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    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Easy Leftover Gammon Pasta Recipe

    Published: Nov 15, 2022 · Modified: Sep 23, 2024 by Beth Sachs · 3 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Leftover gammon pasta in a red pan pin image.

    Transform your leftover ham into a mouthwatering dish with this easy leftover gammon pasta recipe!

    Perfect for busy weeknights or after the festive season when you have leftover gammon, this creamy pasta combines tender peas with savoury flavours for a quick and hearty meal.

    Leftover ham and pea pasta in a red pan.

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    I often make a honey roast gammon at Christmas for our Boxing Day buffet, and any leftover gammon (ham) goes into this easy cheesy pasta recipe.

    👩‍🍳 Love leftovers? Try my easy leftover beef stroganoff made with leftover roast beef!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • What is the difference between gammon and ham?
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • Top Tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More easy pasta recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    1. Easy recipe for leftover gammon.
    2. Quick and easy to make pasta dish.
    3. Easily customisable.
    4. Creamy and cheesy.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients for leftover gammon pasta.

    Leftover Gammon Ham - from a smoked or unsmoked gammon joint. Chop into small cubes.

    Pasta - a short pasta like penne or rigatoni is best for this creamy pasta dish.

    Peas - frozen peas or petit pois.

    Oil - for frying the onion and garlic.

    Onion - a small brown onion finely chopped, or swap for a red onion.

    Garlic - 2 cloves finely chopped, but if you love garlic, add in an extra clove!

    Italian Herb Seasoning - or use a mixture of dried thyme and oregano.

    Creme Fraiche - full fat is best as it won't split on heating.

    Dijon Mustard - added for flavour. Swap for wholegrain mustard if you prefer.

    Parmesan - finely grated, or substitute for another hard cheese.

    Parsley - freshly chopped for colour and freshness.

    Salt & Pepper - for seasoning.

    What is the difference between gammon and ham?

    Both of these cuts are taken from the pig's hind legs. The difference is that gammon is meat that has been cured (by being salted, brined, or smoked) and sold raw, whereas ham has been dry-cured or cooked, and is sold ready to eat. Once you've cooked gammon, it becomes ham.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to packet instructions, adding the frozen peas for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta and peas into a colander.

    Two: Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan or shallow casserole, and gently cook the chopped onion, garlic, and mixed herbs for 5 minutes until the onion becomes soft

    Three: Mix in the creme fraiche, grated Parmesan, and some of the reserved pasta cooking water. Heat for a few minutes and allow the creamy sauce to become glossy.

    Four: Stir in the leftover gammon, cooked pasta & peas, and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper and add more reserved pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce if needed. Serve with more grated Parmesan.

    Step by step process photos for making leftover ham pasta.

    Top Tips

    • Don't forget to reserve a cup of starchy pasta cooking water before draining the pasta! It helps the creamy pasta sauce to emulsify, making it glossy and smooth.
    • Chop the onion quite finely to ensure it becomes nice and soft. If you prefer, you can leave the onion out or use a chopped leek instead.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the leftover ham and pea pasta with a crisp green side salad and homemade focaccia bread!

    Leftover ham and pea pasta in a red pan.

    📖 Variations

    • Add leftover cooked vegetables from Christmas to the pasta. Roasted Brussels sprouts, air fryer butternut squash, or roasted tender stem broccoli all work well!
    • How about adding leftover pigs in blankets and even chopped-up pieces of apricot and sausage meat stuffing?
    • Use different cheeses. Swap the Parmesan for Gruyere or crumbled blue cheese from your Christmas cheese board. Anything that melts will work in this!
    • Use wholewheat pasta for added nutrition.
    • Swap the frozen peas for frozen sweetcorn.
    • The recipe would work with leftover roast chicken or roast turkey too, or a mixture of different leftover meats.
    • Substitute creme fraiche with double cream for extra indulgence!
    • Turn it into a leftover ham and pea pasta bake by topping it with breadcrumbs and mozzarella and baking it in the oven for 20 minutes.

    🥡 Storage

    Store - Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Reheat - Microwave until piping hot, adding a little water to ensure the pasta doesn't dry out.

    Freeze - Allow the pasta to cool then freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly before reheating in the microwave.

    A pan of leftover gammon ham pasta.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    What do you serve with gammon?

    Serve cold gammon with spicy potato salad, green salad, and pickles. Serve hot gammon with air fryer roast potatoes or air fryer chips, and red cabbage. Leftover gammon can also be stirred into pasta dishes and risotto, as well as leftover gammon pie. Why not use it in an air fryer toastie with cheese!

    How long can you eat leftover gammon?

    Stored correctly in the fridge, cooked gammon ham will last up to 3 days.

    😋 More easy pasta recipes

    • Creamy Sausage Pasta
    • Boursin Pasta
    • Paprika Chicken Pasta
    • Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese
    • Tuna Pasta Bake
    Creamy leftover gammon pasta and peas in a pan.

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    Recipe

    Gammon ham pasta in a red pan.
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    5 from 7 votes

    Easy Leftover Gammon Pasta

    A delicious leftover gammon pasta recipe with peas. The perfect recipe for leftover ham!
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine British
    Prep Time 8 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 14 minutes minutes
    Total Time 22 minutes minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 810kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Large Saucepan
    • Shallow Casserole
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Cheese Grater

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 350 g Pasta penne or rigatoni
    • 250 g Frozen Peas
    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 Onion small, finely chopped
    • 2 Garlic Cloves peeled and finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Italian Herb Seasoning
    • 300 ml Creme Fraiche full fat
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
    • 75 g Parmesan grated
    • 300 g Leftover Gammon Ham cubed
    • 1 tablespoon Parsley chopped
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Pepper

    Instructions

    • Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to packet instructions, adding the frozen peas for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta and peas into a colander.
      350 g Pasta, 250 g Frozen Peas
    • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan or shallow casserole, and gently cook the chopped onion, garlic, and mixed herbs for 5 minutes until the onion becomes soft
      1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Onion, 2 Garlic Cloves, 1 teaspoon Italian Herb Seasoning
    • Mix in the creme fraiche, Dijon mustard, grated Parmesan, and some of the reserved pasta cooking water. Heat for a few minutes and allow the creamy sauce to become glossy.
      300 ml Creme Fraiche, 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard, 75 g Parmesan
    • Stir in the leftover gammon, cooked pasta & peas, and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper and add more reserved pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce if needed. Serve with more grated Parmesan.
      300 g Leftover Gammon Ham, 1 tablespoon Parsley, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Pepper

    Notes

    Top Tips:
    • Don't forget to reserve a cup of starchy pasta cooking water before draining the pasta! It helps the creamy pasta sauce to emulsify, making it glossy and smooth.
    • Chop the onion quite finely to ensure it becomes nice and soft. If you prefer, you can leave the onion out or use a chopped leek instead.
     
    Variations:
    • Add leftover cooked vegetables from Christmas to the pasta. Roasted Brussels sprouts, air fryer butternut squash, or roasted tender stem broccoli all work well!
    • How about adding leftover pigs in blankets and even chopped-up pieces of apricot and sausage meat stuffing?
    • Use different cheeses. Swap the Parmesan for Gruyere or crumbled blue cheese from your Christmas cheese board. Anything that melts will work in this!
    • Use wholewheat pasta for added nutrition.
     
    Storage:
    Store - Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    Reheat - Microwave until piping hot, adding a little water to ensure the pasta doesn't dry out.
    Freeze - Allow the pasta to cool then freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly before reheating in the microwave.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Leftover Gammon Pasta
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    810
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    36
    g
    55
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    17
    g
    106
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    11
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    133
    mg
    44
    %
    Sodium
     
    1594
    mg
    69
    %
    Potassium
     
    653
    mg
    19
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    79
    g
    26
    %
    Fiber
     
    7
    g
    29
    %
    Sugar
     
    9
    g
    10
    %
    Protein
     
    41
    g
    82
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    765
    IU
    15
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    29
    mg
    35
    %
    Calcium
     
    285
    mg
    29
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sue

      November 16, 2022 at 7:34 am

      5 stars
      I always cook a large gammon at Christmas and this is the perfect recipe for the leftovers! Easy and delicious!

      Reply
    2. M H

      April 13, 2023 at 2:17 pm

      5 stars
      I found this while looking for recipes for left over gammon but before I could try it we ate the leftovers! I used cut up smoked sausage instead and it was very good. Useful recipe for many leftovers I think.

      Reply
    3. G K

      October 27, 2023 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe. All the side notes, variations and other info very helpful. I nearly didn't read this as I thought it was going to be one of those dreadful USA ramblings, but it is very concise.

      Reply
    5 from 7 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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