Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad Recipe

Creamy and savory ham and cheese pasta salad recipe made with rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, and a tangy dressing — perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or easy meal prep.

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Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 10

Chilling: 2

Total Time: 2 25

Servings: servings

Calories: 350kcal

Cost: $12

Equipment

1 Large mixing bowl At least 5-quart size for tossing ingredients easily
1 Sharp Chef’s Knife For chopping vegetables and dicing ham evenly
1 Fine-mesh strainer For draining and rinsing pasta thoroughly
1 Whisk To blend dressing until smooth
1 Large serving spoon For mixing and serving the salad

Ingredients

Main Components

1 pound rotini pasta or penne pasta
2 cups diced ham honey ham preferred
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese room temperature for better mixing
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Fresh Vegetables

1 whole red bell pepper diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
0.5 whole red onion finely chopped
0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped

Seasonings

1 teaspoon garlic powder
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
0.5 teaspoon paprika
salt to taste

Instructions

Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente; drain and rinse under cold water; cool completely in a large mixing bowl.
In a bowl, whisk mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika until smooth; season with salt.
Add cooled pasta, diced ham, shredded cheese, and vegetables to the large bowl; pour in dressing gradually; toss gently until coated.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving; stir before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition