Table of Contents
We LOVE a good pasta salad, but this macaroni salad is one of the BEST!
Our mom has made this recipe for as long as she can remember. It’s been a staple at picnics, BBQs and baby showers.
Not only is it simple and delicious, but it’s ready in just 20 minutes making it a recipe hard NOT to love. This macaroni salad with ham also is kid-approved.
When we are looking to make it a little more hearty, our Chicken Macaroni Salad is great, too!
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Quick & easy crowd-pleaser. This is packed with kid-approved flavors, making this perfect for sharing as a BBQ side dish for potlucks or a quick weeknight dinner idea.
- Extra hearty. This easy side dish is packed with protein and veggies, making it filling enough to be served as a main dish (perfect for lunch)!
- Budget-friendly. The ingredients are simple and few, making this a cost-effective side or meal. It’s also great for using up leftover ham.
Macaroni Salad Ingredients
- 24 ounces (or 6 cups) elbow macaroni – We prefer classic elbow noodles, but small shells, wagon wheels, bow ties, penne, or ditalini also work.
- 1½ cups cubed ham – or tuna or diced chicken
- 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen peas thawed – We love to keep it simple, but you can also use diced celery, tomatoes, red bell peppers, black olives, or sliced radishes.
- 1½ cups mayonnaise
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- salt and black pepper to taste – or add garlic powder or fresh parsley
- paprika to taste
How to Make Macaroni Salad With Ham
- COMBINE. Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked macaroni, ham, and frozen peas.
- DRESSING. In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, milk, and ranch dressing.
- Add dressing to the pasta and mix until coated.
- SEASON. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika to taste. Stir in any additional desired mix-ins and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- We love making this for events because it feeds a crowd and can be made ahead of time.
- Try a different pasta. We prefer elbow macaroni, but anything that is bite-sized and has grooves works: salad shells, wagon wheels, ditalini, or bow ties.
- While you can add extra ingredients, be careful not to add too many as you won’t have enough creamy mayo mixture to coat it all.
Macaroni Salad With Ham Recipe
Equipment
- wooden spoons
Ingredients
- 24 ounces (or 6 cups) elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1½ cups cubed ham
- 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen peas, thawed
- 1½ cups mayonnaise
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- salt and pepper, to taste
- paprika to taste
Mix-Ins (Optional)
- diced boiled egg, diced bell peppers, cheese cubes
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and add a tablespoon of salt. Cook macaroni in salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked macaroni, ham, and peas.
- In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, milk, and ranch dressing.
- Add dressing to the pasta and mix until coated.
- Season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir in any additional desired mix-ins and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- This recipe makes enough for a large gathering. Go ahead and halve the recipe to serve closer to 8 people.
- Try a different pasta. Anything that is bite-sized and has grooves works well, such as salad shells, wagon wheels, ditalini, or bow ties
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Food should not be left out for longer than 2 hours at room temperature and less in the heat, especially mayo-based dishes like this one.
Only set out a little at a time and leave the rest in a cooler with ice.
Set the bowl of macaroni salad inside a large bowl with ice in it.
Macaroni salad can be made 24 hours ahead of time. Mix most of the dressing in before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reserve a little dressing to add right before serving to freshen up the salad in case it is a little dry.
Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge for about 3 days. If it gets dry, mix up a little more macaroni salad dressing and re-toss.
Complete The Meal
Main Dish
Desserts
Homemade Brownie Recipe
45 mins
Fruit Pizza Cookies
18 mins
Fruit Salad Recipe
1 hr 20 mins
How to Cut a Watermelon
5 mins
Pasta Salads
Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
2 hrs 27 mins
Chicken Macaroni Salad
18 mins
Layered Pasta Salad
13 mins
Greek Pasta Salad
20 mins
Collections
This recipe was originally published March 2020.
I made this today with some leftover ham. This is what I did different: I used rotini noodles because it was what I had on hand. I also added green onion and celery for the crunch. Because my pasta is gluten free it absorbs more liquid so I added a little more milk and some dried ranch powder. Totally making it for my next potluck!!