Creamy Baked Ham Rigatoni

A creamy, dreamy cheesy pasta casserole and a great way to use up leftover ham.  

If you have a love for pasta and cheese than this Baked Ham Rigatoni is the recipe for you. One of my weaknesses is "Pasta" oh how I could eat it everyday, add some cheese and that just makes it that even better.

I saw this recipe for Baked Ham Rigatoni at Recipes of a Cheapskate. At first glimpse I knew I had to make it all that cheesy pasta with a homemade white sauce, it just looked to good to pass up. This dish was so fast and easy to throw together and everyone loved it.

I mean how can you go wrong with pasta and cheese, plus this dish is pretty inexpensive to make as well. I get a bit nervous sometimes when I have to make my own white sauce. I always think I'm going to mess it up, but it usually turns out perfect. Serve with a salad and some crusty french bread, definitely comfort food at it's best. I will be making this dish again. Let's go straight to the recipe. 

Start by making the white sauce. In a medium saucepan melt the butter. Start the water for the pasta to boil. When the water is boiling, add pasta and cook until just past the al dente. 

Once your butter is melted, whisk in the flour and make a roux. Continue whisking until golden in color. 

Next we will add the milk. Start by adding a little at a time mixing as you go. This will keep lumps from forming. Then keep adding more milk until it is all gone. 

If the mixture starts to boil too much just lower the heat. Keep whisking until you have a smooth sauce. 

You will now that the sauce is done if it coats the back of the spoon. When the white sauce is done, add the onion powder, pepper and gently mix. Add 1 cup of the cheese to the white sauce and stir until the cheese is melted.

Drain the past and add to the sauce mixture. 

And then add the chopped ham and lightly mix until combined. 

Pour mixture into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan, smooth the top and sprinkle with the  additional 1 cup of cheese. Dot the top with pads of butter.

Bake for 25 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown. 

Remove from oven let cool slightly and serve.

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