Ham Pasta Salad combines shell pasta, smoked ham, cheddar cheese, red bell pepper, sweet baby peas, and green onions in a slightly sweet creamy mayonnaise dressing. Enjoy this tasty salad as a main or side dish with all your favorite summer grilling and barbecue recipes.
Serve this easy pasta salad with grilled turkey burgers, grilled pork chops, or oven-baked beef brisket. It is also a delicious and refreshing main-course salad for a hot summer evening.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Mayonnaise: We love Duke’s mayo, but you can use your favorite brand.
- Vinegar: Use apple cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
- Pasta: Any short pasta shape works with this recipe, including shells, penne, elbow macaroni, farfalle, fusilli, and cellentani.
- Ham: Use smoked ham. I like to use a small Frick ham steak.
- Cheese: Use any sharp, mild, smoked, or white cheddar. For a change of flavor, try Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack.
- Baby peas: Use thawed frozen baby peas for the best texture.
How To Make Ham Pasta Salad
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Whisk the mayo, apple cider vinegar, and granulated sugar. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Cook the pasta al dente and drain well.
- Combine the drained pasta, ham, cheddar cheese, red bell pepper, baby peas, and green onions.
- Drizzle with the dressing and toss to coat. Sprinkle with fresh herbs.
Preparation Tips
- Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. Pasta that is not cooked al dente soaks up dressing, and you want the dressing to stay rich and creamy.
- You can mix the dressing up to 48 hours in advance.
- Use a spider strainer to drain the pasta, then transfer it to a well-seasoned baking sheet. See the picture above. This keeps the pasta from sticking to itself in a colander.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
Ham Pasta Salad
Ham Pasta Salad combines shell pasta, smoked ham, cheddar cheese, red bell pepper, sweet baby peas, and green onions in a slightly sweet creamy mayonnaise dressing.
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Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 546kcal
Ingredients
Creamy Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Ham Pasta Salad
- 8 ounces medium pasta shells
- 2 cups diced ham, cut into small cubes
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ¾ cup baby peas
- ¼ cup cup thinly sliced green onions
- ½ tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
Instructions
- Whisk the mayo, apple cider vinegar, and granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. Using a spider strainer, move the cooked pasta to a baking sheet or drain it in a colander.
- Combine the drained pasta, ham, cheddar cheese, red bell pepper, baby peas, and green onions in a large serving bowl.
- Drizzle with the dressing and toss to coat. Sprinkle with fresh thyme.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 546kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 861mg | Potassium: 211mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1043IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 1mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @smalltownwomanfoodnut or tag #smalltownwomanfoodnut!
Sandra
I made this for our first night at the cottage after a long day of traveling. I made the salad and dressing separately the night before. It held up well during travel, and once we were at our destination, it came together super easily. It was very tasty and banished our hunger!
Beth Pierce
So happy that you all liked it. Good to know that it travels well!
Andreia
I need this at my next family bbq. I know 4 people who would absolutely love this on their plate.