Ham and Pea Pasta Salad Recipe

Ham and pea pasta salad offers a spin on my macaroni salad. Ham and peas add plenty of protein to macaroni salad so it is like a bit of an upgrade on the filling and fulfilling side of a typical pasta salad.

The key to a good pasta salad is the pasta. You need to make sure the pasta is cooked al dente. Even a little bit overcooked then you end up a mushy mess.

No one likes overcooked pasta, and especially not in a cold pasta salad. It already soaks up significant amounts of the sauce and softens more the longer it chills, so keep that in mind. 

The idea is to pull the pasta as soon as it is cooked through to the point where it is no longer crunchy. But that usually isn't enough. In this case, you need to stop the pasta from cooking further as it sits, so running it under cool water to rinse it is a good trick to keep up your sleeve.

The cool water rinses off the extra starchiness and it stops the noodles from continuing to cook too. Bonus!

Why You'll Love This Dish

• Make-Ahead Friendly - Tastes better after chilling, so it's stress-free for parties.
• Creamy With A Tangy Kick - Mayo, sour cream, vinegar, and Dijon keep it balanced.
• Hearty Enough For Lunch - Ham, eggs, and cheese make it filling.
• Classic Picnic Flavor - Sweet-tang dressing and simple mix-ins feel familiar.
• Easy To Customize - Change the cheese, add crunch, or swap pasta shapes.

Recipe Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Small Shell Pasta - Holds dressing in the curves; elbows or rotini work too.
• Hard-Boiled Eggs - Adds richness and that classic deli-salad feel; slice or chop depending on texture you want.
• Celery - Crunch and freshness that balances the creamy dressing.
• Diced Ham - Salty, savory protein; leftover holiday ham is perfect here.
• Fresh Peas - Sweet pop and bright color; thawed frozen peas are an easy swap.
• White Cheddar Cheese - Sharp bite that stands up to the dressing; Swiss or Colby-Jack work too.
• Sour Cream - Adds tang and keeps the dressing from tasting too heavy.
• Mayonnaise - Creamy base that coats the pasta; use your favorite brand.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - Brightens the dressing; white vinegar works in a pinch.
• Dijon Mustard - Adds zip and depth; yellow mustard works, just a little milder.
• Sugar - Balances the vinegar and mustard; honey works too.
• Salt - Pulls all the flavors together.
• Garlic Powder - Savory background flavor without overpowering.
• Onion Powder - Adds that deli-style onion note without chunks.
• Celery Seed - Classic pasta-salad seasoning that pairs with ham and mayo.

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How To Make This Recipe

This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Cook The Pasta: Boil well-salted water and cook shells until al dente. Rinse with cold water and drain well.
2. Mix The Dressing: Stir together sour cream, mayo, vinegar, Dijon, sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and celery seed until smooth.
3. Combine Main Ingredients: Add pasta, ham, peas, celery, and cheddar to a large bowl.
4. Dress The Salad: Stir in dressing until everything is evenly coated.
5. Fold In Eggs And Chill: Gently fold in sliced eggs. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

You need more PASTA in your life.

Recipe FAQ

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More Pasta Salad Recipes

Ham and pea pasta salad works for brunch, lunch, or dinner. You can do it as a side or a main. Here are a few more recipes to check out for pasta salad ideas.

• Caprese pasta salad
• BLT pasta salad
• Orzo salmon pasta salad
• Greek pasta salad

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