Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
⬇️ Recipe ⬇️ or PRINT: recipetineats.com/coquillettes-au-jambon-french-macaroni-and-cheese-with-ham
Hi guys, it's JB here! A proper stovetop mac & cheese, the French way. Silky cheese sauce (Mornay sauce) and bits of ham. It’s smooth, creamy, and comes together fast. The sauce stays loose and glossy, coating every piece of pasta without turning heavy. Finish with a crack of black pepper on top and you’re set. Let’s go! - JB
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Coquillettes au Jambon / French Macaroni and Cheese with Ham
Serves 5
500g elbow pasta / macaroni
1 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt, for pasta water (half for table salt)
200g ham off the bone slices, diced 1cm / 0.4"
CHEESE SAUCE:
75g / 5 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup plain flour / all-purpose flour
3 cups milk, full fat preferred (works with lite)
1 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (half for table salt)
3/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
150g / 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, shredded sing a standard box grater (tightly packed if using cups), or other good melting cheese
1/2 cup pasta cooking water
1.Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to packet instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain and rinse briefly under cold water. Set aside.
2.Heat milk in a saucepan until steaming but not boiling. Set aside.
3.Melt butter in the pasta pot over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 2 minutes until smooth and glossy (don’t brown).
4.Add half the hot milk while whisking vigorously until thick. Slowly pour in the remaining milk while whisking until smooth and lump-free.
5.Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
6.Add Gruyère and whisk until fully melted.
7.Add ham and stir to combine.
8.Pour in 1/2 cup pasta water, stir and bring to a light simmer until silky and slightly loose.
9.Add pasta and toss until fully coated. Adjust with more pasta water if needed.
10.Serve immediately while hot and creamy. Finish with black pepper. Enjoy!
#coquillettesaujambon #frenchmacandcheese #macandcheese #maccaroniandcheese #recipetineats #chefjb #frenchcuisine #frenchchef #frenchrecipes #frenchfood
⬇️ Recipe ⬇️ or PRINT: recipetineats.com/coquillettes-au-jambon-french-macaroni-and-cheese-with-ham
Hi guys, it's JB here! A proper stovetop mac & cheese, the French way. Silky cheese sauce (Mornay sauce) and bits of ham. It’s smooth, creamy, and comes together fast. The sauce stays loose and glossy, coating every piece of pasta without turning heavy. Finish with a crack of black pepper on top and you’re set. Let’s go! - JB
-----------
Coquillettes au Jambon / French Macaroni and Cheese with Ham
Serves 5
500g elbow pasta / macaroni
1 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt, for pasta water (half for table salt)
200g ham off the bone slices, diced 1cm / 0.4"
CHEESE SAUCE:
75g / 5 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup plain flour / all-purpose flour
3 cups milk, full fat preferred (works with lite)
1 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (half for table salt)
3/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
150g / 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, shredded sing a standard box grater (tightly packed if using cups), or other good melting cheese
1/2 cup pasta cooking water
1.Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to packet instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain and rinse briefly under cold water. Set aside.
2.Heat milk in a saucepan until steaming but not boiling. Set aside.
3.Melt butter in the pasta pot over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 2 minutes until smooth and glossy (don’t brown).
4.Add half the hot milk while whisking vigorously until thick. Slowly pour in the remaining milk while whisking until smooth and lump-free.
5.Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
6.Add Gruyère and whisk until fully melted.
7.Add ham and stir to combine.
8.Pour in 1/2 cup pasta water, stir and bring to a light simmer until silky and slightly loose.
9.Add pasta and toss until fully coated. Adjust with more pasta water if needed.
10.Serve immediately while hot and creamy. Finish with black pepper. Enjoy!
#coquillettesaujambon #frenchmacandcheese #macandcheese #maccaroniandcheese #recipetineats #chefjb #frenchcuisine #frenchchef #frenchrecipes #frenchfood
