Description
This creamy ham and cheese pasta salad is a quick, hearty comfort meal packed with salty ham, sharp cheddar, crunchy veggies, and a luscious tangy dressing. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for potlucks, family dinners, or a satisfying lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 9 oz short pasta (rotini, penne, or shells)
- 7 oz cooked ham, diced
- 4 oz cheddar cheese, diced or shredded
- 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion (optional)
- 1/3 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Fresh parsley or chives, chopped (for garnish, optional)
- 1/2 cup diced pickles or relish (optional)
- 1/2 cup shredded carrot (optional)
- Splash of olive oil (for tossing pasta)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 1 tbsp salt per 3 quarts water).
- Add pasta and cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes for al dente), stirring occasionally.
- While pasta cooks, dice ham and cheddar cheese into small cubes. Chop bell pepper, celery, and red onion finely. Thaw peas in warm water and drain.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until smooth.
- Drain cooked pasta and rinse under cold water until cool. Shake off excess water and toss pasta with a splash of olive oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, ham, cheese, veggies, and peas. Pour in the creamy dressing and toss gently until everything is coated.
- If using pickles, relish, or shredded carrot, add them now and mix.
- Cover salad and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for flavors to meld. (Or serve immediately if needed.)
- Just before serving, garnish with chopped parsley or chives. Taste and adjust salt or pepper as needed.
Notes
For gluten-free, use GF pasta. For vegetarian, substitute ham with chickpeas or roasted mushrooms. Chill salad before serving for best flavor and texture. If salad seems dry after chilling, stir in 1-2 tbsp milk or extra mayo. Reserve some dressing if making ahead. Add pickle juice to dressing for extra zing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 17
Keywords: pasta salad, ham and cheese, creamy salad, comfort food, quick meal, picnic, potluck, easy recipe