Nothing screams Christmas than the perfect creamy and cheese Baked Mac and Cheese. Of course, with all the leftover ham hanging around, I decided to make it a Turkey Ham Baked Mac and Cheese, with festive potato toppers (made using a cookie cutter). Not only is this absolutely delicious, it is easy to make with really accessible ingredients – so don’t hesitate to involve the little one at home for a good family bonding over food.

Of course and as with my recipes, there’s always a secret behind achieving quality with shortcuts.

The secret to making the creamiest mac and cheese is the use of a roux. This roux is nothing complex, all you would need is some melted butter and flour which either way, you would certainly need in any mac and cheese recipe. However, through the cooking of roux and using it in your Turkey Ham Baked Mac and Cheese’s base, it allows the thickening of the mac and cheese in no time at all.

For the dreamy cheese stretch, all you have to do is to add in your grated cheeses, mix it all in and send it for a bake.

My favourite part about this Turkey Ham Baked Mac and Cheese is how customisable the recipe is. Don’t have Turkey Ham? Use some leftover beef sausages. Have extra vegetables? Throw them all in, that’s what I did with my Cherry Tomatoes. A point to note however, is that I like to saute vegetables with higher water content prior to baking them. Doing so allow them to release all that extra moisture (so that your mac and cheese won’t be soggy). Furthermore, it will also allow their flavours to be sharper, with the chance to season these vegetables as well.

Additionally, I thought a way to make this Turkey Ham Baked Mac and Cheese extra festive is the use of shaped potato slices as toppers. All you’ve to do is to use your favourite cookie cutters.

Without further ado, the recipe!

P.S: If you’re unsure about cheeses, I used Perfect Italiano here!

Turkey Ham Baked Mac and Cheese
by Javier Tan December-13-2024

Nothing screams Christmas comfort like a good ol’ creamy Baked Mac and Cheese, perfect for gatherings, and so easy to impress!

Ingredients (Serves 2, Multiply Accordingly)

  • 1 and 1/2 Cup Elbow Macaroni
  • Roux: 4 Tbspns or 50g of Butter + 1/4 Cup + 2 Tbspns of Flour
  • 2 Cups or 480ml of Milk
  • 3/4 Cup Grated Cheese (Cheddar, Mozzarella or Hard Grating Cheese)
  • 3/4 Cup Grated Parmesan CHeese
  • Cherry Tomatoes, Approx 8, Sliced into halves
  • (Approx 1/3 Cup) 80g Laksa Paste, Ready Made
  • Approx 1 Cup of Turkey Ham
  • Extra cheese (for topping)
  • Potato slices (optional, for decorating)
  • Salt, pepper, and other seasonings, to taste

Instructions

  1. Firstly, boil macaroni till al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. At medium heat, melt butter and then stir in flour until thickened.
  3. Then, add in 1 cup milk while whisking to break up the clumps. Add in the remaining cup of milk and continue whisking till thickened, approx 5 mins.
  4. Stir in the cheeses, macaroni, cherry tomatoes (if using) and turkey ham.
  5. Transfer to a baking dish and top with extra cheese and potato slices if using.
  6. Bake 180C for 10 – 15 mins till nicely golden brown. Don’t over bake or it won’t be as melty!
  7. Serve and enjoy.

Details

  • Prep time: 20 mins
  • Cook time: 30 mins
  • Total time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 2 Servings of the most comforting Turkey Ham Baked Mac and Cheese

Notes:

  1. If you would like to be updated for more recipes which I strive to create to perfection for sharing and for free, do check out my Instagram, Facebook Page, or YouTube 🙂 Thank you so much for all of your support! Feel free to tag me or link back here!
  2. Serve warm once fully cooked, best eaten on the day itself! Else, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, making sure to heat up before serving again.
  3. Please do not copy and paste the recipe without my permission, but feel free to link back here!

Enjoy!
Bakeomaniac, Javier Tan!