Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad is a simple but delicious creamy dish made with peas, ham, onion and cheddar cheese in a lemon and mayo dressing.
This easy Side Dish is perfect to serve up with your favorite Summer Recipes. Whether you up the grill or take it on a picnic, this twist on classic Pasta Salad is sure to be a favorite!
Sabrina’s Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad Recipe
I’ve got a lot of pasta salads on this site, but hands down this Ham and Cheese version has been a favorite, especially with kids. It’s no wonder. It has the classic flavor combo of a deli ham and sharp cheddar sandwich, but swaps the bread for pasta and adds a couple veggies then everything is tossed in a creamy lemon mayo dressing. Trust me, this is a winning recipe the whole family will love. It’s also an easy lunch to make during the holidays when you have leftover ham!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 8 ounces medium pasta shells , cooked and drained
- 12 ounces frozen peas , thawed
- 1/2 pound diced ham , about 2 cups
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese , diced
- 1/4 red onion , minced
Instructions
- In a large bowl whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Add in pasta, peas, ham, cheese, and onion and toss well.
- Refrigerate, covered, for 2 hours before serving.
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Nutrition
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Table of contents
About this Recipe
As much as most kids love this pasta salad it’s also been a favorite with the adults who’ve tried it. The tangy lemon dressing, frozen peas, and onion elevate the flavor so it doesn’t taste like your average cold deli salad. It’s a great dish to bring to a potluck, family reunion, or cookout because it’s always a huge hit. Depending on how many people you’re feeding, you may want to double up this recipe because it goes fast!
How to Make
Time needed: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Prep time
Make sure to take the peas from the freezer several hours before starting the recipe. That way they have time to thaw before you mix them in the pasta salad. You’ll also need to cook and drain the pasta before starting the recipe.
- Combine ingredients
In a large serving bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Continue mixing until the dressing is well combined. Add the cooked pasta, thawed peas, ham, cheddar cheese, and onion to the same bowl. Toss the salad together until the ingredients are all coated in dressing.
- Refrigerate
Don’t serve right away. Cover and put it in the fridge for at least 2 hours so everything has time to set and the flavors develop.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely, in fact the dressing tastes even better after chilling overnight. The bonus is, if you make too much and end up with leftovers this dish keeps well in the fridge. The leftovers make a great lunch or even dinner for days when you don’t want to cook. Just cover it tightly and continue to enjoy the pasta salad for the next few days.
Nutritional Facts
How to Store
- Serve: Don’t leave this pasta salad at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you’re at a BBQ or some event that will last longer, put the bowl in a cooler or a dish with ice to keep it cold.
- Store: Kept tightly covered or in an airtight container, you can store leftover salad in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Freeze: Unfortunately, the mayonnaise in the dressing means the salad won’t freeze well. Better to make a fresh batch.
Variations
- Pasta: Don’t have shell pasta? No worries! you can easily exchange the shell noodles for penne, rigatoni, elbow macaroni, or any other short pasta. This salad recipe is easy to adjust for whatever ingredients you have in your pantry.
- Protein: You can always add some extra protein like cooked chicken, turkey, or canned tuna. You could also swap out the ham with one of those options. Sprinkling some bacon bits over the top would also be delicious.
- Cheese: You can replace the cheddar cheese with Swiss, provolone, pepper jack, or Gouda.
- Yogurt: If you want to lighten up this creamy salad, use plain Greek yogurt in place of half of the mayonnaise. It keeps a similar texture and only slightly alters the taste of the overall salad.
Related Recipes
More Creamy Pasta Salad Recipes
Photos used in a previous version of this post.
