Baked pasta with cooked ham and bechamel sauce is a classic of Italian cuisine, particularly loved in some regions like Campania. It’s a creamy, rich, and truly delicious first course, perfect for family lunches or special occasions.
To prepare this delicious recipe, you’ll start with a base of short pasta, such as rigatoni, ziti, or macaroni, which will be cooked al dente and seasoned with a generous amount of homemade bechamel sauce. The bechamel, with its unmistakable velvety taste, will envelop the pasta creating a creamy and enveloping base.
At this point, you will add pieces of cooked ham, whose savory flavor and texture perfectly contrast with the softness of the bechamel sauce. To complete the dish, you’ll use provola or scamorza, which will melt wonderfully during cooking, and grated parmesan, which will give a crunchy and golden crust on the surface.
Subscribe to the WHATSAPP channel
This baked pasta with ham and bechamel is true comfort food, capable of warming the heart and soul.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients for baked pasta with ham and bechamel
- 14 oz pasta
- 5 oz cooked ham
- 12 oz bechamel
- 2 oz provola (or scamorza)
- 1.75 oz grated parmesan
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 pinches salt
- 2 pinches black pepper
Tools
- 1 Baking dish
- 1 Pot
Preparation of baked pasta with ham and bechamel
1- Prepare the bechamel sauce according to the recipe, or you can use a ready-made one.
In a pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the diced cooked ham and brown it for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Transfer the pasta to the pan with the ham, add the bechamel, and stir gently to combine all the ingredients.
Pour the mixture into an oven-proof dish greased with a little oil. Level the surface and sprinkle evenly with the grated parmesan.
Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden and crispy.
Remove the baked pasta with ham and bechamel from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, then serve hot on the table.
This recipe is really simple and quick to prepare, yet very tasty and satisfying. The combination of pasta, creamy bechamel, and cooked ham makes this dish truly irresistible. It’s an excellent first course to serve for a Sunday family lunch or a special occasion. You can personalize it by adding other ingredients such as provola, mozzarella, mushrooms, or peas, depending on your tastes.
How to store baked pasta with bechamel
You can store the baked pasta with bechamel ready to be baked for up to 1 day.
