Description
This One Pot Ham and Pea Pasta is a creamy, comforting dish combining tender ham, sweet peas, and al dente pasta in a luscious garlic and herb sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight meal that requires minimal cleanup. The sauce is enriched with Boursin cheese and Parmesan for a rich, cheesy finish, making this recipe both flavorful and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1.5 cups diced ham (or more if you like)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 6 cups chicken broth (plus extra as needed)
- 1 (12-oz) box uncooked pasta (linguine or small shells)
- 1.5 cups frozen peas
- 1 (5-oz) package Boursin cheese with garlic and herbs (or 4 oz cream cheese plus extra seasoning)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Sauté ham and garlic: Melt butter in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add diced ham and sauté for 1-2 minutes until slightly browned. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make the roux and broth base: Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle flour and dried parsley over the ham mixture and stir constantly for one minute to cook out the flour. Slowly pour in chicken broth while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Cook pasta and peas: Add uncooked pasta to the skillet, ensuring it is fully submerged—break pasta in half if necessary to fit. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until pasta is almost cooked through.
- Finish cooking pasta and peas: Stir in frozen peas and continue cooking for 4-5 minutes until pasta is tender and peas are heated through, and the sauce has thickened and become creamy. Remove from heat.
- Add cheeses and serve: Stir in the Boursin cheese (or cream cheese with seasoning) and grated Parmesan until melted and evenly distributed. Serve immediately, optionally garnishing with chopped parsley, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes to taste.
Notes
- Note 1: Feel free to increase ham quantity for a meatier dish.
- Note 2: If sauce becomes too thick during cooking, add a splash more chicken broth to loosen it.
- Note 3: Stirring flour with fat before adding broth creates a roux, which thickens the sauce.
- Note 4: Stir the pasta occasionally while simmering to prevent sticking to the skillet.
