Name: Pasta Salad with Ham
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 277 min
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups of dry rotini pasta; 1 cup diced smoked ham; 1/2 cup frozen petite peas; 4 oz cubed Muenster cheese; 1 medium yellow pepper; 1 small red onion; 2 Roma tomatoes; 2 green onions; 1 cup mayonnaise; 3/4 cup low fat half & half; 1/8 tsp each dry dill (garlic powder and celery salt); 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar; 1 Tbsp Italian parsley; 1 Tbsp lemon juice; salt & black pepper to your taste

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This Pasta Salad with Ham features peas and Muenster cheese making it a terrific use for leftover holiday ham.

pasta-salad-with-ham-peas-muenster-cheese

Pasta Salad with Ham Peas and Muenster Cheese

There are endless possibilities and flavor combinations when it comes to pasta salads. In this one, I chose to use rotini pasta, smoked ham, petite peas, and tiny cubes of Muenster cheese. The dressing is creamy and slightly sweet. As with any dish like this one you can use whatever cheese you have handy or your personal preference.

Serving Option for Pasta Salad with Ham

I usually serve it as a side dish but, because it includes a smoked ham and Muenster cheese, it could also be enjoyed as a light lunch or dinner on a hot Summer day. When my schedule is super packed and conflicting sporting events between my sons cause us to pass like ships in the night, this is the kind of salad that I can have in the fridge and it can be made into a meal in a snap.

Other Pasta Salad Recipes to Try:

Pasta Salad with Chicken as an entrée or a side dish.
Take the flavor of pizza and turn them into this Pizza Pasta Salad.
Wing inspired Buffalo Chicken Salad.
You may also like this Easy Baked Rotini from a Mindful Mom.

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Pasta Salad with Ham

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time12 mins

Chill time4 hrs

Total Time4 hrs 37 mins

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pasta-salad-recipes, pasta-salad-with-ham

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 376kcal

Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

2 ½ cups of dry rotini pasta
1 cup diced smoked ham
½ cup frozen petite peas
4 oz cubed Muenster cheese
1 medium yellow pepper
1 small red onion
2 Roma tomatoes
2 green onions
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup low fat half & half
⅛ teaspoon each dry dill garlic powder and celery salt
1 ½ tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon Italian parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
salt & black pepper to your taste

Instructions

Boil the pasta in salted water per the directions on the package until al dente. Drain well.
Stir the frozen peas into the hot pasta.
Dice the ham, cheese, red onion, yellow pepper, green onions and tomatoes.
Set the tomatoes and cheese cubes aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Season with salt and black pepper to your taste, then add the chopped ham and veggies reserving a few green onion tops for garnishing.
Do not add the tomatoes or cheese at this point. Mix well.
Pour the pasta and peas into the mixing bowl with the dressing. Stir until fully combined.
Place into the refrigerator to allow the pasta to cool for around 15 minutes.
Add the chopped tomatoes and cubed cheese.
Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
Chill for at least 3 hours before serving.

Notes

I recommend waiting until the pasta has cooled to add the chopped tomatoes and cheese cubes. This will prevent the tomatoes from watering down the dressing and it won't affect the texture of the cheese.

Nutrition

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