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.
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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.
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.
Perfect Pasta Salads
Did your family love this Ham & Pineapple Pasta Salad? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini or bow tie pasta
- 1 can pineapple tidbits (14 ounces) with juice reserved for dressing
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 cups diced ham
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and 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
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Pasta, Salad, Side Dish
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Looks amazing. I’m making it for a Hawaiian-themed potluck at work tomorrow.
Just made this for a pot luck tomorrow. Hoping there will be leftovers but I doubt it. Yum!
I made this for supper tonight, and am currently eating this as a write what I think.. I love it, I don’t think it’s bland. I like the flavors mixed together, it’s a recipe that I will add into my meal planning. Thanks so much!!
So glad you enjoyed it! :)
Great little recipe. Top marks. Thanks for sharing this.
Simon
Wish there were more comments from people who actually made the recipe.
I totally agree!
I absolutely love anything with ham and pineapple! This will make the perfect Summertime salad! Can’t wait to try it! Pinned! Would love for you to share this at the OhMyHeartsieGirlsWW! Have a fabulous week!
Christine@CherishingaSweetLife
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the dressing, it’s one of our favorites.
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Thank you Miz Helen!
We are going to love this salad and I can’t wait to make it! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday this week.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
This looks beyond amazing! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
I never would have thought to put these flavors together, but this looks really good! Thanks for sharing with Works for Me Wednesday!
Can’t wait to try this as cole slaw instead of using pasta.
Saw this on Two Uses Tuesday and can not wait to try it. It looks delicious and is pretty, too! Thank you so much for sharing. Pin this to my Salads board. Have a Fabulous Day!
Thank you Becky!!
Yum. This pasta looks great.
This is so gorgeous, I absolutely love it!! Pinning!
Thank you for sharing Cathy!!
Is there any way to not make this soy/milk free?
Without soy or milk, I meant to say.
What a great idea for a summer pasta salad! I love the flavors in this.
for us summer is all about the pastas salads – and this one sound amazing! I’ve never tired pineapple in one before, but I bet we’d all love it
That dressing is one of the most creative things I have ever seen. I love this salad.
Yes please! I love Hawaiian style pizza so of course the pasta version is a guaranteed hit!