Ham Pasta Salad With Ranch Dressing
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This creamy and cheesy ham pasta salad recipe is the perfect spring and summer supper. Who can say no to a dish overflowing with tender smoked ham, pasta, lots of fresh veggies, and ranch dressing?
The question I’ve been asked the most this week amid record high temperatures is “What can I cook for supper that won’t heat up the kitchen?”. So I whipped up one of my favorite pasta salads to post for ya real quick. This one is filled with smoked ham (the smoked part is important), tomatoes, cucumbers, English peas (I guess that means they talk with a British accent), cheese, and bowtie pasta. It’s all tied together with a creamy ranch dressing.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to whip up this quick and easy ham pasta salad recipe. Chop the ham and veggies while the pasta boils, then combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pop it in the fridge for an hour or several to let all the flavors mingle and voila, that’s how you make my creamy ham pasta salad.
Now, before we go further, I just wanna say these are my ingredients. But feel free to alter the recipe to use up what you have on hand or to suit your personal tastes. If you don’t like cucumber, leave it out. Alternatively, if you can’t get enough of carrot, pop them in. If this cold pasta salad doesn’t suit your family’s tastes, don’t fret because they’re not the ones making this ~grins~. It’s good to be the cook!
Let’s make supper.. or lunch… or a mid-day snack.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bowtie pasta
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Grape tomatoes
- Frozen peas
- Bell pepper
- Cucumber
- Ranch dressing
- Smoked ham
How to Make Ham Pasta Salad
First, we’re going to boil our pasta according to the package directions. Drain in a colander and pour running cold water over pasta, while stirring, until completely cooled. Allow the pasta to drain fully before pouring it into a large bowl.
While that’s boiling, dice up your ham into nice bite-sized pieces or smaller, peel and chop up cucumber, and chop up your bell pepper.
Now we’re going to combine everything in a big ol’ bowl. First goes the pasta.
Then add the ham…
the shredded cheddar cheese…
the thawed frozen peas…
the cucumber…
the bell pepper…
the grape tomatoes…
and finally, add in your dressing.
Now we’re going to stir up our ham pasta salad really well.
Cover and refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve.
If you’re hungry, eat some now and I won’t tell.
Dig in!
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
- There are so many ways to make this ham and cheese pasta salad recipe your own. Let’s take a look:
- Use whatever meat you like. This might be shredded chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey breast, leftover ham, or cooked bacon.
- Add whatever frozen or fresh vegetables you like as well. Some other suggestions include corn, red onion or green onion, broccoli, and celery.
- Use a different salad dressing. Many recipes opt for just mayonnaise or Italian dressing.
- Use half cheddar cheese and half shredded parmesan cheese if you like.
- For pickle fans, add 1/2 cup of drained dill pickle relish.
- Use whatever small pasta you have on hand, whether that’s elbow macaroni pasta, small shell pasta, or rotini.
- Whenever I need smoked ham for a quick recipe, I just go to the deli counter and ask for a single slice that is about 1/2-inch thick. That is the perfect size for dicing up and using in recipes. The smoked ham adds a wonderful flavor to this meal.
- You don’t need to cook the frozen peas. Just let them thaw a bit while you prepare this and they’ll be fine.
Check out these other sensational salad recipes:
Old-Fashioned Ham Salad Recipe
Recipe for Caprese Salad with Chicken and Avocado
Chicken Salad Recipe for Sandwiches
Broccoli Salad With Bacon and Raisins
The BEST German Potato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box bowtie pasta 1 pound
- 1-2 cups diced smoked ham
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup frozen peas thawed slightly
- 1 peeled and chopped large cucumber
- 1/2 diced bell pepper
- 1-2 cups grape tomatoes
- 1 cup buttermilk ranch dressing
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain in a colander and pour running cold water over pasta, while stirring, until completely cooled. Allow the pasta to drain fully before pouring it into a large bowl.1 box bowtie pasta
- Add all other ingredients to the large bowl and stir until well combined.1-2 cups diced smoked ham, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 peeled and chopped large cucumber, 1/2 diced bell pepper, 1 cup buttermilk ranch dressing, 1-2 cups grape tomatoes
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Keeps well for three days in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.
Brother David Steindl-Rast
I work at a Christian bookstore and today I was talking to a young man who just came back from a church mission trip to West Africa. He was crying as he told me of children begging not for money but a drink of WATER, begging!!! We are so fortunate and we don’t really realize it most times. I am thankful for my Lord, family and friends. I am thankful that my children do not have to begg for a drink of cool clean water.
Thank you Chrisitie
Christy, I am grateful that the mornings are cooler. I’m a gardener and I get out and get my weeding, deadheading and loving my garden done early. By the time it gets hot, I’m usually back in the house, but sometimes time gets away and all of a sudden, I realize that I’m pouring sweat. I’m also grateful I can see my garden from my kitchen window, so I can enjoy the fruits of my labor-flowers and veggies! God is good!
I’m a new subscriber and I love your blogs & recipes. I, too am thankful for all that’s been mentioned. I’m thankful for my car – it’s old but paid for & reliable! Thankful I don’t have to walk everywhere I go in our Texas heat!
Oh, I am so very thankful for the many blessings I have received in my life.
All of the things you mentioned but so many more. Living in North Florida,
we are also hot, hot, hot!!! And have just come through our second tropical
storm of the season so now here come the big ole skeeters!! I count reading
your blog as one of my blessings as I always feel really good and happy
after reading it!
I am so thankful for clean running water, and a hot water heater. I always thank the person who invented the water heater when I am able to take a nice warm shower. I am also so grateful for indoor plumbing!!
I’m thankful for the shower that just popped up and cooled us down here in New Braunfels, TX to below 100 degrees! What a welcome change. I am also thankful for my family, especially my 4 grandchildren cause they love their Grammy unconditionally! Also, I’m thankful for Carolyn’s post above because she said everything I was feeling about Christy and now i don’t have to repeat it! And with the 4th of July coming up, I’m thankful to live in this great nation of ours and for the sacrifice of all of our military men and women, past and present. God Bless the USA!
I’m thankful to be reading all these wonderful comments that express such thankfulness. It’s good to know that so many are thankful for their blessings. I’m also thankful for Christy who helps me to change my thought pattern to a higher plain…to think with an improved attitude as so many news items in the media are depressing and worrisome. Even if I may not create all her wonderful recipes, I’m thankful that her step-by-step photos and instructions are there for me to enjoy. I’m thankful for my imagination in which I can almost taste these goodies for real.