Low-Carb Pasta with Ham and Peas

Low-Carb Spaghetti with Ham and Peas

Are you looking for a springtime dish that has a salty, savory kick? Low-carb pasta with ham and peas is about to be your new favorite dish! This easy recipe is delicious!

Sweet, tender peas combined with smokey, salty ham steak create the perfect pasta topping. It’s Skinny Spaghetti is the ideal noodle for this dish—with zero net carbs and a great texture. If you’re looking for a pasta dish that’s out of the ordinary, this one is it!

Ham & Peas: A Delicious Combo

Peas and ham are a unique but classic pair. We might not always think of them together, but pea soup with ham is one of the oldest foods on record.

Many cultures have a variation of peas or legumes combined with pork or another type of cured meat. It turns out that this dish was easy to make, especially in the winter months. Dried legumes like split peas, lentils, and green peas were easily rehydrated. Salty, smoked, cured meat provides extra savory texture and taste.

Using fresh or frozen sweet peas elevates this dish to a springtime delight. Butter, lemon, and basil create a silky sauce that goes well with the herbaceous peas and savory ham.

Peas have long been thought of as a springtime food. They are one of the first veggies ready to harvest in the early months. Frozen peas have often been picked and immediately frozen, making them extra fresh and sweet. If peas rest too long after harvesting, they can lose their sweetness, so frozen peas may actually be a more flavorful choice.

As for basil, it's another springtime plant. Basil has a sweet, herbal, slightly licoricey flavor. There are hints of spice, too, making it a very complex addition to any dish. When combined here with peas and ham, the basil works really well.

What type of ham goes best with this dish? You could use ham steaks or any variety of thick-sliced ham. Prosciutto would also be fine in this dish if you prefer. The ham adds a lot of flavor and texture, so it’s worth getting a nice selection from your local butcher or deli for this pasta dinner. 

Low-carb pasta with ham and peas is a recipe that combines just a few simple ingredients. With a recipe like this, it’s a good idea to find the highest quality option you can. Use fresh basil, real butter, and high-quality ham.

The best part is that you can make this dish fast. Peas cook quickly, and the ham is pre-cooked as well. In no time flat, you’ll have a satisfying classic—pasta with ham and peas.

The Low-Down on It’s Skinny

It’s Skinny is the secret to making any pasta dish low-carb friendly. If you’re following keto or another low-carb diet, then It’s Skinny is a surefire way to success. You can “low-carb hack” pasta recipes with It’s Skinny Pasta and It’s Skinny Rice-Shape.

Take your favorite pasta dish, rice recipe, or noodle bowl and swap in zero net carb It’s Skinny. You’ll cut the carbohydrates out, lower the calories (It’s Skinny has only 9 per two-serving pack), and makeover the dish in a delicious, lightened-up way.

It’s Skinny is a special kind of pasta, known as shirataki. Some shirataki pastas and rice-shapes have a strong aftertaste or strange texture, but not It's Skinny! We've carefully formulated our pasta and rice-shape to be delicious, spot-on, and easy to work with. It takes on the dish's other flavors and incorporates into any recipe seamlessly.

It's Skinny is easy to use, too. There's no waiting for pasta water to boil or trying to get the perfect al dente texture. Instead, you open the pack, drain, rinse, and add it to your other ingredients at the end of cooking. In 2-3 minutes, you have an easy, quick pasta dish perfect for busy weeknights.

Curious about It’s Skinny? Try any of our varieties:

• Spaghetti
• Fettuccine
• Angel Hair
• Rice-Shape

Or try them all with a variety pack! We have traditional and organic styles. Our gluten-free, low-carb noodles and rice-shape are perfect for any lifestyle or diet. This ham and pea pasta recipe is a great place to start. The flavors are familiar, delicious, and comforting!

If you need ideas for easy weeknight dinners, explore our database of healthy recipes. You'll find your next delicious meal with It's Skinny. 

Exploring Ham & Pea Pasta Variations

Wondering how to make this recipe your own? Prefer to swap out an ingredient? When it comes to cooking, we say there are no hard and fast rules. Have fun and play around! Here are some of our most common questions about low-carb pasta with ham and peas.

Can I add cheese to this dish?

You can absolutely add cheese to this ham and pea pasta dish! What kind of cheese? Well, that’s really up to your personal preferences. Cheddar is a classic, but parmesan cheese works perfectly as a pasta topping. You could try mozzarella or even a little ricotta or cream cheese for a creamy sauce.

While this ham and pea pasta gets a little creaminess from the butter, you can add more with cheese or even a splash of heavy cream or whole milk for creamy ham pasta. Season with black pepper and salt to taste (keep in mind that the ham will add saltiness already).

What other vegetables could I add to this meal?

We kept this recipe simple with shallots, peas, and basil, but if you're hoping to get a few more veggies in your diet, you could certainly run through the garden and add anything you like. Asparagus is a particularly lovely addition, playing on the flavors of spring. Fresh garlic is another great choice.

Other vegetables that could work well include zucchini, leaks, mushrooms, and even sautéed red bell pepper. You could use green onion if you like. Add some wilted spinach, too. Basil strikes the right balance, but thyme, oregano, or fresh parsley also play well with these flavors. Add some red pepper flakes if you'd like a kick.

Can I skip the ham?

Whether you want to make a vegetarian version of this dish or prefer to go porkless, you can definitely omit the diced ham. Smoked salmon plays well with the other flavors and has many of the salty, savory, and smoky qualities of ham. Regular oven-roasted salmon is another option.

You could also enjoy this dish with bacon instead of ham (turkey bacon would work well). Again, look for protein with similar flavors to ham's cured richness. Sausage would be a good choice here if used in moderation. Prosciutto is also an excellent option. You don't need to buy a special ham, either. That leftover holiday ham (spiral ham, for example) would be great here.

Low-Carb Pasta with Peas and Ham Recipe

If you're ready to try this recipe, let's go! It comes together very fast, without much effort or prep time. You can easily make this for lunch or a quick dinner with plenty of time to spare. You can make this low-carb pasta with ham and peas any time with just a few simple ingredients. It's fancy enough for a Sunday dinner (served with a green salad), but it's easy enough for the next time you feel like a low-effort meal.

Watch Chef Michele make this low carb ham and pea spaghetti on the It's Skinny YouTube Channel!