HAM AND CHEESE RANCH PASTA

Ham and Cheese Ranch Pasta image

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.-Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 25m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon 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 reduced-fat sour cream
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1-1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Steps:

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. , 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 306 calories, Fat 9g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 612mg sodium, Carbohydrate 38g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 20g protein. Diabetic Exchanges