Gooey Cheesy Ham Tetrazzini Recipe: Family Dinner Success!

Comfort food reaches new heights with this scrumptious cheesy ham tetrazzini that promises to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

Pasta lovers will adore the rich, creamy blend of flavors dancing through each delectable bite.

Tender chunks of ham nestle among perfectly cooked noodles, creating a luxurious texture that melts in your mouth.

The combination of sharp cheese and delicate seasonings elevates this classic dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

Weeknight dinners transform into gourmet experiences with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Every forkful delivers a symphony of comfort and warmth that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Prepare to fall in love with this irresistible pasta casserole that turns simple ingredients into a memorable meal.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 410 kcal

Servings: 6

Ingredients for Ham Tetrazzini

• Spaghetti: Hearty base that captures sauce beautifully, choose high-quality pasta for best texture and flavor absorption.

• Ham: Smoky and savory protein that adds depth, select lean cut for tender bites.
• Frozen Peas: Sweet and vibrant green vegetable, provides fresh burst of color and nutrition.
• Onion: Aromatic foundation that builds rich flavor profile, select firm and glossy for best taste.
• Mushrooms: Earthy and umami-rich ingredient, choose fresh button or cremini for best texture.

• Butter: Smooth base for sautéing that enhances overall richness, use unsalted for better flavor control.
• Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup: Instant creamy base that adds luxurious texture, select low-sodium version.
• Milk: Helps create silky sauce consistency, whole milk provides best creaminess.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp and melty component that brings tangy depth, select aged variety for intense flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: Nutty and salty topping that creates golden crust, freshly grated offers superior taste.
• Breadcrumbs: Crunchy topping for textural contrast, panko works best for crispy finish.

Tools for Ham Tetrazzini Prep

• Large Skillet: Essential for sautéing vegetables and creating the sauce, with enough space to mix all ingredients.
• 9×13-inch Baking Dish: Perfect for assembling and baking the entire casserole, ensuring even cooking.
• Colander: Needed to drain the cooked spaghetti quickly and efficiently.
• Measuring Cups: Important for accurately measuring milk, soup, and cheese.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for stirring ingredients and mixing the sauce smoothly.
• Cheese Grater: Useful for shredding and grating cheese for the topping.
• Sharp Knife: Required for dicing ham, chopping onions, and slicing mushrooms.

How to Make Ham Tetrazzini from Scratch

• Warm Up the Oven

Get your oven nice and toasty at 350 degrees, creating the perfect environment for a delicious baked meal.

• Boil the Pasta

Cook your spaghetti until it’s perfectly tender, then drain and set it aside, ready for the flavor magic.

• Sizzle the Veggies

Melt butter in a large skillet and dance those onions and mushrooms around until they’re soft and fragrant, releasing their delicious aromas.

• Create the Creamy Base

Stir in the mushroom soup and milk, whisking until you have a smooth, velvety sauce that’ll make your taste buds sing.

• Mix in the Goodies

Toss in ham, peas, and most of the cheese, stirring until everything is beautifully coated and melted together.

• Combine Pasta and Sauce

Fold the cooked spaghetti into the skillet, ensuring every strand gets a loving coating of the creamy mixture.

• Prepare for Baking

Transfer the entire delightful concoction into a baking dish, spreading it evenly for maximum deliciousness.

• Add the Crunchy Topping

Sprinkle the remaining cheese and breadcrumbs on top, creating a golden, crispy crown for your casserole.

• Bake to Perfection

Send your creation into the oven for 20-25 minutes, watching it transform into a bubbling, golden masterpiece.

• Serve and Enjoy

Let it cool for a few moments, then dive into this comforting, cheesy ham pasta adventure.

Tips to Boost Ham Tetrazzini Flavor

• Smart Meal Prep: Assemble the entire casserole ahead of time and refrigerate, covered, for up to 24 hours before baking for an effortless weeknight dinner.
• Protein Power Swap: Replace ham with cooked chicken, turkey, or even plant-based protein like tofu for different dietary preferences and exciting flavor profiles.
• Veggie Boost: Enhance nutritional value by adding extra vegetables like roasted bell peppers, spinach, or zucchini to increase fiber and create a more colorful dish.
• Gluten-Free Magic: Use gluten-free spaghetti and replace breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour to make this recipe celiac-friendly without compromising taste.
• Creamy Sauce Upgrade: For a more luxurious texture, substitute condensed soup with homemade béchamel sauce or mix in a splash of white wine for deeper, more complex flavor notes.

Serving Ham Tetrazzini with a Side

• Dinner Party Delight: Serve this creamy ham tetrazzini as a stunning main course for your next gathering, paired with a crisp green salad and crusty garlic bread.
• Comfort Food Companion: Create a cozy meal by adding roasted seasonal vegetables like asparagus or broccoli on the side to complement the rich, cheesy pasta.
• Weekend Brunch Twist: Transform leftovers into a brunch-worthy dish by topping with a soft-poached egg and fresh chopped chives for an elegant morning meal.
• Family-Style Feast: Bring the casserole directly to the table in its baking dish, allowing everyone to serve themselves and enjoy the warm, bubbling pasta together.

How to Store Leftover Ham Tetrazzini

• Smart Fridge Storage: Keep leftovers in airtight containers for 3-4 days, ensuring maximum freshness and preventing unwanted odors from spreading.
• Quick Freezer Hack: Portion and freeze individual servings in sealed freezer bags for convenient future meals, maintaining quality for up to 2 months.
• Reheating Magic: Warm refrigerated portions in the oven at 350F for 15-20 minutes, adding a splash of milk to restore creamy sauce texture and prevent dryness.
• Ingredient Separation Strategy: Store unused ham and cooked pasta separately in the refrigerator to maintain optimal texture and prevent moisture buildup.

Cheesy Ham Tetrazzini Recipe

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4.5 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Classic ham tetrazzini combines creamy pasta, tender meat, and savory cheese in a comforting Italian-American casserole. Pasta lovers can savor this hearty dish that brings simple ingredients together for a satisfying meal you will crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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• 1.5 cups diced cooked ham
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 8 oz (226 g) spaghetti
• 1 (10.75-oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 6 oz (170 g) mushrooms, sliced
• ½ medium onion, diced
• 2 tbsps (30 mL) unsalted butter
• ½ cup (120 mL) milk
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs (optional, for topping)

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350F (175C), establishing the perfect thermal environment for the upcoming culinary adventure.
2. Pasta Transformation: Cook spaghetti to al dente perfection, drain, and set aside, creating a foundational canvas for the dish.
3. Flavor Building: In a large skillet, melt butter and sauté onions and mushrooms until they release their aromatic essence and achieve a tender consistency, approximately 5 minutes.
4. Sauce Crafting: Whisk condensed cream of mushroom soup and milk into a velvety sauce, seasoning with salt and black pepper to amplify the flavor profile.
5. Ingredient Fusion: Incorporate diced ham, thawed peas, and three-quarters of the cheddar cheese into the skillet, stirring until the cheese melts and ingredients harmonize completely.
6. Pasta Integration: Thoroughly coat the cooked spaghetti with the creamy sauce, ensuring each strand is luxuriously enveloped.
7. Casserole Assembly: Transfer the mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly to guarantee consistent flavor distribution.
8. Crowning Glory: Adorn the casserole with remaining cheddar cheese, sprinkle Parmesan, and optional breadcrumbs to create a golden, crispy exterior.
9. Baking Finale: Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top turns a beautiful golden brown and the interior bubbles with anticipation, then allow the tetrazzini to rest briefly before serving this comforting masterpiece.

Notes

• Choose Quality Ham: Select high-quality, lean ham without excessive fat for a cleaner, more refined flavor profile in the dish.
• Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Monitor spaghetti closely during boiling to maintain al dente texture, preventing mushy consistency that can ruin the recipe’s overall appeal.
• Manage Sauce Consistency: Control sauce thickness by adjusting milk quantity – add gradually to achieve creamy yet not runny texture that coats pasta perfectly.
• Customize Dietary Needs: Swap ingredients for gluten-free or low-carb versions like using zucchini noodles instead of spaghetti, or replacing regular milk with almond milk for lactose-sensitive individuals.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 900 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg