Tara Teaspoon

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • Shop
  • About
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Newsletter
    • Shop
    • About
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Pasta

    Ham and Pea Pasta with Parmesan Cream

    Published: Apr 6, 2023 by Tara T. · This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Ham and Peas Pasta
    Ham and Peas Pasta
    Ham and Peas Pasta

    This quick and easy pasta with ham and peas is a great use for leftover ham. Glossed with a Parmesan cream sauce even the kids will love, it's just like the classic Italian Pasta alla Papalina!


    One of my favorite ways to use leftover holiday ham is making a quick pasta. And not just any pasta, one that takes only 30 minutes of hands on time, and tastes just like the Italian restaurant up the street!

    pasta with basil and ham
    Jump to:
    • The Italian Name For Pasta With Ham And Peas
    • Ham Pasta With Sweet Peas
    • How To Make Pasta With Leftover Ham
    • What kind of pasta goes with ham and peas?
    • What are ham alternatives?
    • Roast Ham Recipes
    • More Recipes With Leftover Roast Ham:
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    The Italian Name For Pasta With Ham And Peas

    If you're in your favorite Italian restaurant and remember that divine dish the waiter suggested last time, it might be called Pasta alla Papalina. When you ask: I can't remember that pasta with ham and peas' Italian name. Look for Pasta alla Papalina.

    It's the traditional Italian dish with ham, sometimes pancetta, and peas in a parmesan cream sauce. When you get the authentic dish in Italian restaurants the sauce is rich and not too creamy. Other places will serve a sauce like an Alfredo, but I like the broth Parmesan sauce. Just silky with a touch of cream. 

    According to The Pasta Project, alla Papalina refers to the Pope's skullcap, and this pasta dish was created at Pope Pius XII's request!

    The same flavors are often in combination with Tortellini stuffed with a Parmesan filling. I used Orecchiette instead, and added the Parmesan to the silky cream sauce.

    two bowls of pasta with ham and peas

    Serving ham? Try one of these delicious sides for ham dinner.

    Ham Pasta With Sweet Peas

    Ham pasta recipes are in and of themselves on the salty side. Roast or cured ham is delightfully savory and I love to pair it with sweet peas.

    I use frozen peas, for ease, but also because they are flash frozen at their peak and truly are the best option here. I use them in my Quick Pea Soup that has just a few ingredients and their flavor really shines.

    Honestly, you don't even have to let the peas thaw. You can let the warm sauce and pasta heat them through in the pan on the stove.

    Italian pasta with ham and peas on a board

    Love a quick dinner using leftovers? Try a Speedy Turkey Tetrazzini or Classic Turkey Pot Pie.

    How To Make Pasta With Leftover Ham

    Any cook's arsenal should be filled with diced ham recipes, after the holidays. A pasta with ham, sweet peas, some herbs and a creamy sauce is one of my favorites. I always use leftovers from my Spiced Honey Glazed Ham for this recipe.

    The ingredients are pretty simple and there are only a few steps:

    • Cook pasta in salted water and reserve about 1 cup of the water when draining the pasta.
    • Make a sauce with flour, butter and chicken broth.
    • Add seasonings and Parmesan then stir in a bit of cream.
    • Finish by stirring together the sauce with pasta, peas and diced ham, adding a little pasta water to make a thin, glossy sauce.
    • Garnish with loads of fresh basil.
    peas and ham with basil on cutting board

    What kind of pasta goes with ham and peas?

    I used orecchiette pasta, translated it means "little ears." The little cup shape is so perfect for holding the diced ham and peas with a little of the sauce. So each bite is perfection.

    You can absolutely use other pasta shapes. Pasta shapes that would work for this recipe are:

    • spaghetti
    • linguini
    • bow ties or Farfalle
    • small shells
    • macaroni or elbows

    What are ham alternatives?

    Leftover roast ham is ideal for this recipe. I often freeze my leftover ham in my reusable containers and pull it out to make a quick dish like this.

    If you want an alternative I'd suggest diced pancetta or bacon. Both would be delicious and just need to be cooked in a skillet before adding to the pasta. Use half as much since those cured meats are very strong in flavor.

    Salmon would also be lovely in this dish. I use salmon in pasta and it's delish! Flake cooked salmon into the recipe when you would add the ham.

    I think the saltiness of ham is perfect for this pasta with peas and cream sauce, so I wouldn't suggest chicken or beef.

    Parmesan with two bowls of pasta and peas

    Roast Ham Recipes

    • Pomegranate Glazed Ham
    • Spiced Honey Glazed Ham

    More Recipes With Leftover Roast Ham:

    • Ham and Gruyere Mini Turnovers
    • Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich

    📖 Recipe

    Italian peas and ham pasta close up

    Parmesan Pasta with Peas and Ham

    Tara Teaspoon
    A savory Parmesan sauce makes this simple, family-favorite meal extra delicious. It's a great way to use leftover ham!
    4.73 from 22 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Servings 6 to 8 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound oriechette (or other pasta)
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano ((or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano))
    • ¾ cup Finely grated Parmesan
    • 1½ cups frozen peas (thawed)
    • 8 ounces cooked ham, diced ((1½ cups))
    • ¼ cup heavy cream
    • Fresh basil (for serving)

    Instructions
     

    • Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Set aside.
    • In a Dutch oven or large high-sided non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk to combine. Whisk in broth, stirring until any flour lumps are gone. Add salt, red pepper flakes and oregano and bring to a boil, stirring with a whisk. Reduce heat and allow sauce to simmer until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.
    • When sauce is viscous, add Parmesan and stir until cheese has melted, about 2 minutes. Add the peas, ham and reserved pasta. Then stir in heavy cream. Heat through and serve immediately garnished with plenty of basil. If pasta and sauce thickens too much, stir in some of the reserved pasta water to make it saucy again.

    Notes

    Pasta Tip: Orecchiette pasta is perfect for holding the bits of ham and peas with some of the creamy Parmesan sauce. You can swap it for another pasta like Fusilli or Conchigliette if you'd like. 
     
    Pasta alla Papalina is the traditional Italian dish with ham and peas in a creamy sauce. When you get the authentic dish in Italian restaurants the sauce is rich and not too creamy like an alfredo. Just silky with a touch of cream. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 346kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 20gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 898mgPotassium: 333mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 668IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 182mgIron: 2mg
    Get exclusive recipes sent to your inbox!Sign up for Tara's newsletter for more.

    Delicious Pasta Recipes

    • A bowl of 4 cheese mac and cheese with ground pepper on top.
      4 Cheese Mac and Cheese
    • close up of cooked pesto lasagna on plate
      Sausage Lasagna with Pesto
    • toasted bread crumbs on caramelized onion and smoked gouda mac and cheese
      Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Breadcrumbs
    • feature of salmon and arugula pasta
      Warm Salmon and Arugula Pasta Salad
    • Classic Pesto in the bowl of food processer
      Classic Pesto
    • bowl of linguini with sliced steak
      Seared Strip Loin with Linguini with Fennel and Olives
    • ham and pearl onions with mac and cheese is cast iron skillet
      Mac and Cheese with Ham and Pearl Onions
    • square collage of pasta salad recipes with title in the middle
      A Collection Of The Best Summer Pasta Salad Recipes
    Tara in kitchen making salad

    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara

    Comments

      4.73 from 22 votes (19 ratings without comment)

      Review Or Ask A Question! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating





      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Kendall says

      February 13, 2023 at 8:58 pm

      Looove! My whole family loved this meal. I had Pancetta on hand and used that for them ham. It came to gather quickly and was devoured quickly!

      Reply
    2. Becca says

      December 26, 2023 at 7:47 pm

      Wow. Amazing! I made it with gluten free flour and Trader’s Joe gluten free fresh pasta and my family loved it. A keeper of a recipe.

      Reply
      • Tara Teaspoon says

        December 28, 2023 at 9:20 am

        Love it Becca! Thank you for sharing and for making the recipe work for you and your family. Tara

        Reply
    3. Lesley Krieger says

      April 02, 2024 at 9:06 am

      Hello. Am I freeze the ham and peas dish?

      Reply
      • Tara T. says

        April 03, 2024 at 10:38 am

        Hi Lesley,

        Yes! You can freeze this. When defrosting, it will be a slightly different texture, not as saucy. You may need to add a little more cream as you heat it up. The pasta will absorb some of the sauce when it's stored.

        Tara

        Reply

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • square feature image of turkey pot pie with biscuits on top in a cast iron skillet.
      Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuits
    • featured image of the perfect slice of lemon lush icebox dessert.
      Lemon Lush
    • feature square of swiss meringue buttercream from Live Life Deliciously cookbook.
      Swiss Meringue Buttercream Recipe
    • Three stacked Easter blondies on a small white plate.
      Mini Egg Cookie Bars

    Cookbooks

    Tara Teaspoon Cookbooks

    Footer

    Subscribe for emails and exclusive updates!

    Sign me up!
    Tara Teaspoon horizontal logo

    ↑back to top

    Explore

    • Recipe Index
    • Cookbooks
    • New Posts
    • Newsletter Subscribe

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Refund Policy
    • Disclaimer & Terms

    Copyright © 2025 Tara Teaspoon, Inc • Powered by Feast+

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.