Creamy Pasta With Ham and Asparagus Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/15/21
Creamy Pasta With Ham and Asparagus in a bowl

The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 to 6

If you like ham and pasta casseroles with veggies such as peas or asparagus, check out this recipe for asparagus and ham. These ingredients are tossed with cream and farfalle for a quick but satisfying meal.

This ham and asparagus pasta recipe is a simple dish to enjoy any time of the year, but it's especially delicious with fresh spring asparagus. Serve this great-tasting pasta dish with a tossed green salad, along with rolls or a baguette. Garlic bread would be tasty, too.

When you are cutting the asparagus, separate the tips and set them aside. The tips are more delicate and will be cooked at the very last minute because they don't require much time.

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups farfalle, or mini farfalle (bowties)

  • 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths

  • 1 cup ham, diced

  • 2 teaspoons butter

  • 2/3 cup heavy cream

  • 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving

  • Salt, or to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 baguette, optional

  • 4 servings green salad, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Following package directions for time (adding a few extra cups of water to accommodate the asparagus), add the farfalle to a pot of salted boiling water.

  2. Add the asparagus stalks about 5 minutes before the pasta is done.

  3. Add the tips about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain well.

  4. Sauté the ham in the butter over medium heat. Add the cream and heat through.

  5. Toss the hot drained pasta and asparagus with the ham and cream mixture; stir in the 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

  6. If desired, serve with crusty bread, a simple salad, and extra Parmesan, if desired.

Tips

This recipe won't be nearly as good if you use frozen asparagus, so try to resist the temptation. This pasta dish is really a lovely way to showcase fresh spring asparagus.


You can tell how to cut asparagus by the stem by holding it and trying to bend the bottom part. Where it naturally breaks is typically the best place to cut.

Variation

  • Feel free to use any other short stubby pasta if you don't want to use farfalle. Penne, mini-penne, cavatappi, rigatoni, or rotini would all work well with this dish.
  • If you don't like or don't have ham, diced cooked chicken would work well in this dish.

How to Store and Freeze Creamy Ham and Asparagus Pasta

If covered and kept in an airtight container, this pasta will keep for 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator. Reheat over medium-low heat in a saucepan to which you've added a bit of butter, cream, or water to thin out the sauce. You can freeze leftovers, but the sauce might not hold together well upon reheating because of the cream. Reheat it slowly and add more milk or cream if needed, whisking to recombine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
210 Calories
13g Fat
14g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 210
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 8g 38%
Cholesterol 50mg 17%
Sodium 481mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 47mg 4%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 133mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)