Healthy Ham and Cheese Casserole with Apples and Sage

Name: Healthy Ham and Cheese Casserole with Apples and Sage
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 1 9x13-inch dish
Ingredients: 1 pound whole wheat penne; 12 ounces diced ham (I used thickly sliced Virginia ham from our deli); 3 medium sweet apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch dice (I used Gala); 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced, dived; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 small yellow onion, chopped; 3 teaspoons garlic; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 2 1/2 cups non-fat milk; 1/4 cup half and half; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt; 1 cup freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese; For the Bread Crumb Topping:; 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs; 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

posted on October 27, 2014

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What dish, to you, defines “comfort food”? My pick: healthy Ham and Cheese Casserole with Apples and Sage.

Healthy Ham and Cheese Casserole with Apples and Sage Well that’s not entirely true—my actual answer is a hybrid between my Grammy’s homemade ham macaroni and cheese and my Grandma’s “party ham casserole.” The first is categorically cheesy; the second smothered in crispy, buttery breadcrumbs; both involve chunks of salty ham and unapologetic levels of heavy cream.

Healthy Ham and Cheese Casserole with Apples My grandmothers’ versions of ham and cheese casseroles are exactly the sort of dishes you want to curl up with on a chilly evening, when the sun sets too early, the wind blows too strong, and you realize that a comforting pasta bake and a pair of sweatpants might be the secret combination to a lifetime happiness.

Healthy Cheddar Ham and Apple Casserole with the best healthy cream sauce and sage Today’s recipe for Ham Apple Cheddar Pasta Bake is my grown-up version of these favorites. To complement and elevate the ham and cheddar, I added sweet apples, sautéed onions, and earthy sage. I kept the irresistible crunchy breadcrumb topping (mandatory) but ditched the cream of mushroom soup.

Healthy Ham Cheese and Apple Casserole I’m giddy about the magic that happens between the sage, apples, and cheddar, but my favorite part about this dish is the white sauce. Over the years I’ve been on a quest to develop a recipe for a healthier creamy white sauce that a) thickens in a reasonable amount of time and b) doesn’t taste healthy.

Many sub-par pasta nights later, this is it: the healthier white sauce of my dreams. A touch of butter and half-and-half are needed, but the rest of the thickness comes from Greek yogurt and a handful of freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese. I was so excited, I almost took a bath in it. Just kidding. Kind of.

Healthy Cheddar Ham and Apple Casserole with the best healthy cream sauce

While I still indulge in my grandmothers’ original recipes every now and then, today’s comforting Ham and Cheese Casserole with Apples and Sage is a modern version that any family can feel good about enjoying on a regular basis. It’s reasonably healthy, contains a fabulous array of fall flavors, and makes fantastic leftovers too.

Healthy Cheesy Ham and Apple Casserole with Sage

Ham Apple Cheddar Pasta Bake: Doing my grandmothers proud one comfort food casserole at a time!

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