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    Home » Recipes » Pasta and Noodle Recipes

    Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese

    Published: Aug 25, 2021 · Modified: Mar 10, 2022 by Ned Adams · This post may contain affiliate links · 24 Comments

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

    Looking for more cheesy recipes? Try our Hot Pimento Cheese Dip or our delicious Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole.

    Branded image of Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese.
    Jump to:
    • How to make Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese
    • Our favorite tools to make Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese!
    • Other Pasta and Noodle Recipes
    • Get the Recipe
    • Easy Pasta Recipes

    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.

    Macaroni and cheese with ham on a blue plate.
    Cooked Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese with a portion missing.

    How to make Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese

    Ingredients to make Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese: milk, ham, cream cheese, noodles, evaporated milk, mayonnaise, eggs, butter, cheese, seasonings and spices.

    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.

    The egg and milk seasoned mixture in a pink bowl with a whisk.

    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.

    The cooked creamy base to the cheese sauce.

    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?

    The slightly undercooked pasta being added to the creamy sauce base.

    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.

    Diced ham being added to the creamy pasta.

    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

    Grated cheddar cheese added to the ham and pasta mixture.

    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.

    The top layer of grated cheddar cheese has been added to the skillet mac and cheese.

    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.

    Macaroni and Cheese with ham on a blue plate with the rest in the skillet in the background.
    Branded image of skillet ham macaroni and cheese.

    Our favorite tools to make Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese!

    Image of Lodge Blacklock 12" Cast Iron Skillet

    Lodge Blacklock 12" Cast Iron Skillet

    Buy Now →
    Image of BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

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    Other Pasta and Noodle Recipes

    • Freshly baked and from the oven tortellini with sausage.
      Tortellini with Sausage
    • Baked skillet full of bacon cheeseburger casserole.
      Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
    • Skillet Chicken Spaghetti
    • A close up side shot of a slice of pasta showing the layers of cheese, sauce, and noodles.
      Baked Spaghetti Casserole

    If you tried this Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese with a portion missing.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 23 votes

    Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese

    Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese is hearty, family friendly meal that's bound to impress everytime its served.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Resting time5 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 1030kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 12-inch cast iron skillet

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoon butter
    • 3 oz cream cheese
    • 10 oz macaroni any pasta
    • 4 cups cheddar cheese grated; divided
    • 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese grated
    • 1 egg large; 2 medium; lightly beaten
    • 12 oz evaporated milk
    • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 cup whole milk
    • ⅓ teaspoon salt
    • ⅓ teaspoon black pepper
    • ⅓ teaspoon dry ground mustard
    • ⅓ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ tablespoon hot sauce +/-; to taste; can be omitted
    • 3 cups ham diced/cubed
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • Over low heat, melt the butter and cream cheese in the skillet.
    • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
    • Cook pasta 1 MINUTE SHORT OF PACKAGE DIRECTIONS.
    • Grate cheeses and set aside.
    • While pasta cooks, lightly beat the egg(s) in a bowl.
    • Add the evaporated milk, mayonnaise, milk to the egg; whisk to combine. It will be clumpy.
    • Gently whisk in the seasonings and hot sauce.
    • Add the creamy mixture to the skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
    • Once pasta is done, drain and add to the skillet; mix well to combine.
    • Stir in the ham.
    • By the handful, fold in the 3 cups of the cheddar cheese and all of the Jack cheese, stirring well to melt.
    • Once all the cheese has been melted in, sprinkle the reserved cheddar on top.
    • Sprinkle the fresh parsley on top.
    • Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
    • Remove cover and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until all the cheese has melted and the dish as begun to brown.
    • Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes; serve and enjoy.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1030kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 68g | Saturated Fat: 38g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 236mg | Sodium: 1937mg | Potassium: 678mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1716IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 1054mg | Iron: 2mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

    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

    More Flavorful Pasta and Noodle Recipes

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      Dutch Oven Chili Mac
    • Close up image of the skillet with spaghetti and meatballs, two portions missing and plated in white bowls.
      Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs
    • A hearty serving of Sausage Tortellini Casserole on a white plate with a piece of garlic bread and a fork.
      Dutch Oven Sausage Tortellini Casserole
    • Slice of pizza pasta to show texture and firmness.
      Dutch Oven Pizza Pasta

    Comments

      5 from 23 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. D says

      November 10, 2024 at 10:55 am

      5 stars
      Great combination of ingredients!

      Reply
    2. Spencer Adams says

      November 02, 2024 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      The Skillet Ham Macaroni and Cheese is a comforting blend of creamy cheese sauce, savory ham, and tender macaroni. I love it

      Reply
    3. Paula says

      July 03, 2024 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      This skillet mac and cheese was absolutely fantastic. Definitely a huge upgrade from the classic recipe.

      Reply
    4. Liza says

      July 27, 2023 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      My whole family loves this skillet ham Mac and cheese! Love the flavor and texture of the creamy homemade sauce and the cheesy topping! Yum x 100!

      Reply
    5. Liz says

      July 27, 2023 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      Ok this was so yummy! My dad asked for the recipe and I have a feeling they're going to have it on rotation too! Nice and cheesy!

      Reply
    6. Elizabeth says

      July 27, 2023 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      Wow, this is an amazing mac and cheese dish! Very creamy and cheesy. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    7. Justine says

      July 27, 2023 at 8:47 am

      5 stars
      This was so incredibly delicious! Love the addition of ham, it was wonderful!

      Reply
    8. Patricia says

      July 27, 2023 at 8:30 am

      5 stars
      Ooo! This is mac and cheese, and THEN some! Love this as a great comfort dish that adds a little extra! What a fab dish!

      Reply
    9. Dannii says

      February 26, 2023 at 2:08 am

      5 stars
      We love mac and cheese and this was such a nice twist on it.

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    picture of dutch oven daddy holding a dutch oven.

    Hi I'm Ned,

    the Dutch Oven Daddy! I’m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

    More about me

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