Ham Tetrazzini

Last Updated on April 15, 2025

This Ham Tetrazzini is a creamy and comforting dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

Pasta, ham, mushrooms and peas are all tossed in a creamy white sauce and topped with delicious cheese—you can’t go wrong. If your kids love cheese, you should serve this with air fryer cheese bread.

One of my favorite things about ham casserole recipes like this one is that it’s a great way to use up leftover ham from Easter or other holidays. In case you need an easy way to make a ham, then this Instant Pot brown sugar ham recipe is for you.

The Benefits of Using Leftovers

I know, your family might complain about eating a meal with leftover ham again, but maybe if you let them know these benefits, they’ll be glad they’re eating leftovers again. Just remember to follow food safety tips for saving, storing and reheating leftovers.

• Using pre-cooked ingredients mean less cooking time, allowing you to enjoy a meal without extensive preparation.
• It makes meal planning easier and less time-consuming because you already know what main ingredient you have, so you just need to find a recipe that uses that ingredient.
• Using leftovers reduces the need to buy as many new ingredients, saving money on your grocery bill.
• When you use leftovers you minimize the amount of food that you throw away, which makes you feel good about not wasting food and it helps the environment by reducing your food waste footprint.
• You can transform familiar leftovers into exciting new dishes, which adds a fun and creative element to your cooking. 

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This leftover recipe is a creamy and comforting dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights, providing a nutritious and delicious meal solution.

• Ready in about 30 minutes: Since the ham is already cooked and you can cook the rest of the ingredients while the pasta is boiling, this recipe is ready in 30 minutes.
• Easy to make: Even though there’s several things to cook for this recipe—pasta, vegetables, sauce—it’s still very easy to make.
• Perfect for picky eaters: The picky eaters in your house will love this recipe because the combination of ham, pasta, cheese and peas is delicious—and most kids like all of these ingredients.

If you are looking for another ham and pasta recipe check out this Ham and Tortellini recipe.

🥘 Ingredients

To make this creamy pasta dish you will need a few simple ingredients. All of these ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store to help you save some money on this dish. 

Pasta: Any shape will work, I like to use penne pasta, rotini pasta or even spaghetti noodles. 

Vegetables: You need green peas (I used frozen peas), onion, and mushrooms for this recipe. 

Flour: The flour will be used to thicken your creamy sauce, any type of flour will work.

Milk: Whole milk is the best choice for a creamy texture and richer flavor without being too heavy. You can use 2%, 1% or skim, but the sauce might be thinner.

Seasonings: Salt, pepper and thyme will be used to flavor the sauce.

Chicken broth: This is added to the cream sauce. You can use any brand you prefer.

Ham: Any type of cooked ham will work. If you don’t have leftover ham, you can use diced ham instead. 

See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities.

🔀 Substitutions

If you don’t have the ingredients you need or if you have different dietary needs, see if you have these instead:

Pasta: If you need to make the dish gluten-free, you can use gluten-free pasta.

Vegetables: If your family prefers different vegetables, you can use zucchini, bell peppers or spinach instead. Shallots or leeks would work instead of the onions.

Flour: If you need to make the dish gluten-free, you can use gluten-free flour.

Milk: You can use unsweetened almond or oat milk for a dairy-free version.

Seasonings: Instead of thyme, use Italian seasoning or dried basil or oregano.

Chicken broth: If you don’t have chicken broth on hand, you can use ham broth, vegetable broth or water with bouillon. 

Ham: Instead of ham, you can switch out the protein and use cooked chicken or cooked turkey. 

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

Here are a few ways that you can personalize this simple casserole recipe. 

More Cheese: You can mix in shredded cheese such as mozzarella, cheddar cheese, or Swiss.

Tasty Add-Ins: Sauté a few garlic cloves with the onion for more depth of flavor. Add some broccoli florets during the last minute of the pasta cooking to soften slightly.

Toppings: Mix breadcrumbs with the parmesan for a crispier broiled topping, or crushed Ritz crackers or cornflakes for a buttery crunch. If your family really loves cheese, top with shredded mozzarella, cheddar, or Swiss before broiling

See this Instant Pot Chicken Tetrazzini recipe to try making this dish with another protein.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You only need a couple kitchen tools to help you make this simple family-friendly meal. Gather these tools and get ready to enjoy this tasty dish. 

• Medium pot and a large pot or dutch oven: You’ll need a 4 quart pot for boiling the pasta and a 6 quart pot for cooking the sauce and then adding in the rest of the ingredients.
• Casserole dish or baking dish: Use an 8×8 casserole dish to broil the casserole at the end to turn the cheese topping golden brown.

🔪 How to Make Ham Tetrazzini 

Making this simple recipe is easy. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a tasty dish in no time at all. 

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

In a medium pot, cook the pasta according to the package directions. 

Step 2: Melt the Butter

In a large pot on the stove top, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.

Step 3: Sauté the Onions 

Once the butter is completely melted, sauté the onions until clear and tender. This should take about four minutes.

Step 4: Sauté Mushrooms 

Once the onions are tender, add the sliced mushrooms and cook until your desired texture is reached. About four minutes for tender mushrooms. 

Step 5: Set the Vegetables Aside 

Place the onions and mushrooms in a small bowl and set aside. 

Step 6: Melt the rest of the Butter

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the pot and melt it. 

Step 7: Make a Roux

Once melted, whisk the flour into the butter to make a roux.

Step 8: Stir in the Milk

Allow the roux to bubble and then whisk in the milk.

Step 9: Season the Sauce

Season the cream sauce with salt, pepper, and thyme and then allow it to simmer for 8 minutes or until thickened. 

Step 10: Add the Chicken Broth

Slowly stir in the chicken broth.

Step 11: Add the Vegetables and Pasta

Add the pasta, green peas, and cooked ham until ingredients are warm and thoroughly coated in the sauce. 

Step 12: Heat the Oven

Turn the oven on broil. 

Step 13: Broil the Casserole

Pour the pasta mixture into an 8×8 casserole dish, and sprinkle the top with grated parmesan cheese. Broil for about 2 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.

Step 14: Serve and Enjoy

Serve this pasta dish in a bowl or on a plate and enjoy your meal.

👩‍🍳 Pro Tips

Here are a few tips to make sure this recipe turns out perfectly every time. 

• Don’t overcook the pasta—cook it just to al dente, since it’ll continue cooking a bit when mixed with the sauce and under the broiler.
• Whisk constantly when adding the flour to the melted butter and again when adding the milk—this prevents lumps and makes a silky sauce.
• Stir the chicken broth in gradually to keep the sauce creamy and prevent it from thinning out too fast.
• Taste the sauce before adding the ham and adjust salt and pepper as needed—ham can already be salty. 
• After broiling, let the dish sit for 5–10 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly and everything holds together better.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Ham Tetrazzini:

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📋 Recipe

Ham Tetrazzini

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Corinne Schmitt

This Ham Tetrazzini is a creamy and comforting dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. It’s a great way to use up leftover ham from Easter.

5 from 15 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 6 Servings

Calories 381 kcal

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Equipment

• ▢
  Medium pot and a large pot or dutch oven
• ▢
  8×8 casserole dish

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 8 ounces pasta approximately 2 1/2 cups
• ▢ 4 tablespoons butter divided
• ▢ 1 medium onion diced
• ▢ 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• ▢ 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 2 cups milk
• ▢ salt and pepper to taste
• ▢ 1 teaspoon thyme
• ▢ 1/2 cup chicken broth
• ▢ 1 cup green peas
• ▢ 2 cups cooked ham chopped
• ▢ 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Get ingredients with

Instructions

 

• In a medium pot, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
  8 ounces pasta
• In a large pot on the stove top, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
  4 tablespoons butter
• Once the butter is completely melted, sauté the onions until clear and tender. This should take about four minutes.
  1 medium onion
• Once the onions are tender, add the sliced mushrooms and cook until your desired texture is reached. About four minutes for tender mushrooms.
  1 cup sliced mushrooms
• Place the onions and mushrooms in a small bowl and set aside.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the pot and melt it.
  4 tablespoons butter
• Once melted, whisk the flour into the butter to make a roux.
  1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• Allow the roux to bubble and then whisk in the milk.
  2 cups milk
• Season the cream sauce with salt, pepper, and thyme and then allow it to simmer for 8 minutes or until thickened.
  salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon thyme
• Slowly stir in the chicken broth.
  1/2 cup chicken broth
• Add the pasta, green peas, and cooked ham until ingredients are warm and thoroughly coated in the sauce.
  8 ounces pasta, 1 cup green peas, 2 cups cooked ham
• Turn the oven on broil.
• Pour the pasta mixture into an 8×8 casserole dish, and sprinkle the top with grated parmesan cheese. Broil for about 2 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.
  1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Serve this pasta dish in a bowl or on a plate and enjoy your meal.

Notes

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook the pasta—cook it just to al dente, since it’ll continue cooking a bit when mixed with the sauce and under the broiler.
• Whisk constantly when adding the flour to the melted butter and again when adding the milk—this prevents lumps and makes a silky sauce.
• Stir the chicken broth in gradually to keep the sauce creamy and prevent it from thinning out too fast.
• Taste the sauce before adding the ham and adjust salt and pepper as needed—ham can already be salty. 
• After broiling, let the dish sit for 5–10 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly and everything holds together better.

 

Recipe FAQs

How do I store leftovers?

If you have any leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. 

 

How do I reheat leftovers?

Reheat in the microwave for individual portions, or cover with foil and bake at 350 F until heated through (about 20–25 minutes). Add a splash of milk or broth if it seems dry.

 

Can I freeze this recipe?

Absolutely. Assemble it in a freezer-safe container (skip the broil step), wrap well, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and broil before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 381kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 19gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 677mgPotassium: 470mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 603IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 163mgIron: 2mg

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