Looking for a recipe to use the ham that’s leftover from Sunday dinner? This penne pasta with ham and peas is a quick and easy way to stretch that leftover ham to help you get one more meal. That makes your wallet happy!

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We love ham (and bacon and pork roast) at our house. Fortunately, a grocery store near us has been running some great deals on ham the last couple of months.

I’ve taken advantage of the sales and put several hams in the freezer. Using our freezer, along with keeping a grocery price book, are just two ways we save money at the grocery store. After all, why pay full price when you know a particular meat will be on sale regularly? I have no intention of paying more than I have to – those dollars don’t grow on trees.

If the concepts above are new or you aren’t sure how to start, be sure to read how to make a grocery price book and how to create a pantry inventory.

We always aim to get several meals out of a ham. Once we’ve had a meal (or several) of sliced ham and ham sandwiches we start looking at casseroles to use up the leftovers. I’ve got several that we love.

This recipe for penne pasta with ham and peas has a nice, mild flavor and doesn’t call for any cheese. You’ve already purchased the ham so its a very inexpensive casserole. You probably have most of the ingredients already in your pantry and freezer.

How to make Penne Pasta with Ham & Peas

Penne Pasta with Ham & Peas

Ingredients

12 ounces penne pasta cooked and drained
1 cup frozen peas
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cups ham diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon oregano
11/2 cup chicken broth
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook pasta, drain, and add frozen peas.
Heat oil in skillet. Cook ham and garlic. Add oregano and cook 1 minute.
Add chicken broth and mustard and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cooked pasta with peas and heat through.

That’s all there is to it – I told you it was easy! I have a recipe for a ham spread that I’ll share with you next month. My motto is “don’t let any of it go to waste.”

What’s your favorite way to stretch your grocery dollar?

By the way, if you’re trying to cut carbs at your house then you can make this recipe with low carb pasta from the Great Low Carb Bread Company. I’ve used several of their products and they’re definitely tasty. A great alternative if you’ve got someone in the family watching carbs or trying to lower blood sugar.

One more thing before you leave…if you hate meal planning but like good food, I know of a solution. It’s called the $5 Meal Plan (because it really is only $5 a month).

It’s from the same people who bring you the Grocery Budget Makeover (which I’ve taken and love). This is a monthly subscription that lets you set the parameters and a meal plan and shopping list is created for you.

The hardest thing you have to do is log into the site to download your plan – that’s it. I just joined and absolutely LOVED the meal plan builder function. It allowed me to further customize the weekly recipes for things I know the folks at my house will eat. I think I’m in love!