How to cook penne ziti rigate?

COOKING YOUR PASTA Bring 4 -5 litres of water to a rolling boil, add salt to taste. Add contents of package to boiling water. Stir gently. Return to a boil. For authentic "al dente" pasta, boil uncovered, stirring occasionally for 10-11 minutes. ... Remove from heat. Drain well. Serve immediately with your favorite sauce.

How do you make penne pasta taste better?

The Easy Secrets to Way Better Pasta Make sure your cooking water is salty like the sea, and almost as plentiful. ... Check the package's cooking time, but don't put too much faith in it. ... Reserve a little pasta water. ... Never, ever rinse. ... Finish your pasta in its sauce. Apr 16, 2017

How do you make penne taste better?

Depending on how bare your cupboard is, I have done a few things. Boil with a garlic clove and salt. The garlic adds a bit of flavor and then I remove it, mash it and re-add it to the pasta. Olive oil or butter and herbs. ... Butter, eggs, and cheese. ... Fried eggs and cheese. ... Tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, garlic, herbs. Nov 4, 2018

What is the difference between Baked Ziti and baked penne pasta?

While penne and ziti are very similar kinds of pasta, there are a few key differences you should remember when you're cooking with them. Penne is a little larger than ziti , and can also come in textured versions. Ziti has straight edges and is a little smaller than penne, which has pointed edges.

How long should you cook penne pasta for?

Shorter, thicker pasta shapes like bows or penne take 10-12mins and fresh pasta such as ravioli and tortellini will be done between 3-5mins. Once the pasta is cooked you need to take it out of the water and allow it to steam dry for a minute or two before mixing it with any sauce or dressing.

How to cook pasta for a beginner?

How to Cook Dried Pasta, Step-by-Step Step 1: Boil Water. Start with a very large pot of water, about 6 quarts per pound of pasta. ... Step 2: Add Salt. Put in a lot of salt, about 3 tablespoons. ... Step 3: Add the Pasta. ... Step 4: Stir. ... Step 5: Taste the Pasta. ... Step 6: Drain. ... Step 7: Removing Ravioli. ... Step 8: Stir In the Sauce. More items... Aug 16, 2022

What is the ratio of penne pasta to water?

For every one pound of pasta, bring 5 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Once water is boiling, add salt. We recommend about 2 tablespoons of coarse sea salt to every 5 quarts of water. Don't be afraid to salt your pasta water.

What is the ratio of water to penne?

To begin with, you should keep in mind the right quantities. In Italy, the golden rule for cooking pasta is 1, 10, 100 or 1 liter of water , 10 grams of salt for every 100 grams of pasta. Converted for American cooks, the rule should be 1/3, 3, 30, referring to 1/3 oz of salt, 3 oz of pasta and 30 oz of water.

Baked Ham Penne Pasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe)

Home » Main Dishes » Baked Ham PennePasta

ByMilisa January 4, 2024March 21, 2024

45 Comments

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Baked Ham Penne Pasta is a family favorite for any night of the week. Penne pasta, savory ham in a rich and creamy garlic cheese sauce is a hearty and delicious meal perfect for leftover ham!

Baked Ham PennePasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (1)

This pasta casserole is one of those dishes that is gone in a flash when dinner time rolls around. It is the kind of dish that you will make again and again.

Table of Contents

Why You Will Love this Ham Pasta Casserole

Leftover Ham Recipe: This is one of our favorite ways to enjoy leftover ham. It is a filling recipe that uses just a bit of leftover holiday ham.
Delicious Flavor Combination: The savory ham pairs perfectly with the creamy garlic sauce and pasta.
Easy Weeknight Dinner: This dinner comes together in less than an hour and is sure to be a meal that everyone will love.

Ingredients for Penne Pasta Casserole

Baked Ham PennePasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (2)

Penne Pasta – Mostaccoli, Gemelli or Fettuccine will work too.
Ham
Butter – I use salted butter, unsalted works well too.
Fresh Garlic
Fresh Rosemary – dried rosemary can be substituted
Onion
All Purpose Flour
Whole Milk or Heavy Cream
Swiss Cheese or Gruyere Cheese
Sour Cream

Step-by-Step Directions for Pasta Casserole with Ham

Cook pasta about half way in salted boiling water. Drain well.

Baked Ham PennePasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (3)

Meanwhile, make the sauce. Melt butter in a large, oven-safe pan. Cook minced garlic, and chopped onion flour over medium-high heat. Stir often, cooking until onions start to caramelize.
Add flour, cooking about 2 minutes.
Whisk in the milk, cooking until slightly thickened, 1 – 2 minutes.
Remove from heat. Whisk in chopped rosemary, half of the shredded cheese and sour cream.

Baked Ham PennePasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (4)

Add the cooked pasta, diced ham (reserve 1/4 cup for the top if desired) to the sauce.
Stir until well combined.
Top with remaining cheese and ham.

Baked Ham PennePasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (5)

Bake for 30 minutes or until pasta is bubbly and the top is starting to brown.
Garnish with fresh rosemary if desired.

Recipe Notes for Baked Ham Penne Pasta

Make Ahead: The casserole can be made ahead by covering and refrigerating before baking.
Baking Dish: The cheesy ham pasta bake can be placed in a 2.5 quart baking dish or 9 x 13 baking dish before placing in the oven.
Storing Leftovers: Place leftover pasta bake in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
Reheat: Place in a pan with 1- 2 tablespoons of milk and cook over medium heat, stirring often until heated through.
Variations: This is a great alternative to ham and potato casserole. Switch up the pasta for what you have on hand or use your favorite. This will also work with just about any cheese, cheddar or gouda would be great options.

Best Sides for Pasta Casseroles

Add a green salad and some garlic bread and you have a complete dinner that is easy to get on the dinner table.
Broccoli with Toasted Walnuts or Mexican Corn are easy vegetable sides that pair well with creamy pasta.

Baked Ham PennePasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (6)

More Recipe Ideas with Leftover Ham

I love to cook a ham over the weekend and then have it for breakfast sandwiches, wraps or salads through the week.
My One Pan Cheesy Ham Pastais also a great dinner option for leftover ham. It’s quick, easy and delicious!
is a great dish for any meal of the day. My family loves it for brunch or dinner. Great flavor combination.
Baked Denver Omelet is another one to serve for any meal of the day. The classic flavors of ham, cheese, peppers and onions. It’s so simple to make and is always a family favorite.

Baked Ham PennePasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (7)

Get a delicious dinner on the table that will satisfy even the picky eaters with this Baked Ham Penne Pasta Recipe. It is loaded with delicious flavors and it’s so easy to make.

If you love this recipe as much as we do, please leave a comment and a five star review. Help us share on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!

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4.48 from 204 votes

Baked Ham Penne Pasta

Baked Ham Penne Pasta is a family favorite for any night of the week. Penne pasta, savory ham and a rich and creamy garlic – cheese sauce is a hearty and delicious meal perfect for leftover ham!

Ingredients

16 oz Penne Pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese or gruyere, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups diced ham

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°.
Cook penne pasta half way- about 6 minutes, in salted boiling water. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, Add butter to a large, oven-safe pan with chopped onion and garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes until onions are softened and start to caramelize. Add flour and whisk together, cooking for 2 minutes.
Add milk and cook, whisking until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add rosemary, 1 cup of cheese and sour cream. Whisk until smooth.
Add pasta and ham, saving a bit of ham for the top. Stir until combined. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and ham. .
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Notes

Make Ahead: The casserole can be made ahead by covering and refrigerating before baking.

Baking Dish: The cheesy ham pasta bake can be placed in a 2.5 quart baking dish or 9 x 13 baking dish before placing in the oven.

Storing Leftovers: Place leftover pasta bake in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

Reheat: Place in a pan with 1- 2 tablespoons of milk and cook over medium heat, stirring often until heated through.

Variations: This is a great alternative to ham and potato casserole. Switch up the pasta for what you have on hand or use your favorite. This will also work with just about any cheese, cheddar or gouda would be great options.

Nutrition

Baked Ham Penne Pasta Casserole (Easy Leftover Ham Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (2024)