Southern Style Ham Pasta Salad

A great make-ahead entry this Southern Style Pasta Salad Recipe is stuffed with salty ham, cheese and bright, crunchy vegetables! This delicious pasta salad is the perfect side dish for your next BBQ, buffet or your next family gathering! Ham Pasta Salad is easy to make and a real crowd-pleaser.

Next time try this Pasta Salad Recipe - it's filled with fresh vegetables and cheese.

Jump to:

• What makes this recipe irresistible
• Ingredients you’ll need
• Creative variations to try
• Step-by-step instructions
• Essential tools for this recipe
• Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
• Deb’s tips for the perfect dish
• How to store leftovers
• Perfect pairings: what to serve with
• Ham Pasta Salad
• 💭 Recipe backstory

What makes this recipe irresistible

Loads of perfectly cooked pasta, chunks of ham and feta cheese with crunchy fresh vegetables all topped off with a creamy southern-style salad dressing - YUM!!

I love this salad because...

It uses everyday ingredients (in fact you may even have everything you need!) AND It's quick and easy to make! It's the perfect pasta salad and one of my favorite recipes as a side salad and even a main dish for a light lunch! It's yummy!

Ingredients you’ll need

For the exact measurements for the Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

• ham - great source of protein, ham adds salt and deliciousness! Use leftover ham or a ham steak.
• feta cheese - speaking of salty and delicious, crumbly feta cheese is this perfect addition to this salad. In a pinch, you can always substitute cheddar cheese. Hey... anything that saves you a trip to the grocery store, right!
• pasta - cooked to al dente, seashell pasta has plenty of nooks and crannies to hold the creamy dressing! You can use any small shells pasta shape in this recipe.
• red bell pepper or if you'd prefer green pepper, either works!
• green onions - adds light oniony crunch
• broccoli, celery and carrots - add a bright fresh crunch
• red onion - are sweeter and have a less pungent flavor.

Creative variations to try

You can really put any combination of fresh vegetables into this salad.

• green onions
• black olives
• purple onions
• cucumbers
• peas
• fresh mushrooms
• I used a green bell pepper, but switch it out for yellow or red bell pepper for sweetness.
• fresh herbs are great as well - fresh parsley, fresh dill or basil add a bright flavor that's just so good! A small handful is just the right amount of herbs.
• Fresh lemon juice will brighten the flavors as well.
• If you would prefer something other than a mayonnaise-based salad dressing, use bottled Italian Dressing, Ranch dressing or coleslaw dressing are all good options.

Step-by-step instructions

This is an overview of the instructions for this classic macaroni salad recipe. For the complete directions for this Easy Ham Pasta Salad just scroll down to the bottom!

1. Cook pasta, drain pasta well, rinse with cold water, drain again and allow it to cool completely.
2. Dice ham into half inch cubes.
3. Clean and dice the vegetables. Dicing the veg into small pieces will allow you to get a scoop of everything when you grab a big forkful!
4. Make the dressing by combining mayonnaise and vinegar. Mix until creamy and add to the salad bowl.

Essential tools for this recipe

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

• I have a metal strainer, but my mom has one like this and I'm sure she's had it for at least 20 years. Talk about value!

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)

• Though you normally do not rinse pasta, when you're making a salad make sure you do. Rinse pasta in cold water to stop the cooking process. 
• Any small shell pasta can be used for this recipe.
• Salt the pasta water liberally.
• Even a spoonful of pickle relish can help jazz up this easy pasta salad.

How to store leftovers

Store leftover pasta salad in an airtight container, refrigerated up to three days.

More great side salad recipes

I have a ton of great side salads and delicious pasta salad recipes on the blog, here are some of my favorites!

• Mom's recipes for Deviled Egg Potato Salad - perfect for picnics and bbq's. You'll want to make a large bowl, this classic recipe is a family favorite!
• Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad - filled with crunchy vegetables, this mayo free version is perfect for a cookout, on of our favorites pasta salads!
• A BLT Pasta Salad is crispy, creamy and delicious and did I mention... bacon? YUM!! You'll love this tasty recipe.
• Another mayo free salad recipe this Asparagus Salad Recipe is filled of of asparagus and tons of flavor topped off with a lemon vinaigrette.
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad - this one is great dish! I make it for most all holidays, it's really a great side dish.

Leftover ham can be stretched in a dozen different ways. Deviled Ham, Instant Pot Potato Soup with Ham or Ham and Bean Soup (one of my personal favorites!). If you still have leftover ham, make this amazing ham and potato casserole.

Perfect pairings: what to serve with

This is such a good pasta salad if you're doing some grilling! Serve this alongside bbq tri tip recipe or grilled honey glazed chicken - super yummy!

If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! 

💭 Recipe backstory

Living in California and specifically the Central Valley sometimes skews your weather outlook. We've been barbecuing and enjoy easy summer foods for some time now.

Now as we're approaching Mother's Day I'm thinking about beautiful buffets filled with piles of delicious food closely followed by Memorial Day full of grilling fun! Have you been planning your menu yet?

We were just talking with Dan's Mom yesterday. Dan suggested a home cooked meal for Mother's Day and Lawanda thought that was a great idea,

I'll be making her Mom's Meatloaf Recipe, a delicious southern style ham pasta salad and dessert? I think I'll swing by a bakery to pick up her favorite; Coconut Cream Pie.

I was teasing her when we had her on the phone last night. I told her since we'd be feasting on her favorite meatloaf recipe she probably wouldn't be hungry enough for dessert right?

She cackled so loud and said no dessert are you crazy? That's the best part!

My mom-in-law definitely has a sweet tooth!

So as I mentioned I'm going to put this together, it's one of our favorite pasta salads! I try and sneak some extra veggies in whenever I have the opportunity to cook for her and that's why this salad came to mind.