Ham Tetrazzini was a staple in our family, particularly proper after Easter when my Mother was developing with inventive methods to make use of up leftover ham. Everybody all the time seemed ahead to this dish, and that also holds true at this time. Now, I’ve made some changes to Mother’s OG recipe, however the coronary heart of the dish stays! It’s nonetheless filled with ham, spaghetti, mushrooms, and peas, and I make a easy, creamy, from-scratch sauce to carry it collectively. This ham tetrazzini recipe is simple, budget-friendly, comforting, and an effective way to make the most of leftover ham. Our household all the time loves it, and I hope yours does too!
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Creamy Ham Tetrazzini Recipe
Ham tetrazzini is a basic baked spaghetti casserole made with tender spaghetti, diced ham, and a velvety sauce that bakes up bubbly and wealthy. As an alternative of utilizing canned cream soups to make the sauce like my Mother did again within the day, I whisk collectively a easy home made sauce, beginning with a butter and flour combine to make a roux. I nonetheless add mushrooms and peas, a conventional a part of this Italian American dish (relying on who you ask!). Then I end it off with a beneficiant layer of melty cheddar cheese, as a result of that’s precisely how Mother all the time did it, and I wouldn’t dream of skipping it.
- Use what you’ve acquired! I used common spaghetti pasta for this dish. You may also use thicker spaghetti, fettuccini, or pasta of your alternative. Prepare dinner the pasta based on the package deal instructions till simply tender.
- The butter and flour are the bottom for the roux. Roux is a thickening agent that’s about equal components fats and flour. It will thicken up the filling to its creamy, dreamy consistency and makes an amazing canned “cream of” substitute. Be certain that to cook dinner the roux for a minute earlier than including the broth to cook dinner out the uncooked flour style.
- Add completely different seasonings. I seasoned my baked ham tetrazzini with garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. You may also add onion powder, paprika, nutmeg, or different spices and herbs to your style.
- Be at liberty so as to add additional veggies! Asparagus, broccoli, spinach, or inexperienced beans would completely work on this dish, too. Blanch recent veggies in scorching water for 2-3 minutes to melt them barely. Frozen veg and recent spinach might be added on to the sauce.
- Swap the meat. You possibly can simply swap the cooked ham for no matter pre-cooked meat you have already got. Add in leftover vacation turkey or hen to make a hen tetrazzini.
- Time saving tip. When you’re in a pinch, you should use a can of cream of hen or cream of mushroom as an alternative of constructing the home made sauce. I counsel 1 can, thinned with about ½ cup of milk or broth.
- You possibly can really make this dish the night time earlier than. Place the raw ham tetrazzini within the fridge, coated. The subsequent day, take it out of the fridge and let it sit for about quarter-hour. Prepare dinner as traditional, including 15 extra minutes to the cook dinner time because it’ll be chilly to start out.
Ham Tetrazzini
Price $7.65 recipe / $1.28 serving
This Ham Tetrazzini recipe is a comfy method to make use of up leftover ham with spaghetti, mushrooms, peas, and a creamy home made sauce. Low cost and scrumptious!
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Collect and put together all substances. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×10 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and put aside.
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Deliver a medium-sized pot of water to a boil to cook dinner the pasta. As soon as boiling, add the pasta and cook dinner for about 10 minutes, or simply till tender. Drain and funky the pasta in a colander, then put aside for later.
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Whereas the pasta is cooking, in a big skillet over medium warmth, add the oil, onions, and mushrooms. Prepare dinner for five minutes, stirring sometimes, till the onions soften.
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Push the onions and mushrooms to 1 facet of the skillet. Soften the butter within the skillet, then sprinkle within the flour and cook dinner for 1 minute.
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Add the hen broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme, and cook dinner till it’s thickened, about 1-2 minutes.
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Subsequent, add the milk and whisk till the liquid has thickened and grow to be easy, about 2 minutes.
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Add the ham and peas to the skillet and fold to mix.
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Add the cooked spaghetti noodles and fold till mixed. (In case your skillet is just too small, place all the things in a big bowl to mix.)
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Switch the combination into the 9×10 casserole dish and unfold evenly.
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Prime evenly with the cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, within the oven for 25-Half-hour.
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**I like using leftover baked ham on this recipe, however you can too use smoked boneless ham that was totally cooked, ham steaks, or cooked honey-baked ham.
***Cheddar might be much less frequent for ham tetrazzini, however that’s how I grew up with my mother making it. You may also use mozzarella or Parmesan.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 494kcal (25%)Carbohydrates: 43g (14%)Protein: 24g (48%)Fats: 25g (38%)Sodium: 1314mg (57%)Fiber: 3g (13%)
Percentages are of each day worth.
find out how to make Ham Tetrazzini step-by-step pictures
Collect all your substances. Grease a 9×10-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and preheat the oven to 375°F. Set this apart for now.
Prepare dinner the spaghetti: Deliver a medium pot of water to a boil, add 8 oz. raw spaghetti, and cook dinner till simply tender (about 10 minutes). Drain in a colander, rinse briefly to chill, and put aside.
Whereas the pasta cooks, warmth 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Add ½ onion (diced) and 4 oz. sliced mushrooms and sauté till the onion is softened, about 5 minutes, stirring sometimes.
Make the roux: Scoot the veggies to 1 facet of the skillet. Add 4 Tbsp butter to the middle and let it soften, then sprinkle in ⅓ cup all-purpose flour. Prepare dinner for 1 minute.
Add broth and seasonings: Slowly pour in 1½ cups hen broth whereas whisking. Season with 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and ¼ tsp dried thyme. Prepare dinner till it thickens, about 1-2 minutes.
Make it creamy: Add 1½ cups milk and proceed whisking till the sauce turns easy and thick, about 2 minutes.
Add ham and peas: Stir in 2 cups diced cooked ham and 1 cup frozen peas and mix.
Add spaghetti: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet and toss till the noodles are totally coated within the sauce. In case your skillet is crowded, mix all the things in a big bowl as an alternative.
Assemble within the dish: Spoon the combination into the ready casserole dish and unfold into a fair layer. Sprinkle 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese evenly excessive.
Bake: Bake your ham tetrazzini uncovered for 25-Half-hour, or till bubbly and the cheese is melted.
Serve and revel in!
Serving Ideas
Though ham tetrazzini can completely be a full meal by itself, I’m very happy so as to add a easy veggie facet to my plate! Our honey balsamic carrots are candy and tangy, and go so properly with the ham. Air fryer asparagus is simply too straightforward and scrumptious, particularly when asparagus is in season throughout spring. And roasted frozen broccoli is all the time a dependable, budget-friendly choice that works with nearly any casserole night time.
Storage & Reheating
You possibly can retailer leftover ham tetrazzini casserole in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-4 days. You may also freeze it for 3-4 months in a freezer-safe container, then thaw it in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. For the reason that pasta will hold absorbing the sauce, it may not be fairly as saucy the subsequent day, so I prefer to stir in a splash of milk, cream, or broth to loosen it again up.
To reheat, heat particular person parts within the microwave in 30-60 second bursts, stirring in between, till scorching all through. For a bigger portion, cowl and reheat within the oven at 350°F till warmed by way of.
Bought Extra Ham to Use Up? Attempt These Subsequent!
- This straightforward Ham and Bean Soup masses up on colourful veggies, leftover ham, and hearty white beans for a comfy bowl that’s PERFECT with crusty bread.
- Our Pea Salad is a basic facet with candy peas, diced ham, cheddar, and pink onion tossed in a tangy dressing that goes with absolutely anything.
- I make this Ham and Potato Casserole after I need an additional comforting brunch. Comfortable, creamy potatoes get baked with sharp cheddar and bite-sized ham till bubbly and golden.
