Pasta with Peas and Ham

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Fast and easy meals are the only thing helping me survive this time of year (…or any time of year for that matter), and this super quick and creamy pasta with peas and ham was a total winner for me. It’s inspired by a classic Italian dish, Pasta alla Papalina, and follows my favorite “formula” for easy meals: pasta + butter + Parmesan + vegetable. This variation on that formula has a few extra ingredients to give it a rich finish, but it’s still just as fast and easy (hello, one pot)!

What is Pasta with Peas and Ham?

This super simple dish is based on a classic Italian dish, Pasta alla Papalina, which features fettuccine, cured ham, peas, and onions in a rich sauce made with cream and either Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese. For this budget interpretation, I used a diced ham steak, heavy cream, and grated Parmesan. It may not be as fancy, but it’s EASY (read no chopping!) and still super delicious.

How Are the Leftovers?

Quick pasta dishes like this are definitely best when made fresh, and luckily they are easy enough to whip up even when you’re short on time. The creamy sauce will tend to absorb into the pasta as it refrigerated, so if you do reheat your leftovers you might want to add an extra splash of cream or milk to add some moisture back in.

Recipe by Cook Good Recipes

This recipe for pasta with peas and ham is a super fast and easy meal that will keep you full and satisfied on busy days!

Servings: 4 (about 1.5 cups each)

Prep time: 10 minutes mins

Cook time: 15 minutes mins

Total time: 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

1. 8 oz. ditalini pasta*($0.63)
2. 1 cup frozen sweet peas($0.38)
3. 8 oz. ham steak($2.50)
4. 1 Tbsp salted butter($0.11)
5. 1/2 cup heavy cream($0.75)
6. 1/4 cup grated Parmesan($0.40)
7. 1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper($0.02)
8. 1/4 tsp salt($0.02)

Instructions 

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook just until tender. Add the frozen peas and continue to cook for one minute, then drain the pasta and peas in a colander.
2. While the pasta is cooking, dice the ham into small pieces. After draining the pasta and peas, add the diced ham and butter to the pot. Cook over medium, stirring often, until the ham has browned.
3. Add the drained pasta and peas back to the pot along with the heavy cream. Stir and heat over medium until the cream is hot, dissolving the browned bits off the bottom of the pot as you stir.
4. Remove the pot from the heat, sprinkle the grated Parmesan over the pasta, and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then serve.

Notes

*You can use any type of pasta you prefer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25cups Calories: 462kcal Carbohydrates: 49g Protein: 23g Fat: 19g Sodium: 1010mg Fiber: 4g

Read our full nutrition disclaimer .

How to Make Pasta with Peas and Ham – Step by Step Photos

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add 2 cups of ditalini pasta (or 8oz. of your favorite pasta shape) to the water and boil just until tender. Add 1 cup of frozen sweet peas to the water and continue to cook for one minute. Drain the pasta and peas in a colander.

While the pasta is cooking, dice one 8oz. ham steak into small pieces. After draining the pasta and peas, add the diced ham to the pot along with 1 Tbsp butter. Cook the ham over medium heat until it is browned (3-5 minutes).

Add the drained pasta and peas to the pot with the ham, along with ½ cup heavy cream. Stir and heat the pasta and cream over medium, dissolving the browned bits off the bottom of the pot as you stir. Heat and stir just until the cream is hot.

Remove the pot from the heat and sprinkle ¼ cup grated Parmesan over top. Stir to combine.

Season the pasta with salt and pepper to taste (I used about ¼ tsp of each).

And that’s it! Super easy peasy (pun intended) and delicious! Enjoy!

Recipe by Cook Good Recipes