Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad is a simple, yet popular, delicious Pasta Salad with just enough dressing to make it tasty enough for seconds (or thirds ! )

Pasta salads are so versatile. For one, it is quite filling and can easily be served for lunch or as a light dinner.

We usually have this Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad on a Friday night. Especially when the weather is hot and humid.

Something I do not like much about pasta salads, is that the salads are usually doused in dressing, whether it be a Mayonnaise dressing or something else.

The dressing I use in this recipe is just enough to add flavor and to not get the salad buried way under Mayonnaise.

You can of course double or even triple the quantity of dressing if you prefer a moister salad.

When we have guests over, I make an additional batch of the dressing and serve it on the side. That way each guest can help themselves to more (which does happen a lot).

People’s taste are different and whenever I am in doubt (with salads) I always serve either the dressing on the side, or as with this recipe. A little in the salad and a small bowl next to the salad bowl.

The pasta salad itself is very simple, with everyday ingredients. I get a thick cut of Ham from our local deli and chop it into small bite-sized cubes.

But when we had home cooked Ham a day or two before and have some leftovers, I prefer to use that.

Now and then I would also add Pineapple. But only when I am sure the salad will be eaten the same day as I have found the Pineapple makes the salad a little too acidic the next day.

If I do make the salad the night before, I only add the Pineapple the following day. And not more than 2 – 3 hours in advance.

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One other thing about this salad is that you have to let it chill a couple of hours (2 hours at least) in order for all the flavors to really work together.

More Pasta Salad recipes you might like:

• Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
• Shrimp Avocado Pasta Salad
• Bacon and Egg Pasta Salad
• Pizza Pasta Salad
• Strawberry and Salmon Pasta Salad

Ham And Cheese Pasta Salad

Ham And Cheese Pasta Salad

Linda Nortje

Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad is a simple, yet popular, delicious Pasta Salad with just enough dressing to make it tasty enough without having a "doused" salad

4.63 from 112 votes

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Course Salad

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings 8 Servings

Calories 251 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

SALAD:

• 3 cups Macaroni cooked and cooled
• 1 ½ cups Cooked Ham cubed
• 1 ½ cups Gouda Cheese cubed
• ½ cup Spring Onions chopped
• 1 Red Bell Pepper chopped

DRESSING:

• 3 TB Mayonnaise
• 2 TB Olive Oil extra virgin
• 1 TB Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
• ½ t Salt
• ¼ t Black Pepper

Instructions

 

• SALAD: Combine the Pasta, Ham, Cheese, Spring Onions and red Bell Pepper in a large mixing bowl
• DRESSING: Whisk together the Mayonnaise, Oil, Lemon Juice, Salt and Pepper – pour over the Pasta mixture and stir through – cover and chill for at least 2 hours

Notes

ps: If possible, let the salad chill longer – it only makes the salad better !

Nutrition Facts

Ham And Cheese Pasta Salad

Serving Size

 

1 Cup

Amount per Serving

Calories

251

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

15

g

23

%

Saturated Fat

 

5

g

31

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

9

g

Cholesterol

 

41

mg

14

%

Sodium

 

592

mg

26

%

Carbohydrates

 

16

g

5

%

Fiber

 

1.1

g

5

%

Sugar

 

0.7

g

1

%

Protein

 

17.1

g

34

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition value, where given, is not always accurate. Please also check your ingredient labels.

Transfer to a serving bowl and serve chilled.

ps: If possible, let the salad chill longer – it only makes the salad better !

LINDA