Canadian Living's Macaroni and Cheese With Ham

Submitted by Karen1961

"My problem with Mac and Cheese is it's never cheesy enough. This one even impresses my younger daughter, who is a Kraft Mac and Cheese fan."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup diced cooked ham
• 1⁄3 cup flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄16 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 1⁄2 cups shredded old cheddar cheese
• 3 cups uncooked macaroni
• 1⁄2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1⁄4 cup grated parmesan cheese

directions

1. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; saute onion and ham until onion is soft.
2. Add flour and cook, stirring until well mixed.
3. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly, until mixture starts to thicken.
4. Add mustard, salt, pepper and cayenne.
5. Stir in cheddar cheese until just melted.
6. While making sauce, cook macaroni in a separate pot, until tender but firm.
7. Drain and put back into pot.
8. Combine with sauce, then pour into a 2 litre baking dish or casserole dish.
9. In a small bowl combine parmesan and bread crumbs.
10. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture.
11. Broil for about 3 minutes, until brown.

Reviews

[mommymakeit4u]

This was good, and very easy to put together but I did find it a bit bland and not very cheesy. Couldn't really taste the ham either. My toddler liked it still though:)

 

[ourhouse]

We wished it was more cheesy. It was moist and tasty, and I liked that it was done so quickly.

 

[Happy Mommy]

Awesome mac n cheese! Big hit with the family (even tho I didn't have any parmesan, or cayenne pepper). It was enough to feed a family of 5, with leftovers for my husbands lunch tomorrow. Nobody even thought to add ketchup to it either - it was THAT good! Thanks for another keeper! :)

 

[Chef Alicia]

I made this a month ago and I'm making it again because it was so delicious! The only thing I did to change the recipe was omit the onion and used all my leftover ham (about double). Its great cause I can also make it for my vegetarian friends by putting noodles with cheese aside before adding the ham. So fantastic!

 

[Funholidaygirl]

Ok so I really changed the recipe which I know is annoying but it pretty much is like the best thing I ever made so I have to share. Used 2.5 cups of cheese, but 1/2 cup was blue cheese, 1.5 cup was Sargento Chipotle Cheddar and the rest velveeta. Doubled the ham like the other reviewer. OH MY GOD. The Chipotle Cheddar with the velveeta is AWESOME. My boyfriend is coming home to eat it in like a half an hour and I bet I will be lucky tonight!