Creamy fontina cheese sauce brings the ingredients together in this easy bow tie pasta recipe. Ham and vegetables make the pasta casserole a satisfying one-pot meal. Add you favorite vegetables to the casserole. Artichokes or asparagus are great additions, or you might add some thawed frozen peas or mixed vegetables.
Serve this pasta casserole with a tossed salad and hot garlic bread.
PrintCreamy Bow Tie Pasta With Ham and Cheese
A rich fontina cheese sauce gives this pasta casserole its creamy flavor. Ham and aromatics add to the flavor. Customize it with artichokes or asparagus!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta, One-Pot Meals, Ham
- Method: Bake
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces bow tie pasta
- 6 tablespoons butter (divided use)
- 2 large ribs celery, diced
- 6 green onions, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces diced ham
- 1 teaspoon dried leaf sage, crumbled
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded fontina cheese
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup soft bread crumbs
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water following the package directions. Rinse and drain in a strainer or colander; set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat; add the celery, onions, and diced ham. Cook until the onions are translucent and the celery is tender. Add the sage and flour; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened.
- Add the fontina and cheddar cheese to the sauce mixture and continue cooking until cheese has melted. Taste and add salt and pepper.
- Add the drained pasta to the sauce mixture and stir until blended.
- Turn the pasta mixture into a 2- to 2 1/2-quart baking dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and toss with the bread crumbs; sprinkle over the top of the pasta.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.
