Ham and Pasta Salad - this yummy ham and cheese pasta salad is the perfect way to use up leftover ham! You could also serve this salad deconstructed on a Pasta Charcuterie Board and let people create their own!

If you end up with a lot of leftover Easter ham, this Ham and Pasta Salad is for you. It's a delicious way to use up your leftovers and give them a new life outside of a sandwich.
My ham and pasta salad combines ham and cheese and green onions (for crunch) with shells - just 5 ingredients and you have a delicious side dish or filling lunch for work.
Just like a ham and cheese sandwich is a classic lunch, this ham and cheese pasta salad will be a new favorite. Let me show you how to make it.
Shopping List
- Small shell pasta
- Ham
- Mayonnaise
- Green onions
- Cheddar cheese
- Salt & pepper
How to Make Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad
- Cook the shells, drain and rinse with cold water until no longer hot
- Stir together the ham, cheese, and green onions
- Add half of the pasta and mayonnaise and stir
- Stir in the remaining pasta and mayonnaise
- Add salt and pepper and serve

Should pasta be rinsed for pasta salad?
Yes! It's important to rinse your pasta with cold water immediately after cooking. This stops the cooking process and retains the al dente texture. It might be tempting to skip that step but you'll thank me if you do it anyway!
More Salad Recipes
There's something so satisfying about a big salad that is hearty enough to be the main meal and not just a side. Here are a few of our favorite salad recipes:
- Spinach and Strawberry Salad with Chicken - grilled chicken, fresh avocado and crumbled feta cheese on this spinach and strawberry salad make it worthy of a whole meal, not just a side dish!
- Steakhouse Salad - with blue cheese, marinated artichokes and hearts of palm, this bold salad with homemade dressing is loaded with big flavors.
- Mandarin Orange Salad with Chicken - use store-bought rotisserie chicken for a quick weeknight meal. The sweetness from the mandarin oranges and crunch from the slivered almonds make it a super kid-friendly option, too!




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More Pasta Salads
Ham and Pasta Salad

Ham & Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
- 1 lb shell pasta shell
- 8 oz ham cubed small
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 bunch of green onions sliced thin w/ half of the greens
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the shells according to package instructions, drain and rinse
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the ham, cheese, and onions
- Stir in the pasta and mayonnaise and mix well, but gently
- Add salt and pepper to taste
Notes
For best results, be sure to check our Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help your delicious recipe come out perfectly.
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