Leftover ham just got a luxurious makeover. This homemade Ham Tetrazzini takes a beloved classic and ditches the shortcuts, transforming holiday extras into a creamy, gourmet casserole your whole family will love.
With tender pasta, a rich homemade sauce, and perfectly balanced flavors, it’s comfort food done right—no canned soup required. Easy, elegant, and packed with goodness, this dish is your new weeknight hero.
With a rich, velvety sauce, tender pasta, and the perfect balance of flavors, this Ham Tetrazzini is sure to become a new favorite in your recipe repertoire.
The best part? It’s easy to make and requires only a handful of simple ingredients, making it the perfect weeknight dinner solution.
Crafting the Perfect Sauce: A Canned Soup-Free Zone
The key to a truly exceptional Ham Tetrazzini lies in the sauce. Unlike many recipes that rely on canned soups, this version showcases homemade sauce that is sure to delight your taste buds. By combining butter, flour, milk, and chicken stock, you’ll create a silky-smooth base that perfectly complements the ham and pasta.
The result is a sauce that is rich, flavorful, and free from the processed taste often associated with canned soups.
Ham Tetrazzini (No Canned Soup)
Ingredients
- ½ cup organic onion diced
- 2 tsp or two cloves of organic garlic minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp organic butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 ½ cups organic chicken broth
- ½ cup organic half and half or ¼ cup milk and ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups organic cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ 16 oz box of thin spaghetti cooked
- 1 cup ham steak cut up and cubed
- ½ cup organic frozen peas
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until it becomes soft and translucent. Next, add the garlic and continue to cook and stir for an additional 30 seconds, allowing the garlic to release its aroma.
- Sprinkle the flour evenly over the sautéed onions and garlic and stir to combine. Gradually pour in the chicken broth while whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming. Slowly add the half-and-half and, finally, the cheese. Stir the mixture as the cheese melts, ensuring a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Once the sauce is ready, add the ham, peas, and cooked spaghetti to the skillet. If the sauce is too thick, adjust the consistency by adding milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you achieve the desired texture. Gently toss the ingredients together, making sure the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce, and the ham and peas are well distributed throughout the dish.
Read Next:
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.