My creamy, cheesy cauliflower ham pasta casserole is a family favorite meal that uses up leftover holiday ham in a dish that everyone loves! This easy casserole features tender cauliflower, al dente bow tie pasta, salty ham, a tasty Dijon cheese sauce, and crispy Panko breadcrumbs- talk about comfort food!
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Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and coat a 9x13 baking dish or 2.5 quart casserole dish lightly with oil or non-stick spray.
In a large saucepan or stockpot bring 8 cups of salted water to a boil, then add the cauliflower florets. Cook at a low boil for 4-5 minutes, or until fork tender. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked cauliflower to the prepared baking dish.
Return the water to a boil and add the bowtie pasta. Cook until al dente (usually 1-2 minutes shy of the package instructions). Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water before mixing with the cauliflower in your baking dish.
In a saucepan whisk together the milk, broth, and all-purpose flour. Then add the garlic, salt & pepper, and Dijon mustard and whisk until smooth.
Thicken the milk mixture over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for about 6-8 minutes. *Reduce heat as needed to prevent boiling over.
Once thickened, remove from heat. Add the Parmesan and cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Pour the mixture over the cooked cauliflower and pasta.
Add diced ham to the baking dish and stir, then top with the remaining ½ cup of cheddar and sprinkle with Panko breadcrumbs.
Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes until the sauce is bubbling around the edges and the topping is lightly browned. Remove from the oven and serve.
Notes
This casserole will also taste great with grilled chicken in place of the ham, or make it vegetarian by leaving it out altogether
This pasta casserole can be made up to 3 days in advance. Follow the recipe all the way up to adding the breadcrumbs, let it cool, then cover and place in the fridge. Add breadcrumbs right before cooking. (Chilled pasta casserole will take slightly longer to heat through, so add 5-10 minutes to cooking time.)
This makes 6 generous servings, or 8 average servings (perfect for kids).
If you don't have farfalle pasta you can use penne, macaroni, rigatoni, or whatever you have on hand. Just follow the boxes instructions for al dente.
You can use microwavable bags of frozen cauliflower to skip a step.