Macaroni and Cheese with Ham and Peas is a great weeknight family dinner! Creamy Homemade Macaroni and Cheese with two types of cheese made on the stove or in the Instant Pot. We added ham and peas to round out the meal!
Macaroni and Cheese with Ham & Peas recipe is sponsored by Horizon Organic. All opinions are 100% my own. #HorizonOrganic
We’re half way thru the school year which, in our house, means we’re knee-deep in busy weeknights and chaotic schedules. This Macaroni and Cheese with Ham and Peas recipe is the perfect weeknight meal because it’s easy to make and everyone loves it. It’s a very simple recipe that uses items you likely already have in your fridge and pantry! I use 2 cups of Horizon Organic milk in lieu of heavy cream and it’s wonderful. It has a rich, creamy taste and 50% more vitamin D than regular milk. Half-gallon cartons are available in most grocery stores in the organic products section. It’s always a good idea to keep a couple cartons on hand- we go through milk so fast! See where you can find Horizon Organics products near you here.
Macaroni & Cheese with Ham and Peas
- 1 (16-oz) package elbow macaroni
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cupsHorizon Organic Milk
- 2 tablespoons Horizon Organic Unsalted Butter
- 3 cups Shredded Horizon Organic Cheddar Cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup Shredded Horizon Organic Mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup diced cooked ham
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1 1/2 TBSP flour, for skillet method
- salt and pepper to taste
Stovetop Directions:
- Boil pasta according to package directions, adding the frozen peas to the boiling water to cook with the pasta.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water prior to draining. Drain pasta and peas and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Combine flour, mustard powder, onion powder, salt & pepper. Sprinkle on melted butter, whisking quickly to combine. Begin adding in pasta water gradually, whisking until smooth in between additions.
- Add in milk, 1 cup at a time, whisking and allowing the milk to warm in between additions. Add ham and 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese and the mozzarella cheese and whisk gently.
- Add pasta and peas to the saucepan, stirring to combine. Top with remaining 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and serve.
Instant Pot Directions:
- Combine 4 cups of water, elbow macaroni, mustard powder, salt, peas and ham
in your Instant Pot. Close and lock the lid. Set manual, high pressure
for 2 minutes. - After Instant Pot beeps that it’s finished, wait until timer counts back up to 3 minutes(Natural Pressure release), then release pressure carefully using the quick-release method. Unlock and remove lid.
- Stir macaroni to separate any clumps. Stir milk and butter into the pot. Add cheese and stir until melted.
- Season with salt and pepper. Keep Instant Pot on until you’re ready to serve so that the macaroni & cheese will stay warm.
If you enjoyed this Macaroni and Cheese with Ham and Peas recipe, be sure to check these out too:
- Frosted Peppermint Cookies
- Funfetti Dip
- 3-ingredient No-Bake Banana Cookies
- Broccoli Mac & Cheese Shells
Macaroni & Cheese with Ham and Peas
Ingredients
- 1 16-oz package elbow macaroni
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cupsHorizon Organic Milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cups Shredded Horizon Organic Cheddar Cheese divided
- 1/2 cup Shredded Horizon Organic Mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup diced cooked ham
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1 1/2 TBSP flour for skillet method
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Stovetop Directions:
- Boil pasta according to package directions, adding the frozen peas to the boiling water to cook with the pasta. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water prior to draining. Drain pasta and peas and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Combine flour, mustard powder, onion powder, salt & pepper. Sprinkle on melted butter, whisking quickly to combine. Begin adding in pasta water gradually, whisking until smooth in between additions. Add in milk, 1 cup at a time, whisking and allowing the milk to warm in between additions. Add ham and 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese and the mozzarella cheese and whisk gently. Add pasta and peas to the saucepan, stirring to combine. Top with remaining 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and serve.
Instant Pot Directions
- Combine 4 cups of water, elbow macaroni, mustard powder, salt, peas and ham
- in your Instant Pot. Close and lock the lid. Set manual, high pressure
- for 2 minutes.
- After Instant Pot beeps that it’s finished, wait until timer counts back up to 3 minutes, then release pressure carefully using the quick-release method. Unlock and remove lid.
- Stir macaroni to separate any clumps.
- Stir milk and butter into the pot. Add cheese and stir until melted.
- Season with salt and pepper. Keep Instant Pot on until you’re ready to serve so that the macaroni & cheese will stay warm.
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Brandi says
My first instant pot recipe. My husband is the world’s pickiest eater. He loved it. Thumbs up for this one.
Alison says
Brandi, Hooray for finding recipes for those picky eaters! Glad you enjoyed this one!
Diana says
I did it in the Instant Pot and it was runny and tasteless even though I put about 1/2 more cheddar cheese in there to try to make it thicker. The butter you mention in the directions is not in the ingredients list so I had no idea how much to use. It was also just lukewarm out of the Instant Pot.
Jessica says
Lukewarm out of an instant pot is literally not possible. It sounds like it wasn’t made correctly!
Meagan says
Looks really good! I love instant pot recipes (pretty much will only cook in the instant pot now) and this looks perfect for my little ones!
Jake says
Instant pot burned the bottom layer, need more water or oil
Jessica says
Do you have a newer instant pot? I heard those give a burn notice more often. I’m sorry yours burned.
Tyler says
If you don’t use the organic Horizon products this does not turn out well at all. I should have used that or heavy cream. The other person who said it didn’t turn out must not have been using Horizon either. I let mine simmer down, added seasoning and hot sauce and was able to revive it.
J Lew says
I find this to be a very bland recipe. If you have a palette that loves a robust Mac and Cheese, this is not the recipe for you. I remedied mine by adding garlic powder, more salt and pepper, as well as some Velveeta for the creaminess I was hoping for. I will definitely not be saving this recipe as one I will try again.
Jessica says
It’s not a robust Mac & Cheese recipe for sure! But we loved it… glad you made it your own!