Quick and Easy Ham and Pasta Salad

• 1 lb small shell pasta
• 8 oz ham, cubed small
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 bunch of green onions, sliced thin w/ half of the greens
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• Salt & pepper to taste

How to make Pasta Salad with Ham

Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and rinse with cold water until cool.

In a large bowl stir together the ham, cheese, and green onions.

Add half of the pasta and mayonnaise, stir until well combined.

Stir in the remaining pasta and mayonnaise.

Add salt and pepper to taste serve and enjoy!

Tips for making Pasta Salad with Ham

Since this is a super simple recipe to make, there really aren’t a ton of tips to consider. But I have learned a few things from the years of making this that I’m happy to pass along. 

• Don’t overcook your pasta – Follow the directions on the pasta box and follow. If you overcook, the pasta shells are going to be mushy. 
• Try different textures with the ham – Cubed ham is my favorite but you can try shredded ham as well. (and if you happen to have ham leftover, just chop it up and add it in!) 
• Cut down on the portion of mayo added – This is more of a personal preference but if you’re not super excited about the amount of mayonnaise in the recipe, cut down on it and see what you think about the texture and taste. 

Ways to Vary Ham Pasta Salad

I’m also a fan of trying new things in recipes, too. Since I know that I love it this way, there are times when I like to branch out and try different flavors. 

I’ve added in cooked peas and really loved the taste and texture. The thing to keep in mind with peas is that you DO NOT want to add in canned peas as they’re too mushy. Frozen peas cooked in the microwave first are what you want to add. You can also put the frozen peas in a bowl of hot water to thaw them out.

You can also add a squirt of mustard to this dish, too. And if you like heat, a few dashes of cayenne pepper will really go a long way. 

If you like a sweet taste, substitute a small amount of the mayo with poppy seed salad dressing.  I do this too in my chicken salad.  Maybe try about 1/4 cup to start off.

Last, but not least, chopping up some dill pickles and adding them in can be a fun flavor twist, too. They’re a nice crunch and salt addition that really taste great. (you can use sweet pickles or bread and butter pickles for this as well.)

How to store leftover pasta salad

I actually get pretty excited if I have enough pasta salad leftover to enjoy the next day. This is one of those recipes that really hits its peak flavor about 2 days after making it. There’s something about the combination of flavors that continues to get stronger and I love being able to enjoy it for a few days in a row. 

Make certain that you store the pasta in the fridge in an airtight container. Since you don’t have to worry about reheating this simple pasta dish, you can literally take off the lid, grab a fork or spoon, and dig right in! 

Get ready to love this pasta recipe as I do. It’s fast, simple, and crazy flavorful. This is going to be one of your favorite side dish recipes to make for all your family and friends.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

• PARMESAN PASTA CHICKEN BAKE
• Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
• Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese In The Crockpot