This slow cooker Amish-style chicken broth ham pasta is the kind of comforting, no-fuss supper that earns a regular spot in a busy family meal rotation. The spiral ham slowly warms and flavors the broth as it cooks, and when it’s paired with tender pasta and a simple creamy finish, you get a rich, cozy dish with very little hands-on work. It has that hearty, practical feel of old-fashioned country cooking, where a few humble ingredients come together into something that tastes like you worked much harder than you did.
Serve this with buttered green beans, sweet peas, or a simple cucumber salad to balance the richness of the ham and pasta. Warm dinner rolls or a slice of crusty bread are especially nice for soaking up the savory broth, and if you want to round it out for company, a dish of applesauce or a crisp slaw makes a lovely sweet-and-tangy pairing.
Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Amish Chicken Broth Ham Pasta
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 spiral ham, about 6 to 7 pounds
4 cups chicken broth
12 ounces egg noodles or wide pasta
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
Directions
1. Place the spiral ham into the slow cooker, cut side down if needed to fit, and pour the chicken broth evenly over the top.
2. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, until the ham is hot and tender and has flavored the broth well.
3. Carefully remove the ham and slice or shred enough meat to make the pasta hearty, then return the ham pieces to the slow cooker broth.
4. Cook the egg noodles separately according to the package directions until just tender, then drain them well.
5. Stir the cream cheese into the hot broth and ham until melted and smooth, then fold in the cooked noodles until everything is coated. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
For picky eaters: Chop the ham into smaller bite-size pieces so it mixes more evenly through the noodles. That way every forkful gets a little ham without any large chunks that kids might want to pick around.
Make it extra creamy: If your family likes a silkier sauce, add an extra 2 to 4 ounces of cream cheese or a small splash of milk when you stir everything together. This helps turn the broth into more of a creamy coating for the pasta.
Use leftover ham: If you already have cooked ham on hand, you can use about 4 to 5 cups of sliced or diced ham instead of a whole spiral ham. Reduce the slow cooker time since you’re mainly just warming and flavoring the broth.
Add vegetables: Stir in thawed peas or a handful of steamed carrots right before serving for a little color and sweetness. It’s an easy way to round out supper without making another full side dish.
Watch the salt: Ham and broth can both be salty, so taste before adding any extra seasoning. In most cases, this dish does not need additional salt at all.