A rich and comforting slow-cooker dinner made with tender seasoned ham, buttery pasta shells, creamy sauce, and melted cheese. Everything cooks together into a warm, hearty meal that is perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.
🛒 Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2½–3 lbs fully cooked ham, cut into large bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz medium pasta shells
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk or heavy cream
Seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt, only if needed
Optional
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced green bell pepper
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the ham
Cut the cooked ham into bite-sized pieces. If using a ham steak or leftover baked ham, remove any excess fat and cut it into roughly equal pieces.
Season lightly with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
2. Prepare the Crockpot
Lightly spray a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Place the seasoned ham pieces in the bottom of the Crockpot.
If using onion and bell pepper, scatter them over the ham.
3. Add the creamy sauce
In a bowl, whisk together:
- Cream of chicken soup
- Chicken broth
- Milk or heavy cream
- Sour cream
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Black pepper
Whisk until mostly smooth.
Pour the mixture over the ham.
4. Add the butter
Cut the butter into several small pieces and distribute them over the top.
This melts into the sauce while everything cooks, creating a richer flavor.
5. Add the pasta
For the best texture, don’t add dry pasta too early because it can become overly soft during a long slow-cooking time.
Instead, cook the pasta shells separately according to the package directions until just al dente.
Drain well.
6. Slow cook the ham
Cover the Crockpot and cook:
LOW: 3–4 hours
or
HIGH: 1½–2½ hours
Since the ham is already cooked, you’re mainly heating it and allowing the flavors to combine.
7. Add the pasta
About 20–30 minutes before serving, stir the cooked pasta shells into the creamy ham mixture.
Mix gently so the shells don’t break apart.
8. Add the cheese
Sprinkle the cheddar and mozzarella over the top.
Cover and cook for another 15–20 minutes, until the cheese has completely melted and the sauce is hot and creamy.
9. Check the consistency
If the sauce is too thick, stir in a few tablespoons of warm milk or chicken broth.
If it’s too thin, leave the lid slightly open for a few minutes while stirring occasionally.
10. Serve
Gently stir everything together until the ham, shells, creamy sauce, and melted cheese are evenly distributed.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately. 🧀🍖🔥
💡 Pro Tips
- Use fully cooked ham for this recipe; it keeps the preparation quick and easy.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Adding it near the end keeps the shells tender rather than mushy.
- Because ham is naturally salty, taste before adding additional salt.
- For an extra cheesy version, add another ½ cup cheddar.
- A little smoked paprika gives the dish a delicious smoky flavor.
- Leftover holiday ham works especially well.
🧀 Easy Variations
Broccoli & Ham: Add 1–2 cups steamed broccoli during the final 20 minutes.
Loaded Ham & Cheese: Add crispy bacon and extra cheddar.
Spicy: Add diced jalapeños or a pinch of crushed red pepper.
Garlic Parmesan: Replace ½ cup of the mozzarella with grated Parmesan and add extra garlic powder.
🍽️ What to Serve With It
Serve this creamy Crockpot ham and pasta with:
- Garlic bread
- Green salad
- Steamed broccoli
- Green beans
- Roasted vegetables
- Dinner rolls
🧊 Storage
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3–4 days.
Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of milk or chicken broth when reheating to loosen the creamy sauce.
⏱️ Recipe Summary
Prep: 15 minutes
Slow Cook: 3–4 hours on LOW
Final Cooking: 20–30 minutes
Total: About 4 hours
Servings: 6–8
Creamy, cheesy, buttery, and loaded with tender ham and pasta shells—this is the kind of Crockpot comfort food everyone will want seconds of! 🧀🍖🥣