Leftover Gammon Mac and Cheese

Discover a delicious and easy Leftover Gammon Mac and Cheese recipe! Perfect for using up leftovers, this creamy and comforting dish is ideal for a quick family meal or midweek dinner.

If you are wondering What to do with leftover gammon or Leftover ham, Mac and cheese is perfect!

I generally think of ham as an American term and gammon as British, but there’s a bit more to it than that. You can find out more about the difference between gammon and ham here, but for this recipe, you can use either as long as it’s already been cooked.

This is one of my favourite Gammon leftover recipes. Super comforting, easy and always delicious. 

If you are looking for Recipes with leftover Gammon, give it a go. 

Mac and cheese with gammon in cooking dish.

Why I Love Leftover Gammon Mac and Cheese

I love this Leftover Gammon pasta, and I think you will too because:

  • Gammon is a lovely change from pork; the flavour is similar to bacon, and it’s perfect for flavourful leftover dinners. 
  • It’s perfect for leftover Christmas ham.
  • Gammon mac and cheese is delicious. 
  • A gooey Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and you can add pretty much anything!
  • The sharp cheddar cheese sauce is perfect!!
served gammon mac and cheese in bowl.

Ingredients For Leftover Gammon Mac and Cheese

When I make macaroni cheese with leftover gammon, I use:

Leftover Gammon – I’ve used 400g, but that’s really the maximum you need, much less is fine. Use what you’ve got. 

Butter

Garlic Puree

Plain Flour

Semi-Skimmed Milk – If you want a richer Mac n cheese, try whole milk. I don’t think it needs it. 

Grated Mature Cheddar Cheese

Mozzarella

English Mustard – If English Mustard is too much for you, dijon mustard is fine too. 

Salt and Pepper

Macaroni Pasta

Penne Pasta – Generally, I just use macaroni, and you can do that too. But this is a leftover recipe, so I want to show that you can use any pasta that you’ve got in, when you’ve got leftover gammon, you don’t need to shop, especially for macaroni. A combination is great, and super cheap penne is perfect because the sauce gets into the ridges and the middle. 

ingredients for gammon mac and cheese.

You’ll Also Need

I typically bake my Mac and cheese in a fairly small ovenproof dish. But this one is a bit bigger.  So the dish is bigger too. 

You’ll also need a large saucepan and a balloon whisk. 

A silicone spatula is ideal to scrape all of the cheesy gubbins out without wasting any. 

Mac and cheese with gammon in cooking dish.

How to Make Leftover Gammon Mac and Cheese – Step-by-Step Instructions

Full, easy-to-follow instructions and quantities are available in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step One

Cook the pasta to the packet instructions, drain, rinse and set to one side. If, like me, you are using two different types of pasta, this might mean cooking the penne for five minutes before carefully adding the macaroni to the same pan. 

pasta in colander.

Step Two

Melt the butter and garlic puree in a large, flameproof pan over medium heat on the hob. 

If you prefer to use fresh garlic, crush it and add it to the pan with the butter. 2-3 cloves should do but measure with your heart. 

Step Three

Reduce the heat and add the flour. 

flour and butter in pan.

Step Four

Whisk until it comes together into a dough. It’s very Play-Doh-like. 

flour and butter in pan.

Step Five

Add the milk, whisking in a splash at a time. 

Adding a bit at a time helps you to avoid lumps. Once the mixture is smooth, start adding faster, in bigger splashes. 

white sauce and whisk.

Step Six

Once you’ve added all of the milk, increase the temperature and bring it to a simmer, whisking often. 

Step Seven

Once simmering, whisk constantly for 3 minutes until the sauce has thickened. 

Step Eight

Remove the pan from the heat. 

Step Nine

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (fan-assisted) and prepare an ovenproof dish. 

Step Ten

Whisk in the salt, pepper and mustard and stir in the gammon. 

gammon chunks in cheese sauce.

Step Eleven

Add the pasta and most of the cheese. Keep a handful or so of each to sprinkle on the top.

Add the cheese first, if you prefer, letting it melt in completely before adding the pasta. 

Step Twelve

Stir carefully until the cheese has melted and the pasta is well coated in sauce. 

gammon mac and cheese mix in large saucepan.

Step Thirteen

Tip your leftover ham Mac and cheese into the ovenproof dish and spread it out evenly.  I use a silicone spatula to scrape all of the sauce out of the pan, just dolloping it onto the top. 

Step Fourteen

Sprinkle on the remaining cheese.

unbaked gammon mac and cheese in baking dish.

Step Fifteen

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Mac and cheese with gammon in cooking dish.

Serving Suggestions

I tend to serve my leftover gammon Mac and cheese with a simple side salad or some steamed veggies. Broccoli is perfect. 

Some simple frozen peas would be fine, too, for a quick and easy side. 

Bread and butter, or garlic bread, are fantastic side dishes to serve with Mac and cheese with gammon, too. 

served pasta in bowl with salad.

Variations

Mac and cheese is so versatile. There’s so much that you can do differently. 

Add leeks

Macaroni cheese with leeks is lovely, and ham and leek is a great combination. 

Fry sliced leeks in the butter before adding the flour for a tasty and healthy addition. 

Sliced red onions are another good option. 

Add Leftover Veggies

If you have any leftover vegetables from your gammon dinner, chop these into bites and stir them in with the diced gammon. 

This is a great idea if you don’t have as much gammon as you’d like. 

FAQ

Does Ham go with Mac and Cheese?

Yes, ham, or gammon, is great with Mac and cheese.

Can You Put Ham in Mac and Cheese?

Yes, you can put cooked ham in Mac and cheese. 

Other Recipes 

If you like this Gooey Mac n cheese, you might also want to try:

Mac and cheese with gammon in cooking dish.

Leftover Gammon Mac and Cheese

Author NameDonna
This Leftover Gammon Mac and Cheese is a creamy, comforting dish that’s perfect for using up any leftover gammon. Quick, easy, and packed with flavour, it’s an ideal family meal for busy weeknights.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine British
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 797 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 400 g Leftover Gammon (Diced or shredded)
  • 40 g Butter
  • 1 Teaspoon Garlic Puree
  • 40 g Plain Flour
  • 500 ml Semi-Skimmed Milk
  • 150 g Mature Cheddar Cheese (grated)
  • 100 g Mozzarella (grated)
  • 1 Tablespoon English Mustard
  • Pinch Salt and pepper
  • 150 g Macaroni Pasta
  • 150 g Penne Pasta

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta to the packet instructions, drain, rinse and set to one side.
  • Melt the butter and garlic puree in a large, flameproof pan over medium heat on the hob.
  • Reduce the heat and add the flour.
  • Whisk until it comes together into a dough.
  • Add the milk, whisking in a splash at a time.
  • Once you’ve added all of the milk, increase the temperature and bring it to a simmer, whisking often.
  • Once simmering, whisk constantly for 3 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
  • Remove the pan from the heat.
  • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (fan-assisted) and prepare an ovenproof dish.
  • Whisk in the salt, pepper and mustard and stir in the gammon.
  • Add the pasta and most of the cheese.
  • Stir carefully until the cheese has melted and the pasta is well coated in sauce.
  • Tip into the ovenproof dish and spread out evenly.
  • Sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Leftover Gammon Mac and Cheese
Serving Size
 
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
797
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
41
g
63
%
Saturated Fat
 
22
g
138
%
Cholesterol
 
49
mg
16
%
Sodium
 
219
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
 
59
g
20
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
7
g
8
%
Protein
 
46
g
92
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Any nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate. The information is provided using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please make your own calculations if you want precise information.

Keyword leftover gammon, mac and cheese, pasta recipes
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Author
Donna Dundas
Donna Dundas is an experienced family food blogger who has been creating easy and wholesome recipes for over 7 years. Her blog is a must-read for anyone looking for filling and delicious recipe ideas, that reduce waste and minimise stress.

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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