Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake
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Are you looking for an easy crock pot meal? This Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake is the perfect, kid-friendly weeknight meal!
If you like this recipe be sure to check out the Smoked Sausage version.
I love all day slow cooker meals, the ones where you toss all the ingredients in the crock pot in the morning and then dinner is ready when you come home. But every now and then I need something quick. This recipe is perfect for those nights when you need to toss something together and then run to dance or basketball practice and come home with a house full of hungry people. All the ingredients are basically pre-cooked so all you need to do is warm them all up.
Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake
This recipe could be made on the stove, in the oven or as the recipes card shows in the crock pot. If you are making on the stove cook the noodles according to package directions. The reason for cooking the pasta al dente when using the slow cooker is because the pasta will continue to cook in the crock pot.
Half-and-half is a mixture of cream and milk. If you don’t have half-and-half you could use milk but I would recommend whole or 2%.
If you wanted to make this more of a complete meal you could add peas the last 30 minutes of cooking or serve with a salad. I used packaged cubed ham but you could also use leftover ham or a ham steak.
More of Our Favorite Crock Pot Recipes
Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese with Ham
Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce box rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente (7 minutes)
- 1 16 ounce package cubed ham
- 1 jar 16 ounce Alfredo sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups half-and-half
Instructions
- Fill saucepan with water and bring to a boil.
- Add pasta and cook for 7 minutes.
- Drain pasta and transfer to a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients and cook on low for 3 hours or on high for 1.5 to 2 hours or until warm throughout and cheese has melted.
Linked to Weekend Potluck
I made this for my family last night! Husband, 3 year old and 1.5 year old all loved it! I added mushrooms and frozen peas to the recipe. I cooked my pasta for maybe 3 minutes then added it to the crockpot, next time I’m not sure I’ll even do that. Pasta turned out great, not mushy or falling apart. Just the right amount of liquid I thought. Next time might add a little more half and half, but just a few drops. Great recipe! Thanks so much!!
So excited to try this! However, I’m nervous about the noodles.. I’ve never tried a recipe with noodles in a slow cooker. The noodles don’t get mushy after being in the slow cooker on low for 3 hours?
Make sure you only cook them al dente! All slow cookers cook different so I would recommend watching it more closely the first time you make it. Enjoy!
Can you double the recipe in the same size 6 quart slow cooker ?
I think it would be close. You might have to stir it a little more during cooking to make sure everything got heated correctly.
How long can leftovers stay in fridge and how would u warm 4 next meal up oven, stove or microwave?
Making it for a party.
I would say a couple days. I would just microwave it. Enjoy!
Can you add frozen broccoli or other vegetables to this recipe? This is my first time trying it and I didn’t want to stray to far from the recipe.
I usually make the veggie on the side because I have picky eaters. Veggie’s don’t usually do too well in the crock pot.
Easy and cheesy! Sounds good to me! Thanks for sharing on the National Pork Month Celebrate 365 Blog Party.