Ham and potato pasta bake recipe
Use leftover ham and potatoes in this easy pasta bake recipe. Juicy ham, soft potatoes and crunchy kale are coated in a Cheddar sauce, and topped with cheesy breadcrumbs and fresh tomatoes. This dish will liven up your weeknight dinners.
See method- Serves 4
- 10 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook
- 491 calories / serving
- Freezable
Ingredients
- 100g sliced kale, thick stalks removed
- 300g penne
- 20g Parmesan, grated
- 40g fresh white breadcrumbs
- 250g leftover ham, fat removed, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 160g leftover roast potatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 100g cherry tomatoes, halved
- green salad, to serve (optional)
For the cheese sauce
- 40g butter
- 40g plain flour
- 600ml milk
- 120g reduced-fat Cheddar, grated
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
Each serving contains
- Energy
- 2070kJ 491.0kcal
- Fat
- 17g
- Saturates
- 9g
- Salt
- 1.9g
- Sugars
- 11g
of the Reference intake
Carbohydrate 62.2gProtein 25.3gFibre 3.7g
Method
- First, make the cheese sauce: melt the butter in a pan, sprinkle over the flour and mix with a wooden spoon. Cook for 1 min, stirring. Gradually add the milk, stirring continuously, until smooth. Bring to a bubble and cook for 2-3 mins until thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Remove from the heat, add the cheese and mustard, season and stir well.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta for 9 mins in a large pan of boiling water, adding the kale for the last 2-3 mins. Drain well and return to the pan. Mix the Parmesan with the breadcrumbs; set aside. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C.
- Add the cheese sauce to the pasta along with the chopped ham, and potatoes. Mix to coat everything well, then spoon into a 2ltr ovenproof dish. Top with the cheesy breadcrumbs and dot over the tomatoes (cut-side up).
- Bake for 20-25 mins until piping hot with a crisp topping. Remove from the oven and let stand for a couple of mins, then serve with a green salad, if you like.
- See more Pasta recipes
Freezing and defrosting guidelines
In order to enjoy optimum flavour and quality, frozen items are best used within 3 months of their freezing date. For more tips on freezing and defrosting food, read our article Love Your Freezer.
- For top tips on protecting you and your family when preparing raw meat and poultry, visit Food Safety in the Home.
