Ranch Ham 'n' Cheese Pasta

Prep Time: 25 Minutes

Cook Time: 0 Minutes

Ready In: 25 Minutes

Servings: 10

To cut the fat in this makeover recipe, we reduced the amount of butter from 1/4 cup to 1 tablespoon, switched the cheese to a reduced-fate Mexican cheese blend and chose lean ham over regular. These changes cut the calories by nearly a third and reduced the fat, saturated fat cholesterol and sodium by more than half.

Ingredients:

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon king arthur unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup fat-free milk

2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion

1/2 teaspoon dill weed

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup (8 ounces) reduced-fat sour cream

2 cups cubed fully cooked lean ham

1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded reduced-fat mexican cheese blend

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In a Dutch oven, melt butter; whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk and seasonings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
2. Reduce heat; fold in sour cream until blended. Add ham and pasta; cook and stir until heated through. Remove from the heat; stir in Mexican cheese blend until melted. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Yield: 10 servings.

By RecipeOfHealth.com