Ham & Macaroni Dinner in the Crock Pot - Deliciously Simple

 

I knew I was going to have an extremely busy day the other day and so I threw dinner into the crock pot/slow cooker in the morning so that I would have a tasty meal ready and waiting for me when I was ready to eat. No fuss, no muss, and not a lot of effort involved.

I really rely on my crock pot/slow cooker, especially in the warmer months. It is something that allows me to cook a really tasty dinner without heating up my kitchen overly much, plus it is convenient as well.  I can just pop what I am cooking into it and then get on with whatever it is I have to do with my day.

I also love using it on Sundays. It was a life saver when my children were growing up. I could get everything ready and into the crockpot early in the day and feel confident knowing that my starving babies were going to have a delicious and filling meal waiting for them when we got home from church.

I don't think there is anything more enticing than the aroma of a tasty home cooked meal wafting into your nostrils as soon as you walk into the house!  I don't know about your kids but mine were always clambering to be fed as soon as we got home from church! The crock pot/slow cooker was always my best friend when it came to that!

This tasty recipe I am sharing with you today for a Crock Pot Ham & Macaroni Diner uses only five simple ingredients and goes together in literally minutes. It also cooks up to be a delicious and hearty all-in-one meal. There is very little faffing about involved!

 

You end up with a really rich and creamy, perfectly cooked macaroni and cheese, studded generously with nice sized bites of smoky ham.  I adapted the recipe from one that I found in the Fix It and Forget It Cooking for Two: 150 small-batch slow cooker Recipes cookbook that I have on my kindle.  This is the first recipe that I have cooked from it, and it did make four servings, not two.

I added an optional buttered cracker crumb topping to mine because I think casseroles like this deserve a buttered cracker crumb topping. 

This was delicious.  Quick and easy to make and very satisfying.  It would be lovely served with a side salad to complete the meal.  A salad is also something you can have ready in the refrigerator, just awaiting its dressing. 

Talk about mealtime convenience!

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CROCK POT HAM & MACARONI DINNER

Five simple ingredients (exclusive of the topping) and a crock pot/slow cooker. That's all.

• 1 cup (120g) grated strong cheddar cheese (or any cheese of your choice)
• 1 cup (116g) uncooked macaroni
• 1 1/2 cups (360ml) whole milk
• 1 can (10 1/2 ounces/297g) condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup
• 1 1/2 cups (225g) cooked ham cubed (I used a small ham steak)

Optional Crumb Topping

• 1 sleeve of saltine crackers, crumbled (8 single crackers)
• 1 TBS butter, melted

  

I used elbow macaroni. It was the Catelli, high fiber one.  Whole milk and full fat cheese will add a nice touch of richness.  That is what I used.

You can use any type of cheese you wish. I had sharp cheddar, orange, in the house and that is what I used.

For the ham I used a small ham steak (President's Choice) which I cut into 1/2 inch cubes. They come 1 in a pack and that is perfect for this recipe. At only $4.39 they are an economical choice, and they taste great.  You could also use leftover ham if you wished.

I used condensed cream of chicken soup as that is what I had, and it worked perfectly. 

For those of you are in the U.K. Condensed soup is a type of soup that you need to add a liquid to in order to reconstitute it so that it can be eaten as soup. The brand that I used to use in the U.K. was Batchelor's condensed soup.

It is a very convenient product to have in your store cupboard, but if you are a person who loathes this sort of thing, you can always make your own substitute.

HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT HAM & MACARONI DINNER

Nothing could be easier. Simply add it all to the crock pot/slow cooker, stir and cook. Do make the optional buttered cracker crumb topping if you can. It adds extra interest and texture.

I used a 2QT slow cooker, which is a smaller one. Spray it with some non-stick cooking spray.

Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Give them a stir to combine well.

Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.

To make the optional cracker crumb topping. Mix the crumbled crackers with the melted butter.

Spread out on a small baking sheet and bake in a 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4 oven for 5 to 8 minutes until golden brown.

Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs over top to serve.

 

HINTS AND TIPS FOR CROCK POT COOKERY 

Here are all my hints and tips for success when cooking in the crock pot/slow cooker. 

1. Slow cookers work best when they are 2/3 to 3/4 of the way full so choose the size of the crock pot carefully when deciding to cook a recipe. You may need to increase the cook time if you have exceeded that amount or decrease the cook time if you have put in less than that amount.

2. Put any vegetables in the bottom of the crock pot. This puts them in more direct contact with the heat of the slow cooker. You can mix everything together later.

3. The fuller your slow cooker, the longer it will take its contents to cook.  Also, the more densely packed the cooker's contents are, the longer they will need to cook. Also, the larger the chunks of meat or vegetables, the more time they will need to cook.

4. Keep the lid on. Every time you lift the lid to peek you lose 20 minutes of cook time. That is why most slow cookers/crock pots have a glass lid. So that you can check on the contents without lifting the lid.

5. Sometimes it is beneficial to remove the lid. If you want your dish to thicken up a bit, take the lid off during the last half hour of cook time. This will help it to thicken.

 

6. Remember the outside of your crock pot/slow cooker will be hot. Be cautious. This applies to children or for yourself.

7. A quick read meat thermometer is a handy tool to have. This will help remove the question of whether or not your meat is fully cooked and will also prevent you from over cooking your meat.

8. The basic rule of thumb is to NOT put frozen meat into the slow cooker. Meat will not reach the proper internal temperature in time. This especially applies to thick cuts of meat. Proceed with caution is the way to go!

9.  Add any fresh herbs 10 minutes before the end of cooking time to maximize their flavor.

10. If you have a recipe which calls for adding cooked pasta, add it 10 minutes prior to the end of cook time if cooking on high, 30 minutes if cooking on low. That way it won't get mushy.

11. If you are using a recipe which calls for adding sour cream or cream, stir it in 5 minutes before the end of the cooking time, just to heat through. That way it won't split or curdle.

 

I was really pleased with how this came out.  I had not expected it to come out nearly as good as it did. The sauce was rich, creamy and cheese, and thickened up considerably upon standing.

I was a bit concerned that the macaroni would either be too soft or that it would be too hard, but it was just perfect.

Do make the cracker crumb topping if you can. It adds a bit of visual interest and some buttery crunch. 

Altogether I quite enjoyed this!! A salad or vegetable and some crusty bread would work well on the side.

  

If you are as big a fan as I am of cooking in the crock pot, then the following recipe options might also interest you!  I promise you that they are delicious!

CROCK POT MONGOLIAN BEEF - Tasty, tender and totally hands off.  Tender pieces of beef with decidedly oriental flavors. Delicious served over rice with some of the tasty cooking juices spooned over top and a garnish of spring onions.

CROCK POT HAM, BEANS & POTATOES - This is an old, old recipe gleaned from a Mennonite Community Cookery book many moons ago.  It's such a simple dish and yet so delicious! Proof positive that food doesn't have to be complicated to taste good. Everything simply gets layered in the crock pot and then cooked. This is an old family favorite!

Yield: 4 servings

Author: Marie Rayner

Ham & Macaroni Dinner

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 3 HourTotal time: 3 H & 5 M

This might not look like much, but it is delicious. This makes a great meal for those days when you know you are going to be too busy to spend much time cooking a meal!

Ingredients

• 1 cup (120g) grated strong cheddar cheese (or any cheese of your choice)
• 1 cup (116g) uncooked macaroni
• 1 1/2 cups (360ml) whole milk
• 1 can (10 1/2 ounces/297g) condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup
• 1 1/2 cups (225g) cooked ham cubed (I used a small ham steak)

Optional Crumb Topping

• 1 sleeve of saltine crackers, crumbled (8 single crackers)
• 1 TBS butter, melted

Instructions

1. I used a 2QT slow cooker, which is a smaller one. Spray it with some non-stick cooking spray.
2. Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Give them a stir to combine well.
3. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
4. To make the optional cracker crumb topping. Mix the crumbled crackers with the melted butter.
5. Spread out on a small baking sheet and bake in a 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4 oven for 5 to 8 minutes until golden brown.
6. Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs over top to serve.

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