Description
This One Pot Ham and Pea Pasta recipe is a comforting, creamy, and easy-to-make meal that combines savory ham, sweet peas, and tender pasta all cooked together in a rich garlic and herb sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you want a hearty and flavorful dinner without the fuss of multiple pots and pans.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1.5 cups diced ham (or more if you like)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 6 cups chicken broth (plus extra as needed)
- 1 (12-oz) box uncooked pasta (linguine or shells recommended)
- 1.5 cups frozen peas
- 1 (5-oz) package Boursin cheese with garlic and herbs (or 4 oz cream cheese plus extra seasoning)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Sauté ham and garlic: Melt the butter in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the diced ham and sauté for 1-2 minutes to heat through and develop flavor. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Make the roux and broth base: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the all-purpose flour and dried parsley, cooking it for about one minute while stirring constantly to form a roux. Gradually pour in the chicken broth while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Bring the mixture to a boil once, then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Cook pasta and peas: Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet, making sure it is fully submerged in the liquid. If needed, break longer pasta like linguine in half. Let it simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is almost cooked through.
- Finish cooking pasta and peas: Stir in the frozen peas and continue to cook for another 4-5 minutes, or until the pasta is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened to a creamy consistency. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Stir in cheeses and serve: Add the Boursin cheese (or cream cheese with extra seasoning) and grated Parmesan cheese to the skillet and stir until melted and combined. Serve immediately, optionally topping with chopped parsley, grated lemon zest, or red pepper flakes according to preference.
Notes
- You can increase the amount of ham for a meatier dish.
- If the sauce gets too thick while the pasta cooks, add a splash more chicken broth to loosen it.
- Using a wide skillet helps the pasta cook evenly in the liquid.
- Choose pasta shapes that cook evenly in liquid, like linguine or shells.
- Optional garnishes such as fresh parsley, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes add extra flavor and color.
