Creamy Alfredo with Ham and Peas
This easy alfredo with ham and peas is the perfect way to use leftover ham for a quick and delicious weeknight pasta dinner. The whole meal is finished in 20 minutes or less -- including the time it takes for the water to boil!
Every Easter I make our very favorite mustard glazed ham with pineapples for the feast and we always end up having tons and tons of leftover ham.
I do this on purpose since the ham freezes so well and is the perfect easy ingredient for some of our favorite recipes to make for busy nights.
Diced ham is the perfect protein for tossing into pasta and casseroles.
When paired with our favorite easy homemade alfredo sauce and a bag of frozen peas, you have a restaurant quality dinner made in under 20 minutes at home.
Why This is the Best Recipe
- Budget-Friendly: Using up every bit of that holiday ham so nothing goes to waste is a smart move. The remaining ingredients are pantry-friendly or frequently go on sale at the grocery store.
- Kid-Friendly: My kids love this dinner even more than our holiday feast! They look forward to our ham just for the leftovers.
- Cozy Comfort Food: Creamy alfredo sauce is so easy to make at home and tastes so much better than the jarred stuff.
Ingredients
This is a perfect pantry dinner if you have just a few key things ready on hand:
- Pasta: We love farfalle (bowties) but you could use penne or fettuccini or any short pasta shape you love.
- Leftover Ham: I love to dice up leftover ham from this easy Crockpot spiral ham recipe or this mustard glazed ham with pineapples. If you don't have ham leftovers, simply buy some deli ham that has been thickly sliced or a ham steak.
- Frozen Peas
Alfredo Sauce:
You can use either a store bought Alfredo sauce from a jar or the refrigerated section but I strongly encourage you to try my homemade version. It comes together while the pasta is cooking and won't take you any more time.
To make the sauce from scratch, you'll also need:
- Butter
- Cream Cheese
- Milk
- Garlic Salt
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
You can print of just the alfredo sauce recipe here if you want to use it for something else in the future.
How to Cook in 20 Minutes
Time your assembly right and you can get this whole dish done in under 20 minutes.
First, put a large pot of water on to boil.
Cook the pasta for the shortest amount of time listed on the packaging for a firm noodle with bite (al dente).
NOTE: Be sure to reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water just before you strain the pot. You may need it to smooth out the pasta sauce at the end.
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While the water heats up, prepare the homemade alfredo sauce. It will be done by the time the pasta is ready to go into the pot.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cubed cream cheese and whisk it as it melts.
Once smooth, pour in the milk and sprinkle the garlic salt in. Whisk everything together. Continue to cook until it just begins to bubble and starts to thicken. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
Add just half of the grated parmesan cheese and whisk until smooth.
Add the diced ham and stir it in, let the ham warm through for a minute or two.
Add the peas to the sauce the moment before you add the strained pasta to the skillet. They will warm through very quickly.
Add the pasta to the skillet and toss with the Alfredo sauce, ham, and peas.
Let the pasta warm through in the sauce for a minute. It will begin to absorb the Alfredo.
If it starts to get too thick, you can add a splash of your reserved pasta water. This starchy cooking water works like magic to make the Alfredo smoother and creamier.
Sprinkle the remaining grated parmesan over the top and serve immediately.
Variations
If your family doesn't like peas, you could easily substitute frozen broccoli or asparagus here. The green vegetable gives the perfect burst of flavor with the creamy alfredo sauce.
Make-Ahead Tips
The alfredo sauce itself can be made up to 2 or 3 days ahead of time and stored separately from the ham in the fridge but should not be frozen.
The final dish tastes best when prepared and served fresh but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Simply reheat in the microwave, but note that the texture of the sauce may be a little dryer than when you first served it.
DIY Meal Kit
This recipe makes an excellent DIY meal kit.
You can prep ahead the following elements for easy assembly another night:
- Prepare the Alfredo Sauce
- Dice the Ham and Store Separately
- Keep a bag of frozen peas in the freezer and a box of pasta in the pantry
Serving Suggestions
This is a perfect one pot meal for a quick dinner but if you wanted to add a few side dishes, I recommend a light side salad and maybe some homemade garlic bread or homemade breadsticks.
I keep my garden salad prepped in the fridge for easy assembly but this homemade Caesar salad would just as quick to grab.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
Looking for more easy pasta dishes for a quick meal? Here are a few of my favorites:
📖 Recipe
Creamy Alfredo with Ham and Peas
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 1 pound short pasta farfalle, penne, etc.
- 2 cups diced cooked ham
- 1 bag of frozen peas
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
For the Alfredo Sauce:
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
- 1 (8 oz) brick of cream cheese cut into large cubes
- 2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- Sprinkle of black pepper
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese divided
Instructions
- Place a large pot of water on the stovetop to boil. Add a hefty pinch of salt. Boil the pasta according to the lowest time listed on the package so the noodles remain firm. Be sure to reserve some of the pasta cooking water just before you strain the pot.
- While the pasta is cooking, you can prepare the Alfredo sauce to save time. Place the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once it has melted, add the cream cheese. Stir the cream cheese while it melts. When it is almost smooth, pour in the milk and whisk the sauce together.
- Season the sauce with the garlic salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the sauce begins to bubble and thicken. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Whisk in just half of the parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Stir in the cooked ham and let it warm through for 1 - 2 minutes. Add the pasta and stir to coat. Add the peas and let them warm through for a minute. If the pasta begins to absorb too much of the Alfredo sauce, you can loosen it up with a splash of the reserved pasta water.
- Sprinkle the remaining grated parmesan cheese over the top and serve immediately.
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