Description
I was getting ready for a Potluck party at my house, and although it was officially Spring time, the weather was still dicey, so I wanted something to keep people warm and happy. I hit upon this recipe after researching several “mac and cheese” recipes online. It was a huge hit and fun to make!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 – 1/2 lb large elbow macaroni
- 1 heaping TBL flour
- 1– 1/4 c milk
- 1–1/4 c chicken or beef broth
- 1 c. butter (2 sticks)
- 8–12 oz Velveeta cheese
- 8 – 12 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 c. cubed or diced ham
- 1–1/2 c panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook the elbow macaroni in salted boiling water for eight minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Melt 1/2 c. butter in a medium saucepan and add the flour. Stir constantly until smooth. Add milk and broth, and continue to stir on medium low heat until mixture thickens.
- Add Velveeta, continuing to stir until Velveeta is melted and you have a nice smooth sauce. Add cubed ham to cheese sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Place macaroni in a greased casserole dish and pour the ham and cheese sauce over, mixing to make sure all is evenly incorporated. Sprinkle the sharp cheddar cheese all over the top of the mixture.
- Melt the remaining 1/2 c of butter in a medium saucepan. Add the panko and stir over medium low heat constantly for about 10 minutes. (I found that the panko did not brown much in the pan, but did brown beautifully in the oven). Spoon the panko mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Place the casserole in the pre-heated oven and bake uncovered for about 30 minutes. When done, the casserole will be bubbling a bit, and the panko will be golden brown. Let sit for a few minutes, then enjoy!
Notes
There is almost nothing you cannot buy “pre-prepped” at the grocery store these days. However, the cubed ham that I have found is often cut more finely than I prefer for this dish, so my personal preference is to buy ham steak and cut meaty cubes myself. That being said, this casserole will be delicious with the store bought cubed ham too, and will save you a little time.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: casseroles, comfort food
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: american
Keywords: casserole, mac and cheese, comfort food, macaroni & cheese