Name: Ham and Peas with Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 1 tbsp butter; 1/2 pound Kraukus Ham, sliced thin (I get the ham sliced from the deli and then I slice it into thin strips); 1 cup fresh or frozen peas (thawed); 3 tbsp butter softened; 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese; 1/3 cup sour cream; 12 oz. fettucini; salt & pepper to taste

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Are you looking for a quick lazy day pasta recipe? This one is a family favorite and is always on my summer meal plan.

The most time it takes is to cook the pasta. Who doesn’t enjoy that?

lazy day ham & pea pasta recipe plated on a white plate with a slice of French buttered bread

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Planning a Meal on a Busy or Lazy Day

This recipe is one that I have on my summer meal plan and I can switch it around in the week if I’m having a hectic day or I’m just exhausted and too lazy to cook what was planned.

I always keep ham sliced in the freezer as well as frozen peas. I also have pasta in my pantry.

In the summer I have fresh peas, which makes this all the more tasty.

photo of cheesy ham and pea with fettucini

Ham and Peas with Pasta

This is an quick and easy recipe that uses simple ingredients.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 458 kcal

Equipment

Saute Pan
Large Mixing Bowl
measuring cups
measuring spoons
Wooden Spoons
Large Sauce Pot or Pasta Pot

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp butter
1/2 pound Kraukus Ham, sliced thin I get the ham sliced from the deli and then I slice it into thin strips
1 cup fresh or frozen peas thawed
3 tbsp butter softened
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup sour cream
12 oz. fettucini
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Ham & Pea Mixture

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in saute pan over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until fragrant (about 1 minute). Stir in the shredded ham and thawed peas. Saute over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Take off the heat, set it aside, and keep warm.

Pasta

Cook pasta according to package direction and drain

Sauce

Put softened butter, sour cream, and parmesan cheese into a large mixing bowl.

Putting Everything Together

Put the hot drained noodles over the sauce ingredients that are in a large mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper if using
Toss until noodles are completely coated with butter, sour cream, and parmesan cheese. Then add the ham and pea mixture to this and continue tossing until well combined.
Serve immediately

Notes

You can use additional grated parmesan cheese on the side for garnish

Keyword 30 minute meal, ham and pea with pasta, Pasta recipe

ham cut into thin slices for ham and pea pasta recipe

Lazy Day Ham & Pea Pasta Recipe

When I initially found a recipe similar to this, it used way too much butter, sour cream, and parmesan cheese for my liking.

It was much heavier, almost like an alfredo. When I lightened it up, it tasted just as good and it really is something that we enjoy not just in the summer but all year round.

butter in saute pan for ham and pea pasta recipe

butter melting with garlic in saute pan for ham and pea pasta recipe

What Kind of Pasta Should I Use?

This recipe calls for fettuccine but you can use just about anything that you have. The following pasta would be my suggestion to use if you have them on hand. They all can stand up to tossing and the weight of the cream sauce.

Fettuccine – This is a flatter broader pasta than spaghetti
Linguini – Linguini is more delicate than fettucini. It isn’t as broad or as thick as fettucini
Spaghetti – Spaghetti is a long, thin, solid, cylindrical pasta
Bow-Tie Pasta – Also known as Farfalle is a pasta shaped like a bow-tie
Rotini – This is a short cork-screw pasta

There are some great pasta’s that are now readily available that are healthier for you. We often use the Banza Brand chickpea pasta. Barilla makes some amazing gluten-free options. Most brands also have great whole-wheat varieties.

Alternatives

If you’re not a ham fan you can make this simple by shredding up a rotisserie chicken and adding the chicken instead of the ham.

Instead of Peas

Broccoli
Green Beans
Spinach (2 cups)
Asparagus

Side Dish Ideas

Crusty French Bread
Side Salad
Sliced Tomatoes
Cucumber Salad
Fresh Fruit Salad

Pasta is one of my absolute favorite things and it takes a lot of self-control to not have it several times a week. As I’ve mentioned in past posts, I use zucchini noodles for many things but there is no substituting real pasta for a dish like this, at least in my opinion.

One of my favorite pasta dishes is a homemade ravioli with a light tomato sauce. You can find the recipe HERE.

Enjoy & Bon Appétit!

Meet Me

Created by Lynn Vogeler, Small House Kitchen is a celebration of the joy found in mostly from-scratch cooking and the magic that happens when great ingredients meet limitless imagination. In our small house, we turn simple ingredients into extraordinary meals with big flavors.
You can find out about all of my other passions; decorating, entertaining, organizing, and gardening over at livinglargeinasmallhouse.com

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