Blue Cheese Sauce Pasta Casserole with Ham, Peas, and Leeks

blue cheese

🥗Healthier: feta cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Feta offers a tangy flavor with fewer calories, while cream cheese is more budget-friendly.

cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess, while milk + cornstarch is a cost-effective substitute.

Boil water in a pan for cooking pasta.

Add pen pasta to boiling water and cook as per package instructions until al dente.

Drain the pasta and let it cool.

Prepare leeks by cleaning and cutting them into half cm pieces, using both white and green parts.

In a pan, add butter and heat it (flame off initially).

Add leeks to the pan and season with black pepper and a minimal amount of salt.

Cook leeks for about 5-6 minutes until they are tender but still have a little crunch.

Add frozen peas to the leeks and cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through.

Add cubed cooked ham to the mixture (optional to rewarm).

Sprinkle a pinch of Italian herbs into the mixture (optional).

In a separate pan, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter.

Add 2 tablespoons of flour to the melted butter and stir to cook out the flour.

Gradually add 1-2 cups of milk while stirring to avoid lumps.

Add about 1 cup of cream to the mixture and stir until it starts to thicken.

Once thickened, add the blue cheese and stir until melted, then remove from heat.

In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta with the leek and pea mixture, and the ham.

Pour the blue cheese sauce over the pasta mixture and stir to combine thoroughly.

Preheat the air fryer oven to 180°C (356°F).

Pack the pasta mixture into a casserole dish.

Top with freshly grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Mix breadcrumbs with softened butter and sprinkle over the top of the casserole.

Add more Parmesan cheese to the breadcrumb topping.

Bake in the air fryer oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown.

Let the casserole cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens