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Need a cold salad for summer picnics? This Ham and Pea Pasta Salad is one of the best summer salads with tender spiral pasta, ham, sweet green peas, all smothered in a seasoned creamy dressing.
Ham and Pea Pasta Salad Recipe (Cold Pasta Salad)
If you’re familiar with Ruby Tuesday’s pasta salad them you might recognize this ham & peas pasta salad. I have never had their pasta salad, so this recipe is not necessarily a copycat recipe, but it’s similar in the way that there is ham, peas, pasta, in a creamy dressing which I guess is what they’re “known for”.
Ham and pea pasta salad is a great side dish and a great recipe for leftover ham. It’s hearty enough on it’s own so it makes a great dish for summer picnics, and it’s easy to transport.
Ingredients Needed
Ham Pea Pasta Salad Ingredients
- Rotini Pasta : This spiral shaped pasta is the base of this pasta salad. It’s spiral shape holds the dressing well, ensuring each bite is flavorful and creamy.
- Frozen Peas : Adds a pop of sweetness and vibrant green color to balance the savory flavors. Frozen peas are preferred because they are firmer and hold their shape, and they will have that bright green color (whereas canned peas are much darker in color and softer in texture).
- Ham : Use leftover ham, leftover holiday ham, chopped deli ham, cubed ham, any kind of ham works great. The salty ham offers the perfect balance to the pasta, sweet peas, and creamy dressing.
Creamy Dressing Ingredients
- Mayonnaise : I recommend using full-fat mayo because its creaminess and flavor are much better in pasta salads versus the reduced-fat lighter mayonnaise. I love the Duke’s brand or Hellmen’s brand.
- Sour Cream : Again, full-fat sour cream is best.
- Dijon Mustard : Brings depth and a slight zing to the creamy dressing.
- Apple Cider Vinegar : Offers some acidity to balance the richness of the dressing.
- Granulated Sugar : A pinch of sugar rounds out the tangy and savory flavors.
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
How To Make Ham Pasta Salad With Peas (Printable Recipe Card)
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, or softer if preferred. Drain pasta in a colander and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set the drained pasta aside for later.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper until fully combined and creamy. Set the dressing aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, diced or chopped ham, and thawed green peas. Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture and gently stir together until everything is evenly coated.
Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend. Serve chilled and enjoy!
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigeration : Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir before serving to redistribute the dressing. The pasta will soak up the dressing the longer it’s in the fridge, so you may want to add a bit more mayo or splash of milk to moisten things back up.
- Make-Ahead Instructions : This salad can be made the day before serving. I would recommend reserving a small portion of the salad dressing to mix in just before serving, to prevent the pasta salad from drying out.
Recipe Tips For Success
- When cooking the pasta, cook to al dente or slightly softer, depending on preference. Note that the pasta will soften slightly after absorbing the dressing in the fridge (for the minimum 1 hour chill time) so overcooked pasta could turn mushy. I prefer cooking the pasta 1 minute past the al dente time listed on the box.
- Allowing the pasta salad to chill in the fridge for 1 hour before serving will enhance the flavors, ensure every bite is well seasoned, and chill the pasta salad for serving. I don’t recommend keeping it in the fridge for too long before serving, or else the dressing will become thicker and it won’t be as creamy for serving. I think anywhere from 1-4 hours is good for the chill time before serving it.
- I recommend only using frozen peas, that have been thawed completely, for this pasta salad recipe. Canned peas are softer, mushier in texture, and have a much darker green/gray color to them which won’t do well in the salad. Frozen peas are firmer, have better texture, and have a pretty bright green color to them.
- If you prefer a really creamy pasta salad then try .5x the dressing recipe.
- For the best flavor I recommend using full-fat sour cream and mayonnaise.
More Cold Pasta Salads To Try
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Cheeseburger Pasta Salad
- Coleslaw Pasta Salad
- Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Grinder Sandwich Pasta Salad
Ham and Pea Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Ham and Pea Pasta Salad
- 1 box (16 oz) rotini pasta
- 1½ cups diced ham
- 1 cup frozen peas completely thawed
Creamy Dressing
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, or softer if preferred. Drain pasta in a colander and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set the drained pasta aside for later.1 box (16 oz) rotini pasta
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper until fully combined and creamy. Set the dressing aside.3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, diced or chopped ham, and thawed green peas. Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture and gently stir together until everything is evenly coated.1½ cups diced ham, 1 cup frozen peas
- Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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