Ham Pasta Salad
This flavor-packed Ham Pasta Salad is a quick and easy make-ahead dish perfect for any BBQ, potluck party or easy weeknight meal prep. It’s also a delicious and creative way to use up any leftover ham after a holiday meal for lunch the next day.
Macaroni salad is so unbelievably nostalgic, isn’t it? Everyone has their favorite version, and this Ham Pasta Salad is about to become one of yours. It’s a tasty, kicked-up twist on the classic macaroni salad we all know and love, plus it’s the perfect way to use up that leftover spiral ham you’ve got in your fridge or freezer from the holidays. We love a leftover, but we love a new use for a leftover even more!
Tender, smokey ham is diced up and mixed together with crunchy, colorful veggies, then mixed with a creamy, tangy dressing for the ultimate side. This Pasta Salad With Ham is a real showstopper and full of familiar ingredients too, so my whole family loves it – especially my kids. Mac salad is always the first to go when it’s served at a cookout or for entertaining, and believe me when I say this one goes fast.
If you like this delicious pasta salad, try some of our other easy side dish recipes. This tasty Taco Pasta Salad is always a hit and we love this colorful Cobb Pasta Salad, too.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great Use For Leftover Ham: Pasta salad is a great way to use up and repurpose leftover ham. It’s a new, tasty way to enjoy the classic, smoked protein.
- Easy To Make-Ahead: Prep this pasta salad ahead of time and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. It’s easy to make in advance and bring with you to a party, or to entertain with.
- Customizable: This pasta salad can easily be customized with your favorite add-ins and ingredients. Use whatever you have in your fridge, or what your family likes.
Ingredients
- Macaroni: Elbows are the classic choice, but use any short cut, tube pasta. It’ll hold the dressing the best
- Ham: Cooked and diced, the smoky star of the show here.
- Mayonnaise: Tangy and rich for the dressing.
- Sour Cream: Adds a rich creaminess.
- Corn: Fresh or frozen works. Just be sure to thaw and drain.
- Red Onion: Adds a nice aromatic bite.
- Pickled Jalapeños and Juice: An acidic heat and tanginess for the dressing.
- Yellow Mustard: Sharp and tangy, a signature cookout flavor.
- Lime Juice: A bright squeeze of citrus brings everything together,. Apple cider vinegar would also work.
- Cilantro: Bright and peppery for a fresh finish.
How To Make Ham Pasta Salad
1. Cook the macaroni in well-salted water according to package directions until just tender. Drain, rinse with cold water, and let cool completely.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lime juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
3. Add the cooled macaroni, diced ham, corn, red onion, and jalapeños (if using).
4. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated. Add jalapeño juice for extra tang if desired.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
7. Garnish with cilantro if desired and serve chilled.
Expert Tips
- Salt the Pasta Water: Season the water generously before adding the pasta. It’s the first chance you have to flavor the noodles. Use more than you think you need, I promise it’s not too much!
- Mix Once the Pasta has Cooled: Let the pasta cool completely before mixing everything together. This way the veggies will stay crunchy and the dressing will stay smooth. It’s the key to the best flavor and texture all around.
- Dice Evenly: Cube the ham evenly so it’s similar in size to the other ingredients. This will create the most balanced bites.
- Chill Before Serving: Let the pasta salad chill and rest for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Variations
- Add Extra Protein: Add in hard-boiled eggs for more protein, extra flavor and another classic pasta salad ingredient.
- Swap Mayo for Greek Yogurt: It’ll still be rich, thick and creamy, but with a slight tang. You can even use half and half for a combination.
- Try Honey Mustard: Instead of Dijon, for a bit of a sweeter pasta salad.
- Add Pickles or Relish: For an extra acidic tang.
- Use A Vinaigrette: Instead of creamy, mayonnaise based dressing, opt for a lighter, brighter pasta salad. Olive oil mixed with your favorite vinegar and a squeeze of honey, or your favorite store-bought dressing brand works perfectly.
What To Serve with Ham Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is delicious on it’s own, but if you want to turn it into more of a meal, we like to serve it alongside one of the below, whether it’s for an quick dinner or for entertaining friends and family:
Storage
This is a great leftovers dish. Store pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. When you’re ready to serve again, refresh it with a spoonful of mayonnaise or a small splash of milk.
You can make this pasta salad ahead of time, too. Assemble and mix together in advance, cover tightly or store in an airtight container in the fridge, then bring to room temperature once you’re ready to serve.
We don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad, as it could change the texture of the pasta once thawed.
FAQs
Absolutely, this is the perfect make-ahead dish. Assemble the pasta salad, mix everything together, and store in the fridge in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve. It actually gets better as it sits and the flavors meld!
Elbow macaroni is the classic pasta salad shape, but any short-cut, tube pasta works great to hold the dressing. Cavatappi or or any spiral pasta, or mezze rigatoni, bowties or wagon wheels would be nice too.
You can definitely make this without the mayo. Sub in greek yogurt instead, for a tangier flavor. Or skip mayonnaise and the cream base all together and use a vinaigrette for a lighter pasta salad.
More Easy Side Dish Recipes
- Maple Glazed Carrots
- Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes (slow cooker)
- Caesar Tortellini Salad
- Simple Sweet Potato Casserole
Classic Ham Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cooked ham diced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream or Mexican crema
- 1 cup corn kernels canned, frozen & thawed, or fresh
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- 1 –2 tablespoons pickled jalapeños finely chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon jalapeño juice optional but recommended
- 1 –2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon lime juice or apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional garnish: chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni in well-salted water according to package directions until just tender. Drain, rinse with cold water, and let cool completely.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lime juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Add the cooled macaroni, diced ham, corn, red onion, and jalapeños (if using).
- Stir gently until everything is evenly coated. Add jalapeño juice for extra tang if desired.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish with cilantro if desired and serve chilled.
Notes
- Store pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. When you’re ready to serve again, refresh with a spoonful of mayonnaise or a small splash of milk.
- Make this pasta salad ahead of time: mix together in advance, cover tightly or store in an airtight container in the fridge, then bring to room temperature once ready to serve.
