Dinner

Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ham is for Dinner.

Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ham takes 15 minutes to prepare.

Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ham takes 60 minutes to cook.

Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ham makes 16 servings.

The ingredients for Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ham are:

16 oz. uncooked rotini pasta
1/2 c. margarine
1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 t. each salt and ground black pepper (or to taste)
4 c. lowfat or fat-free milk
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided (I use 2 (8 oz) bags of pre-shredded cheese)
2 c. (12 oz pkg) ham cubes, rinsed
1/2 cup crushed saltine crackers (about 20 crackers)

Here is how you make Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ham:

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting the added salt in the water. In a 2 qt saucepan, melt the margarine, add the salt and pepper. Whisk in the flour a tablespoon at a time until it resembles a thick paste. Add the milk and whisk constantly over medium heat until thickened (this may take up to 20 minutes). Stir in 3-1/2 cups of the shredded cheese until smooth and melted. Turn off heat. Stir in the ham cubes. Drain pasta and return to cooking pot. Pour in the cheese and ham mixture and stir well. If your cooking pot is oven-proof, sprinkle the remaining half cup of cheese over the top then sprinkle the cracker crumbs over it. If your pot is not oven-proof, pour the pasta & sauce mixture into a 13 x 9 baking dish or 3 qt casserole dish and top with the rest of the cheese and the cracker crumbs. Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until crumbs are golden brown and cheese is melted. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 15 minutes before serving. Makes approximately 16 1-cup servings.Note: Any pasta can be used in place of the Rotini. That's just the kind I use most often. Enjoy!Number of Servings: 16Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user CHRISRAPAVE1.

The nutritional information for Creamy Mac and Cheese with Ham is:

• Servings Per Recipe: 16
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 268.6

• Total Fat: 16.3 g
• Cholesterol: 43.6 mg
• Sodium: 699.6 mg
• Total Carbs: 16.9 g
• Dietary Fiber: 0.7 g
• Protein: 13.4 g