OAMC Hearty Mac & Cheese

"This freezes well either in a baking pan or in a freezer bag. UPDATED 6-09: CORRECTED DIRECTIONS TO SHOW WHEN TO ADD MILK."
 
Download
photo by Michelle Berteig photo by Michelle Berteig
photo by Michelle Berteig
Ready In:
32mins
Ingredients:
12
Serves:
4
Advertisement

ingredients

Advertisement

directions

  • Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and keep warm.
  • Saute ham and onion in a large non-stick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat 5 minutes; stir in peas and next 3 ingredients. Set aside.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat.
  • Whisk in flour until smooth.
  • Add milk, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat.
  • Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese, stirring until melted.
  • Stir in cooked pasta and ham mixture.
  • Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Serve immediately.

Questions & Replies

Got a question? Share it with the community!
Advertisement

Reviews

  1. This is very good mac n cheese! I am giving this a five for how good it turns out, but really a three for the directions. I didn't use onions (personal preference) but put the macaroni on to boil and while it was cooking melted the butter, added the flour, milk, salt, pepper, and red peppers, once it was boiling I added in the ham and peas, brought it back up to a boil and added the cheese to melt. I then put the two mixes, macaroni and cheese mix together and baked it for about 20 minutes at 425 uncovered. This also works out well as an OAMC by freezing it in a disposable tin, thawing it the day you want to cook it, cook it at 425 for 20 mins and voila! Dinner is served!
     
  2. I make this Mac & Cheese every time I have some leftover ham (and sometimes I buy cooked ham just to make this dish because it is that good!). I like to have a little mustard kick in it so I'll usually add some ground mustard powder. Or, if I'm using leftoever ham I'll also add the leftover sweet mustard sauce that I serve with my ham. This gives the dish a nice sweet & savory taste which I love. I also like to add some bacon because everything is better with bacon! I've never had a problem making this recipe. Mix the butter with the flour until a paste forms, then add the milk and whisk until it thickens (it will become noticeably thicker), then I add the cheese until it melts, then I add everything else. I don't remove it from the heat as the recipe calls for...I leave it cooking until it is all mixed together and that 1/2 c. of cheese has melted on the top. I don't practice OAMC, but leftovers keep well, and they certainly freeze well.
     
  3. Made this as a OAMC meal that I made and froze before the school year began. Baked it at 425 with some extra cheese on top. It took a really long time to bake for us and was just a tad dry. It was good classic mac & cheese. I left out the peas and use chopped ham. Thanks for an easy dinner.
     
  4. So I forgot about the other reviews and followed the recipe the way it is written and made myself a nice cheese blob!! Boy, was that frustrating!! Once I made the sauce correctly and combined all the ingredients I was very pleased with the taste. I gave it four stars due to the frustration of the missing step in the directions, but really loved the look and taste of the finished product!!
     
  5. Very tasty! I followed the recipe as written. As a previous reviewer states, the recipe doesn't say when to add the milk - you are making a roux with the butter and flour and then you slowly add the milk to make a white sauce, then add the cheese. Family liked it and I would make it again. Made for PAC Spring '08.
     
Advertisement

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

My screen name is FCR Gal because my husband and I have Flat Coated Retrievers in addition to Gordon Setters and Pulik. My photo and my icon are of one our dogs as a puppy, Kipling. About my ratings, I don't give anything lower than three stars. The recipes that I give four stars to are ones that I will definitely make again and will share with family and friends. I reserve five star ratings for recipes that are so fantastic that they are received with rave reviews from family and friends. These are recipes that become instant favorites and are made over and over. I appreciate constructive criticism about my recipes and how I can make them better. I have lived in the South all of my life and have been cooking for as long as I can remember. I started cooking with my mom as a very young girl. I am fortunate to have been surrounded by wonderful Southern cooks all of my life and nothing says comfort food like fried chicken, mashed potatoes and vegetables that have been cooked down to mush! :-)) That is just the Southern way! To me, Southern cooking is very intuitive in that the best cooks don't ever work from a recipe. I try to do that also and almost never make something the same way twice!
 
View Full Profile
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Find More Recipes