Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese

Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese is a hearty, family friendly meal that’s bound to impress every time it’s served.

A staple in the American household, cheesy, creamy, and comforting, Mac and Cheese has been loved for centuries.

As a kid, who didn’t love it when it was served? As an adult, I still love macaroni and cheese.

But with a grown up palate, I’ve started tossing in all sorts of goodies.

Enter this Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese. It’s simple enough for the kids to love and but jazzed up enough to satisfy the grown ups.

How to make Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese

To make your life easier, set the butter and cream cheese out earlier in the day to soften them. Or don’t. 

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Place the skillet on the stove and heat over medium low. Toss in the butter and cream cheese so it can begin to melt.

Get a large pot of water to boil. Once boiling, generously salt and the add pasta.

Cook pasta one minute short of the package directions. While you’re waiting for the pasta to cook, grate your cheeses.

Occasionally pop over to the skillet and stir and encourage the cream cheese and butter to melt. The cream cheese can be a bit stubborn.

I found using a whisk makes it easier.

In a large bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Don’t overdo it. We are not making scrambled eggs here. We only want to break the yolk and mix it into the whites.

Stir in the evaporated milk, mayonnaise, and milk into the eggs. It will be clumpy, so don’t worry about that too much. Get it as smooth as you can, and let it go.

Gently whisk in the seasonings and hot sauce if you’re using it.

Don’t worry, the dish isn’t spicy, the hot sauce gives it some depth of flavor.

Pour this creaming mixture into the skillet, combining it with the butter and cream cheese. Stir constantly.

Don’t toss the liquid into the skillet until the last few min of the pasta is boiling. It only takes a few minutes to cook the mixture.

Can I use different pasta shapes in my Mac and Cheese?

Macaroni or elbows are the quintessential vessel for the cheese to pasta ratio, but yes, other kinds of pasta can do the job.

Stick with a smaller pasta like conchiglie (shells), farfalle (bowties), cellentani (corkscrew; and what we used here), and penne. 

Once the pasta is done, at the one-minute shy of being done mark, drain it and immediately add it to the skillet. 

Mix it well into the creamy liquid, making sure the pasta is thoroughly coated. Stir in the ham.

Can I add vegetables to macaroni and cheese?

Absolutely!

You can add peas, onion, mushrooms, carrots, corn, okra, diced tomatoes, or zucchini. Let your imagination come up with some yummy options like some nice roasted vegetables.

Broccoli, cauliflower, or bell peppers could be a great addition to this dish.

How NOT to add grated cheese to homemade macaroni and cheese

Now it’s time to add the cheese that you reserved.

For the love of all that is good, do not add all the cheese at once. Talk about a nightmare mess on your hands.

Add the cheese by the handful, and fold it into the pasta.

Don’t just drop a handful of cheese on top and stir either. Use those hand muscles of yours and sprinkle it all around. This will avoid any smaller cheesy clumps.

After you have folded all the cheeses and it has melted, sprinkle the reserved cheddar on top, garnish with your chopped parsley.

Cover this bad boy, toss it in the oven, and bake for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, uncover it and let it brown for an additional 5 minutes.

Once browned, pull it out, let it rest for 5 minutes before digging into to it. This allows the cheese to hold itself together. Serve and enjoy.

Our favorite tools to make Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese!

Lodge Blacklock 12″ Cast Iron Skillet

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BuzzyWaxx Original Blend – Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

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Easy Pasta Recipes

Everyone loves pasta and red sauce, but the mighty noodle can be used in so many more delicious ways. Here’s a few of our favorites.

• Skillet Chicken Spaghetti
• Baja Chicken Pasta from The Complete Savorist
• Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
• Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Pasta from The Magical Slow Cooker
• Dutch Oven Pizza Pasta
• Philly Cheesesteak Pasta from The Rockstar Mommy