Macaroni And Cheese With Ham

Total Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• kosher salt, to taste
• 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
• 2 slices crustless bread
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped thyme
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 cups milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 12 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 8 ounces roughly chopped cooked ham (any variety will do)
• 3 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup minced flat leaf parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce, such as tabasco
• 4 scallions, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

Recipe

• 1 grease a 2-qt. baking pan with 1 tablespoons butter; set aside. bring a 6-qt.pot of salted water to a boil. add pasta; cook until al dente. drain pasta, rinse; set aside. pulse bread into crumbs in food processor; mix with 4 tablespoons butter; set aside.
• 2 heat oven to 400°f melt remaining butter in a 6-qt. pot over medium heat. add thyme and onions; cook until soft, 6–8 minutes. whisk in flour; cook 2–3 minutes. whisk in milk and cream. increase heat to medium-high; cook, whisking, until thick, 10–12 minutes. whisk in salt, cheddar, ham, blue cheese, parsley, hot sauce, scallions, pepper, and nutmeg. stir in pasta; add to pan; sprinkle with bread crumbs. bake until bubbly, 30–40 minutes.