Creamy Ham and Pea Pasta

Name: Creamy Ham and Pea Pasta
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 300g penne; 1 tbsp butter; 1 onion, finely chopped; 200g frozen peas; 150g cooked ham, sliced into strips; 150ml double cream; 40g parmesan, grated; 0.5 tsp black pepper

Penne in a light creamy sauce with sweet peas and ham, ready in about 20 minutes.

Time20 mins
LevelEasy
Costabout £1.13 a head

Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.

4 servings

Ingredients

Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.

300 gpenne
1 tbspbutter
1onionfinely chopped
200 gfrozen peas
150 gcooked hamsliced into strips
150 mldouble cream
40 gparmesangrated
½ tspblack pepper

Method

1
Cook the penne in boiling water following the packet. Save a mugful of the pasta water, then drain.
10 min
2
Melt the butter in a large pan and cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft.
5 min
3
Add the peas and ham and cook for 2 minutes.
2 min
4
Pour in the cream and let it bubble gently for 2 minutes.
2 min
5
Tip in the pasta with the parmesan and pepper. Toss, loosening with a splash of the pasta water until glossy and coating the pasta.

Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.