Cheesy Ham Pasta Bake

Begin by filling a large container with salted water and placing it on the stovetop to reach its boiling point.

Once the water has reached a rolling boil, submerge macaroni into it uncovered and stir occasionally until it reaches the desired level of tenderness, still retaining a slight firmness to the bite after 8 minutes; drain the excess water.

Next, preheat your oven to a high temperature of 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Grease the interior surface of a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent food from sticking.

Melt butter in a large pan over medium-high heat, then cook and stir diced ham and onion until the onion is softened and tender, taking about 5 minutes; add minced garlic to the pan for an additional 2 minutes before removing it from heat.

Combine cooked macaroni, shredded Cheddar cheese, condensed soup, frozen peas, milk, sour cream, onion powder, and garlic powder in the pan with the ham mixture; mix until everything is well incorporated.

Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to the prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly, taking about 25 minutes; sprinkle crushed French-fried onions over the top of the casserole and continue baking until golden brown, adding a few more minutes to the cooking time.