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Pasta with Peas and Ham Recipe

4.8 from 108 reviews

This comforting pasta dish combines tender ditalini pasta with sweet peas and savory ham steak in a creamy Parmesan sauce. A quick and easy skillet meal perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 8 oz. ditalini pasta
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper

Fresh/Frozen Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen sweet peas
  • 8 oz. ham steak
  • 1 Tbsp salted butter
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta and peas: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the ditalini pasta and cook until just tender. Add the frozen sweet peas and cook together for one additional minute. Drain both pasta and peas in a colander.
  2. Prepare ham: While the pasta cooks, dice the ham steak into small pieces. Return the empty pot to medium heat, add the diced ham and butter, and cook stirring often until the ham is nicely browned.
  3. Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained pasta and peas back into the pot with the browned ham. Pour in the heavy cream and stir over medium heat until the cream is hot and the browned bits are lifted off the bottom of the pot.
  4. Finish and serve: Remove the pot from heat, sprinkle grated Parmesan over the pasta, and stir to combine. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use ditalini or small pasta shapes for best results.
  • Frozen peas can be replaced with fresh peas if available.
  • For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or milk for heavy cream.
  • To add more flavor, consider including minced garlic during ham browning step.
  • Resist overcooking pasta for the best texture.

Keywords: pasta, peas, ham, creamy pasta, quick dinner, one-pot pasta