Name: Hammy Mac & Cheese Soup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: ½ c diced onion; 2 Tb butter; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1½ c uncooked elbow macaroni (cook to half the package instruction time); 3 c chicken broth; 2 c half & half; 1 Tb country style Dijon mustard; 4 ounces light cream cheese, room temperature; 1½ - 2 c diced, cooked ham; 10 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded; 2 c frozen broccoli florets; 1/16 tsp turmeric; ½ tsp black pepper

Jump to Recipe

Imagine taking a bowl of macaroni and cheese, with some ham and broccoli and turning it into a rich, creamy soup. Well that is exactly what I did!
December is here and I think it is safe to say that it is officially “Soup Season!” This Hammy Mac & Cheese Soup is the perfect way to start it off, if you haven’t been pulling out your Dutch oven and putting it to good use already.

This soup is a great way to use up some of that left over holiday ham that you have in your freezer. Tell me I’m not the only one that intentionally cooks way more meat than necessary on the holidays, so I can freeze portions for future meals. If you don’t, you should!

Today I shared this recipe over at Hip Homeschool Moms. You can see the post with all of the step-by-step photos here.

Yield: 6

Hammy Mac & Cheese Soup

This soup is not only fun and delicious, but it is also relatively quick to make. Perfect for any night of the week.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

½ c diced onion
2 Tb butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1½ c uncooked elbow macaroni (cook to half the package instruction time)
3 c chicken broth
2 c half & half
1 Tb country style Dijon mustard
4 ounces light cream cheese, room temperature
1½ - 2 c diced, cooked ham
10 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 c frozen broccoli florets
1/16 tsp turmeric
½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

To begin, cook the diced onion in a Dutch oven with the butter. Cook this over medium low heat until tender. Then add in the minced garlic. Cook for another minute.
While those are cooking, you’ll cook the elbow macaroni. Look at your package’s instructions, and only cook them for half of the time shown. If your cook time is 10 minutes, only cook them for 5. Then drain the noodles and set them aside.
When the onion and garlic have cooked together for a minute, add in the chicken broth, half & half, mustard, cream cheese and ham.
Let those all cook together over medium heat, until the cream cheese is completely melted in. You will need to stir this soup frequently as it cooks. Once the cream cheese is completely melted in, and in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Add in the frozen broccoli florets, your semi-cooked macaroni, the turmeric and black pepper. Let this cook together until the broccoli and noodles are just done, about 4-5 minutes.
Enjoy!

Notes

This recipe is a great use of leftover holiday ham.

For the half & half, you can also use 1/2 milk and 1/2 heavy whipping cream - another holiday leftover.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 544Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 1658mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 3gSugar: 8gProtein: 35g

This data was estimated and provided by Nutritionix. Accuracy not guaranteed.