! Classic Alfredo recipe is scrumptious, but when we invite ham to the party, we have something beyond EPIC!

Ingredients

Time to start drooling! You’ll find the ingredient measurements for this pasta alfredo with ham on the recipe card below, but first, check your pantry and fridge for these tasty items:

Butter: the starter of this delicious sauce.
Garlic cloves: add them minced or grated for flavor.
Heavy cream: for the most irresistible creamy texture!
Whole milk: to make this pasta even creamier. Low-fat milk won’t yield the same consistency.
Grated Parmesan cheese: a classic Alfredo ingredient we can’t omit!
Salt and pepper: for seasoning.
Nutmeg: optional but highly recommended!
Pasta: this time, I’m using fettuccine but you can use any shape you like, even tortellini!
Ham: you can use any deli ham or leftovers you have around.

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

This pasta alfredo with ham is not just delicious but also ridiculously quick to make: you just add ingredients and stir! So easy and so good? Yep. Check it out:

Cook pasta
You cook pasta as usual and, while it cooks, continue with the steps below.
Sauté garlic
Sautéed garlic with melted butter creates a delicious base for the sauce. Make sure to stir it so it doesn’t burn!
Make the sauce
Now, you add the cream, milk, grated cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using), and mix to combine. Then, you reduce the heat to low and add the ham.
Cook
Time to let it cook! Simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes.
Combine
Add the pasta to the Alfredo sauce and toss to combine, making sure the sauce coats all the pasta.
Serve
Add more Parmesan cheese on top and enjoy this tasty pasta alfredo with ham with one of these epic sides.

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

You can bring this pasta alfredo with ham right to the table, and everyone will be satisfied! But, what about popovers on the side? So delicious! 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

Combine alfredo sauce with chopped ham and you'll have the most epic pasta dinner in just 20 minutes!

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.