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.
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!
Ham & Pineapple Pasta Salad
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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I have made this salad before and it is a wonderful change from the every-day pasta salads. My family really enjoyed this one.
Can’t wait to make it and enjoy it. Sounds so yummy
This recipe is a Keeper! I will use spicy coleman’s mustard next time to add flavor/kick.
I did make it another time with left over Chinese pork strips, diced, only because I didn’t have ham available. It was another great option. Thank You
Good and yummy.
I used the Healthy Greens rotini pasta. Spicy Colemans mustard, and extra vinegar. It’s so good! Thank you!
Going to try this one out this summer. Sounds great!
We definitely recommend it Cindy! Let us know what you think!
Great recipe, everyone loves it! I added red onion and bacon and it turned out wonderful!
Those sounds like delicious additions Chris!
I made your Hawaiian Bow Tie Salad today but when I was making it I discovered that I had no ham. So I found I had some baked Turkey Breast so I shredded it up and used it in this salad and OMG this salad was to die for! Thank you so much for sharing it and I know it’s going to be a favorite in my house!
So glad you loved it Kassy! Thanks for sharing about the turkey, sounds great!
I made the vegan version of this, vegan mayo, vegan sour cream, and added some salt to make up for the lack of ham. I also added cucumbers and yellow, orange and red bell peppers for more crunch and color. It turned out fantastic! Thanks for the recipe :)
You’re welcome Stephanie! So glad it turned out well!
Hi Stephanie, where do you find vegan mayo, vegan sour cream ? Your version sounds exactly how we eat :) Thank you.
Has anyone tried making this salad with cubed mozzarella or provolone cheese? Or would the cheese ruin the salad texture/taste? I’m just wondering, because my favorite part of hawaiian pizza mix is the cheese!
Thanks-Kim :)
I think mozzarella would be delicious in this salad, it has a nice soft texture and mild flavor. Let us know how it goes for you!
My new favorite pasta salad! My husband said it is his favorite also! This is so refreshing and full of flavor. I have also made it with whole wheat pasta, I am not a fan of whole wheat pasta, but it was really yummy in this pasta salad. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
So glad you guys loved this recipe Pam!
I made this recipe for a Hawaiian theme potluck. It turned out so good and everyone enjoyed it. There was none left and I was asked for the recipe! Thanks.
It’s perfect for a Hawaiian themed event! Glad that everyone loved it Marie!
This is a keeper! It is so fresh and a delicious change of pace from my usual pasta salad. My family raves about how much they loved it!
I am so glad this recipe was a hit with your family!
I added sliced marishino cherries to the mix. Decorated with marichino cherries. So pretty and yum!
That sounds like a yummy addition!
Well I just got finished putting it together, I’ll let you know what my family thinks tomorrow. Looks delicious
Hi Ginny, I hope they love it!
I’ve read all the comments, I’m making this for Easter, someone mentioned dry mustard, the recipe called for Dijon mustard, what’s up with that,and a few said it was bland, how an you fix that
I’ve made it exactly as written and we love it.
Well, I just got finished putting it together, I’ll let you know what my family says tomorrow looks delicious
Excellent spring to summer pasta salad! It’s light, but flavorful. I did add a little more green onion. I’m making it for a bridal shower luncheon with a Hawaiian theme. Hopefully, our guests will enjoy it as much as I do!
Delicious!
This is perfect for a Hawaiian theme bridal shower!!
Thanks for this amazing recipe. I prepared this side dish and my guests loved it n came back for seconds. I loved it just as much, it was so creamy n yummy with the right flavors and that pineapple gave it that extra punch. I’m definitely adding this recipe to my collection. xoxo
Glad you loved it!
This looks like a yummy salad. I’m going to add purple grapes cut in half and mandarin oranges.
Sounds great Linda! Enjoy!
Yes, I give it 5 stars.