Ingredients
- Spaghetti: 12 oz
- Butter: 2 tbsp unsalted
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
- Flour: 1 tbsp
- Milk: 2 cups, warmed
- Heavy Cream: ¾ cup
- Parmesan Cheese: 1 cup shredded
- Salt: 1 tsp (to taste)
- Black Pepper: ½ tsp
- Onion Powder: 1 tsp
- Italian Seasoning: ½ tsp
- Cooked Ham: 1½ cups, diced
- Fresh Parsley: For garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
- Melt butter in a skillet. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in flour to form a roux, cook 2 minutes.
- Whisk in warm milk and cream. Stir until thickened, about 3–4 minutes.
- Lower heat and add Parmesan, salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Fold in diced ham and cook for 2–3 minutes to heat through.
- Toss cooked pasta into the sauce. Add pasta water as needed to loosen sauce.
- Serve hot with additional Parmesan and chopped parsley.
Notes
- Swap ham with cooked bacon or pancetta for variation.
- Add steamed broccoli or peas to boost the nutrition.
- Use more milk instead of cream for a lighter version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 80mg