Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake

1.Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

Cook the pasta Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Prepare the sauce In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.

4.Slowly whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened.

5.Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the salt, black pepper, and grated cheese until melted and smooth.

Assemble the pasta bake In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, diced ham, and sauce. Mix well to coat the pasta and ham with the sauce.

7.Transfer the pasta mixture to a greased baking dish.

Make the breadcrumb topping In a food processor, pulse the bread slices until they form coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, melted butter, and grated cheese.

9.Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping evenly over the pasta mixture in the baking dish.

Bake the pasta Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the pasta is heated through.

11.Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!