If you have leftover ham lying around, this hearty baked spaghetti casserole is the perfect dish to make with it. The crispy Parmesan bread crumb topping complements the creamy pasta and veggie filling, making each bite supremely comforting and satisfying.
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 8 oz. spaghetti, broken in half
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 (16 - oz.) pkg. sliced white mushrooms
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- ½ (8 - oz.) pkg. reduced-fat cream cheese, room termperature
- 2 cups cubed leftover ham or ham steak
- 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
- 6 Tbsp. grated Parmesan, divided
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- Chopped parsley, to serve (optional)
Steps
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 2-qt. baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
- Meanwhile, in a 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium. Add onion and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, 8–10 minutes. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in broth and cook until thickened. Stir in cream cheese until dissolved. Stir in ham, Cheddar cheese and 4 tablespoons Parmesan until cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in peas and cooked spaghetti, adding reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if sauce is too thick. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs, remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan and oil. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top of spaghetti mixture.
- Bake until filling is bubbling and bread crumbs are golden brown, 20–30 minutes. Top with parsley before serving, if desired.
This recipe is
- Nut-free
- Egg-free
Tags
- leftover ham recipe
- weeknight casserole
- Fresh Magazine March April 2026
- baked pasta
- Comfort Food