This Ham Pasta Salad is loaded with pineapple and veggies. It is a refreshing play on my favorite Hawaiian Pizza flavors (which is not actually Hawaiian at all)!
A quick and easy homemade pineapple dressing is tossed with pasta, ham, and bell peppers for a uniquely delicious side dish!
It’s potluck perfect and makes a great side dish or light meal.
A Fresh and Flavorful Pasta Salad
If you are looking for a pasta salad that’s a little bit different, this ham pasta salad is it!
- Pasta – Use any medium shaped pasta, farfalle, shells, and rotini are favorites.
- Add Ins: In this easy recipe, ham and pineapple are the stars, inspired by flavors on a Hawaiian pizza. Red peppers add crunch and color while green onions add flavor.
- The dressing is a quick creamy pineapple dressing and it’s so good that I always double it for salads (it’s excellent over strawberry spinach salad too).
This recipe is not a Hawaiian dish, and it is not Hawaiian pasta salad like a Macaroni Salad found on a typical Hawaiian Plate Lunch. In a Hawaiian plate lunch, generally, macaroni salad is a tangy combination of mayo & macaroni, sometimes with a few other ingredients. You can find a great Hawaiian macaroni salad here.
The Pineapple Dressing
You can use almost any dressing on pasta salad. This recipe includes a fresh and zesty pineapple dressing. Making homemade dressing is very quick and easy, and the flavor is much better than store-bought dressing.
- Mayonnaise and sour cream are the creamy base
- Pineapple (and a bit of cider vinegar) add tang and freshness
- Dijon and garlic powder add flavor while honey balances out the dressing.
Other Dressing Options
I recommend the homemade dressing, it’s quick and easy! If you’d like to use a bottled dressing for this pasta salad, I would suggest honey mustard dressing, coleslaw dressing, or poppy seed dressing. Something with a bit of sweetness will pair well.
Tips for Pasta Salads
- Don’t overcook the pasta, it will soften as it soaks up the dressing.
- Add extra dressing, as some will be absorbed by the pasta.
- Pasta salad is best made at least a couple of hours ahead of time so the flavors have a chance to blend.
- Season the salad generously.
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Ham & Pineapple Pasta Salad
Ham and pineapple Pasta Salad is a quick and easy side dish. Homemade pineapple dressing is tossed with pasta, ham, and bell peppers for a uniquely delicious salad!
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Chill Time 2 hours hours
Total Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Servings 8 servings
Author Holly Nilsson
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini or bow tie pasta
- 1 can pineapple tidbits (14 ounces) with juice reserved for dressing
- 1 red pepper diced
- 2 cups diced ham
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise or dressing
- ⅓ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
In a large pot, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and run it under cold water to cool.
In a bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth.
In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, ham, pineapple, bell pepper, green onion, and dressing. Gently toss to combine.
Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stir before serving again.
Customize the salad by adding your favorite ingredients, such as cherry tomatoes, additional bell peppers, or cucumbers.
Don’t overcook the pasta, it will soften as it soaks up the dressing. Add extra dressing, as some will be absorbed by the pasta.
4.97 from 94 votes
Nutrition Information
Calories: 241 | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 489mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 570IU | Vitamin C: 26.9mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Pasta, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Categories:
Pasta Salad, Side Dishes
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About the author
Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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