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5.0 from 18 votes

Classic Macaroni Ham Salad

💚🧡💛 This fast and easy pasta salad recipe with tender elbow macaroni, bell peppers, carrots, celery, ham, and a super creamy dressing is a family FAVORITE! You can make it up to a day in advance if you want to get ahead!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Chill Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 55 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 351 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Pasta Salad
  • 1 pound dry elbow macaroni
  • 1 cup cubed ham optional but recommended
  • ½ cup red onion diced finely
  • ½ cup carrots finely chopped
  • 2 to 3 ribs celery diced finely
  • ¼ cup green onion diced into thin rings
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill plus more for garnishing if desired
  • fresh parsley optional for garnishing
Dressing
  • 1 cup real mayonnaise*
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons vinegar (white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or red wine vinegar all work)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons granulated sugar or light brown sugar packed
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste if desired
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste if desired

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water to al dente. When finished, drain, and rinse under cold water. While the pasta is boiling, mix up the dressing.
  2. Dressing - To a large bowl, add all the dressing ingredients, whisk to combine; set aside.
  3. Pasta Salad - Place drained and rinsed pasta in a large mixing bowl, add all the other pasta salad ingredients, pour the dressing over it, and toss very well to combine.
  4. Taste and make any necessary flavor adjustments such as additional salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.
  5. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid, and place in the fridge to chill for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving. Tips - I don't recommend reducing the quantity of mayo or sour cream in the recipe because even though the pasta salad will look pretty saucy and 'juicy', lots of it will absorb into the pasta as it sits in the fridge and chills.
  6. Before serving, stir the pasta salad well, and if desired garnish with dill and/or parsley, to taste. Pasta salad can be made up to 24 hours in advance. It will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days. I don't recommend freezing this recipe.

Notes

  • * I recommend using real mayonnaise like Hellman’s Mayonnaise or Duke’s Real Mayonnaise, and not something like Miracle Whip or another type of “mayo”. I recommend using full-fat mayo and nothing labeled as lite or reduced fat for best results.
  • Note that in the western part of the United States, Hellman's Mayonnaise goes by Best Foods Mayonnaise - it is the same product, just with different names.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 351kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 27g (9%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 24g (37%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 18g Cholesterol 27mg (9%) Sodium 676mg (28%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 7g (14%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 351

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 351kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 24g 37%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 18g 106%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 676mg 28%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 7g 14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.