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Ham and Pea Pasta

4.97 from 30 votes
Total 25 minutes
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Ham and pea pasta is a one-pot pasta entree made with savory ham and sweet peas in a creamy Parmesan sauce. Make this 30-minute dinner with the stove or pressure cooker.

creamy ham and pea pasta black bowl with eating utensil
Table of Contents hide
1) Why you'll love this recipe
2) Ingredient notes
3) How to make this recipe
4) Recipe tips
5) Recipe variations
6) One-pot pasta recipes we love
7) 📖 Recipe
8) Ham and Pea Pasta Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

  • It's creamy, comforting, and family-loved.
  • Excellent use for leftover ham.
  • Easy to follow recipe for any cooking level.
  • Includes instructions for stove or pressure cooker.
  • One-pot pasta requires minimal cleanup.
  • The delicious leftovers will actually get devoured.
  • Adaptable recipe to suit any preferences.

Ham and peas pasta is an easy way to turn leftover holiday spiral ham or deli lunch meat into a creamy, dreamy dinner entree. The Alfredo-style creamy pasta sauce practically makes itself with this one-pot method.

Ingredient notes

Ingredient amounts are listed in the printable recipe card below.

  • uncooked pasta - I prefer orecchiette because it's a sturdy shell that holds its structure, which makes perfect pockets for the cream sauce.
  • chicken broth - I recommend a reduced-sodium broth because you can add salt to taste later in the recipe, if desired.
  • heavy cream - This adds a rich flavor and texture to the sauce, which makes pasta even more comforting.
  • fresh garlic - I prefer to not hold back when it comes to adding fresh garlic.
  • Parmesan cheese - Grated or shredded cheese will work.
  • peas - I prefer frozen peas for color, flavor, and price value.
  • cooked ham - Use sliced deli ham or spiral ham leftovers.
  • fresh parsley - Optional, but adds a pop of color and flavor.
ham and pea pasta ingredients labeled and ready to be used in recipe

How to make this recipe

Enjoy these step-by-step stove instructions and get the full, printable recipe below, including pressure cooker instructions.

Step 1. Add pasta, broth, heavy cream, garlic, and pepper to saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, or until shells are slightly al dente, stirring as needed. Note: Cook time will depend on pasta thickness.

uncooked pasta shells, chopped garlic, cream, and black pepper in pot
slotted spoon stirs uncooked pasta shells and cream in pot

Step 2. Don't drain. Gently stir PARMESAN CHEESE into the mixture and continue to the next step.

Parmesan cheese piled on top of cooked pasta shells in pot
slotted spoon stirs Parmesan cheese and cooked pasta shells in pot

Step 3. Add ham and peas and continue cooking on very low heat until warmed through, stirring as needed.

slotted spoon stirs ham and peas into cooked shell pasta in pot
slotted spoon stirs ham and pea pasta in pot

Garnish, serve with a French loaf and devour!

creamy ham and pea pasta black bowl with eating utensil

Recipe tips

  • Pasta cook times may vary. Please keep this in mind when using either cooking method for this recipe.
  • Heavy cream, or heavy whipping cream, has enough fat to withstand the heat from the stove or pressure cooker. Other dairy liquids can curdle in the same environment.
  • Do not drain the pasta at any point because the starchy liquid helps build the creaminess and volume of the sauce.
  • When reheating ham and pea pasta, add splashes of cream, milk, or broth to revive the moisture and creaminess of the sauce.

Recipe variations

  • Any pasta shape can be used for this recipe. I prefer a sturdy pasta such as orecchiette, penne, rotini, or elbow macaroni.
  • Use any cooked ham for this pasta recipe, including sliced deli ham and holiday spiral ham.
  • Vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken broth.
  • If peas aren't an option, feel free to skip them. You can also substitute the peas with steamed broccoli, savory roasted mushrooms, or sauteed asparagus.
  • A little crumbled bacon garnish will add a delicious savory flavor and crispy texture to this entree.

One-pot pasta recipes we love

📖 Recipe

creamy ham and pea pasta in black bowl with fork

Ham and Pea Pasta Recipe

Ham and pea pasta is a one-pot pasta entree made with savory ham and sweet peas in a creamy Parmesan sauce. Make this 30-minute dinner with the stove or pressure cooker.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total time25 minutes
Yield 6 1-cup servings
Author Traci Antonovich
4.97 from 30 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients 

Stove instructions (see pressure cooker instructions below)

  • 8 ounces Orecchiette Pasta Shells or other pasta variety
  • 1 ½ cups Chicken Broth
  • ½ cup Heavy Cream also called heavy whipping cream
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese shaved, shredded, or fresh grated
  • ⅓ pound Cooked Ham about 1 cup diced
  • 1 cup Peas thawed (if frozen)

Optional garnish

  • 2 tablespoons fresh Parsley chopped

Equipment

Instructions

  • Add PASTA, CHICKEN BROTH, HEAVY CREAM, GARLIC, and BLACK PEPPER to saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes, or until shells are al dente, stirring as needed. Note: Cook time will depend on pasta thickness.
  • Add PARMESAN CHEESE and stir to incorporate. For thicker sauce, add more cheese.
  • Stir in PEAS and HAM and continue cooking on very low heat about 3 minutes, or until warmed through, stirring as needed.
  • Serve warm with parsley garnish.
  • To store, allow pasta to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Final step

Click stars to vote. Please visit 'Comments' below for reviews.

4.97 from 30 votes

Recipe Notes

  • Pasta cook times may vary. Please keep this in mind when using either cooking method for this recipe.
  • Heavy cream, or heavy whipping cream, has enough fat to withstand the heat from the stove or pressure cooker. Other dairy liquids can curdle in the same environment.
  • When reheating ham and pea pasta, add splashes of cream, milk, or broth to revive the moisture and creaminess of the sauce.
  • Check out the recipe variations too!
Instant Pot instructions
  1. To the pressure cooker, add pasta, broth, heavy cream, garlic, and pepper. Push ingredients under the liquid to submerge.
  2. Close and lock the lid. Select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" for 2 minutes. If using thin pasta (like shells) set the cooker for 1 minute only.
  3. When cook cycle completes, let the cooker sit undisturbed for a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). Turn valve to release remaining steam
  4. Stir in Parmesan, ham, and peas until creamy. Cover and rest 5 minutes until warmed. Serve and enjoy.
Note: This 6-cup amount can be doubled in the 6-quart pressure cooker.
Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see it!Follow @thekitchengirl on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag #thekitchengirl. This always makes my day!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 652mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 656IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 1mg
Course entree, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
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Comments

  1. Dulcy says

    5 stars
    Delicious!

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Yay! Glad you enjoyed 🙂 Thanks for letting me know

  2. Carol Ennis says

    Can this be frozen? We would like to have ready for emergency meals for our church members.

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Hiya, yes you can freeze this by letting it cool completely and storing it in an airtight container. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and, when reheating, add a little heavy cream or broth to revive the creaminess. You may also need to toss in a little parmesan cheese to thicken the sauce again. Let me know if you have other questions. Enjoy!!

  3. Janice says

    4 stars
    5 star rating for taste, it is really good. But, I gave it a 4 because of the technical difficulties, which could have been just me. Lol I used medium shells and did 1 minute cook time 10 min nr per instructions and I didn't think the pasta was done enough to my liking and it was still pretty liquidy even after adding cheese, ham and peas and letting it sit in the ip for @ 20 minutes. I ended up making another batch and did 2 minutes with 10 min nr and I liked it better. I will definitely double the recipe next time anyway so we have leftovers. Thank you for the great recipe.

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      You're so welcome and I'm glad you dialed it in. I'm surprised that happened with medium shells because I find those to be the quickest cooking (and easily overcooked) variety out there lol. But pasta brands vary so much, I need to add a note to the recipe, so thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it!

  4. Debi says

    Is this Frozen Peas?

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Yes, I usually use frozen peas for this recipe but you can use canned or fresh peas if you like. Enjoy!

  5. Lady Di says

    5 stars
    This has become one of my mainstay recipes. I originally knew it as Risi e Bisi which is the same dish but with white rice. I used deli honey ham for this recipe because it adds a touch of sweet to the savory.

    I wonder how to adapt this recipe for wild rice? Please let me know!

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Awesome! So glad you're enjoying it 🙂 As for wild rice, that would be a completely different recipe ... one that I've never tried. Let me know if you decide to experiment!

  6. Al says

    5 stars
    This is our go-to leftover ham recipe, especially during the holidays. It always turns out perfect and I love how it's not heart-attack rich like you get from restaurant Alfredo, but still has great flavor. Winner every time!

    Reply

  7. Jeff says

    5 stars
    I could eat this for days because it's so good every time I make it! I've used half and half (b/c it's on hand) OR heavy cream and either work great. I already can't wait to eat this again.

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Yay! I feel the sammmme way about ham and peas alfredo pasta! It's my favorite way to use up leftover ham after the holidays 🙂

  8. Kelly Martin says

    Can you use tortellini?

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Sure!...and I'd cook it from frozen too (no thaw) with same cooking time as this recipe.

  9. Jenn says

    5 stars
    Great, easy recipe! I was looking for a way to use up a small amount of leftover ham and this was perfect. I did it stovetop as I’m wary about instant pot pasta recipes. I doubled the recipe (4 cups of rotini was just smaller than my 375g box of pasta, so I just used the whole thing), fried up the ham at the beginning along with the onions (it was fatty chunk and I wanted to render some of the fat first), and I left the rotini very undercooked before putting the 18% cream and peas (and tiny chopped up pieces of broccoli and cauliflower) as I wanted the end result to be al dente. The whole family loved it! Thanks and I will be trying out some of your other recipes too 🙂

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      So glad to hear it, Jenn! Love the idea of rendering the fat first. Also love the cauliflower idea. Great choices! Thanks for the great review 🙂

  10. David says

    5 stars
    Yum! I love ham and peas together in a pasta dish. Definitely would like a plate of this right now!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Cheers to that, David! 🙂

  11. Gabi says

    5 stars
    I'm a big fan of one pot meals and when you then combine leftovers in a delicious way like you did, you are my star! Your ham Alfredo pasta is the perfect dish for my hubby , thank you for inspiring me:)

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Love hearing that, Gabi! Thanks for the vote...and I hope your hubby loves it!

  12. Kelly Anthony says

    5 stars
    Love the idea of repurposing Thanksgiving leftovers into a great meal. This sounds like a real crowd pleaser.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Kelly! Not too many people won't eat alfredo 😉

  13. kim says

    5 stars
    My whole family loves this.. even the picky kiddos! Thanks for the tasty recipe!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      You're so welcome, Kim. And yes...go kiddos!

  14. Lauren Vavala | Delicious Little Bites says

    What a great use of leftover ham! My go-to is always omelets, but I love this dinner idea and will be trying it next time I have leftovers!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Yay glad to hear it! My other half goes crazy for this dish! 🙂

  15. Soniya says

    I love one pot recipes and I am always looking for new ones!! This ham and peas Alfredo looks and sounds to delicious and easy to make and know that my boys will relish it!Thanks

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Awesome...love hearing that Soniya! Hope they do love it...thanks!

  16. Lisa Huff says

    5 stars
    My kids are going to love this and I'm going to love sneaking some peas into their meal. 🙂

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Haha yay Lisa! I love sneaky ingredients...and the peas are my favorite ending to this dish 🙂 Hope they love it!

  17. Meredith Kauffman says

    5 stars
    I love easy one-pot meals that reinvent leftovers! What a fun, and delicious sounding, recipe for leftover ham!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Meredith...it really is the perfect "leftover ham" dish. Hope you get to try it out 🙂

  18. Helene D'Souza says

    Your one-pot ham and peas alfredo looks super tempting! I just prepared dinner. If I hadn't, I would have made this now. 🙂

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Haha love hearing that Helene! Let me know if you get a chance to try it out 🙂

  19. Lauren says

    5 stars
    This looks so good, but also so easy! Perfect for a quick weeknight meal!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Lauren...love hearing that. It really is a quick weeknight meal 🙂

  20. Lisa says

    5 stars
    This is exactly what I"m in the mood for today! I mean, alfredo is always a winner, but the peas and ham make it more of a meal! YUM!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Haha thanks Lisa...you'll LOVE using holiday hams for this too! 🙂

  21. Beth says

    5 stars
    Yum! This looks like the perfect comfort food for a cold day! I love peas and ham together!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thank Beth! I'm totally with you on the ham and peas combo 😉

  22. Veena Azmanov says

    5 stars
    I love one pot meals and this looks like the perfect one on week nights when I am busy!! My Kids love peas so definitely one for my family

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Hey thanks Veena...yep the kids should love this one 🙂

  23. Luci's Morsels says

    5 stars
    This would make the perfect, quick and easy, weeknight meal. I have to try this ASAP! Yummy!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Luci...it is all of those things! 🙂

  24. Rae says

    5 stars
    This looks so yummy and comforting, perfect for holiday leftovers.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks so much Rae! It is the perfect leftover dish! 🙂

  25. Jane, The Heritage Cook says

    What a great way to use up leftovers and satisfy our cravings for good old-fashioned comfort foods!! SCORE!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks, pal, this dish is my new addiction...it's insanely goooooood! Total score, indeed! 🙂