Cheesy Ham and Macaroni Bake

Ingredients 0/12

Step 1

Gently heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While that’s warming up, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni until it’s tender but still has a bit of bite—about 8 minutes. Drain it well.

Step 2

Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a big saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper until everything is combined. Slowly pour in the milk and let it come to a gentle simmer. Turn the heat down and keep whisking until the sauce thickens and starts bubbling, which should take around 5 minutes.

Step 3

Now, mix the cooked pasta, ham, and apple slices right into the sauce. Pour this cheesy mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish.

Step 4

In a small bowl, combine the soft bread crumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, then sprinkle this crumb topping evenly over the casserole.

Step 5

Pop it in the oven and bake until it’s bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.