One Pot Ham & Penne Skillet Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook a precooked ham? ›

If the ham is labeled "fully cooked" (does not require heating), heat it in the oven for about 10 minutes per pound, or to an internal temperature of 140 F. If the ham is labeled "cook before eating," heat in an oven set no lower than 325 F to an internal temperature of at least 145 F.

Here are our favorite things to eat with baked ham, including a sweet and fresh shredded carrot salad, milk-simmered mashed potatoes, multiple asparagus dishes, and a more refined, French take on the deviled egg.

Roasting pan: A 9x3x13-inch pan is a good size to look for. You'll want a pan that's large enough to fit the ham comfortably without touching the sides. A depth of 3 to 4 inches will help avoid spilling or splashing of hot cooking juices.

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

Plan on baking your pre-cooked ham at an oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit, covered with foil, until it reaches a safe internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, as recommended by the USDA. A pre-cooked 10-pound ham, bone-in will need about 2 1/2 hours.

Pan Fry the Pasta

Heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat until oil is hot and shimmering. Working in batches, add a single layer of pasta to pan. Allow to cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once water is boiling, add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Drain and use however you like!

Cooking pasta in the sauce instead of in boiling water will increase the amount of time it takes to cook through. It's a good technique to use if you want to delay serving your pasta for a few minutes. Make sure to keep the sauce thinned out with pasta water as the pasta finishes cooking if you use this method.

Should ham be cooked on its side or meat side down? ›

Heating Ham

Place ham, cut side down, on rack in shallow roasting pan; cover loosely with aluminum foil. Heat approximately 10 to 15 minutes per pound until heated through. Remove ham from oven and let stand, covered, 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Baked Ham Best Practices

Cook fat-side up in a roasting pan filled with about 1/2 inch of water covered tightly in foil for the bulk of the time. During the last 30 minutes, remove the foil, crank the heat up to 425ºF, brush with a simple glaze at least twice. Let rest 20 minutes before carving.

Simply add some water to your roasting pan, lay a baking rack on top, place the ham on it, and wrap it in foil. The extra water will create steam that will help your ham retain moisture, resulting in more flavorful and delicious meat to serve your guests.

The goal is to reheat the ham without drying it out. The best way to do this is to place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Add water to the bottom of the pan and cover the whole thing tightly with foil. Bake at 325F for 16-20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer registers 135F.

Place the ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of the ham. (It should not touch the bone of a bone-in ham.) Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until ham registers the desired temperature (140°F for pre-cooked ham).

Cover it in Foil

The foil traps steam and keeps the meat moist. You don't have to wrap the aluminum foil tightly around the ham because you'll want to be able to check on it later. Instead, simply cover the ham with the foil, tucking it under the lip of the roasting pan.

Since the ham comes from the grocery store pre-cooked, this is an easy extra step that results in major flavor. Plus, it gives it that gorgeous glossy, lacquered look that just screams holiday ham!

If you don't cover your ham while cooking it will quickly dry out. Instead: Put some aluminum foil over your ham while it's cooking. It is recommended that the ham is covered for at least half of the cooking process and only removed during the last half when you glaze it.