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Ham Pasta Salad is an easy and tasty summer salad filled with ham, cheese, peas, pasta and a delicious dressing. This will be the most popular summer salad at your next potluck, BBQ, or picnic!
We all LOVE a good pasta salad in this house! This Ham Pasta Salad is a classic macaroni salad that is great for just about any occasion! It is so simple to make and will for sure be a hit with adults and kiddos! This salad is a great make ahead salad too, which makes it even more perfect for your next fun filled occasion. Volunteer to make this salad, you will not be disappointed!
How To Make Ham Pasta Salad
You Will Need
- 7 oz box small pasta, we used rings because the kids love them, but shells or macaroni would work well too
- 1 cup diced ham
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 4 oz mild cheddar cheese, cubed
- 1½ cups mayo or miracle whip - I've used both. We have a split household so I always have both!
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions To Make Ham Pasta Salad
First, you will need to prepare the noodles according to the package directions. I always cook my pasta to al dente. You can cook it to your own preference. After you drain the pasta, give it a good rinse with cold water. Set it aside so it can cool.
Now, in a large bowl, add the ham, peas and cheese. Set that bowl aside.
Next, in a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo or miracle whip, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Give the dressing a taste, add more pepper if you like. Be careful with the salt, as the ham and cheese will be adding more salt when the salad is all combined.
Finally, combine it all together. Add the pasta and the dressing to the ham, peas and cheese and gently fold it all together. Cover the salad and chill until ready to serve.
That's it! Easy peasy and so delicious!
Why you need to rinse pasta for cold salads...
Normally, I would never ever suggest rinsing pasta because the starch helps the sauce adhere to the pasta. However, that rule applies for warm pasta dishes. Rinsing pasta for cold dishes helps stop the cooking process and will also help reduce the temperature of the pasta so it can be combined with the rest of the ingredients sooner rather than later.
Here are some suggestions to serve with your Ham Pasta Salad!
Oven Fried Chicken Legs
Family Favorite Sloppy Joes
Iowa Maid Rites
Grilled Spiced Pork Chops
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Give this classic Ham Pasta Salad recipe a try and let me know how much you and the family enjoy it in the comments below. Pictures encouraged on Instagram with the hashtag #heathershomemadekitchen You can also follow me on Social Media to see what other crazy things my family and I are doing!
Pin the recipe for later!
Ham Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine ham, peas and cheese.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo/miracle whip, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Add the pasta and dressing to the ham, peas, and cheese. Gently fold together until it is mixed thoroughly.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
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