The days following Christmas are always a blur, aren’t they? That’s why I choose to have easy recipes like this winner, up my sleeve to throw together in a hurry when the family gets hungry. I love using Christmas leftovers and ham is always something we have loads of after the big feast. A pasta bake is a great way to use up leftovers including vegetables like brussels sprouts and makes feeding a crowd a breeze.
Ingredients Needed
Leftover Christmas ham. This dish is great with any leftover meat. Chicken or turkey would be delicious. Pasta. Any short pasta shape will work. Rigatoni, Macaroni, Penne, Fusilli, etc. Béchamel sauce. You want a simple roux-based white sauce/ cheese sauce made with butter, flour and milk to add creaminess to the pasta. Grated cheese. I used a combination of sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Gruyere, Jack cheese, Swiss cheese or Colby can also be used. Garlic powder. Fresh sage. Other herbs like rosemary, thyme or fresh parsley can be substituted. Salt and black pepper. Fresh bread crumbs. Optional: Leftover veggies like brussels sprouts, green beans, cauliflower or broccoli will also be delicious. Frozen peas can also be used.
How to make leftover ham pasta bake
Can I make pasta bake ahead?
This ham pasta bake can be assembled the day before serving, covered and kept in the fridge. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months in a suitable container. I would suggest assembling the pasta in a foil container than can go from the freezer to the oven easily.
Serving suggestions
Pasta bake is a great meal on its own but you can serve it with garlic bread, a big side salad or sautéed broccoli for a delicious dinner.
Pasta bake recipes
Leftover ham recipes
